The Monticellonian., 1919-12-05
CHAPTER DISCONTINUED.

j
Historically backward and forward. \
weird uncanny chorus of cXultant
shrieks, as Of devils in unholy reyel,
came from across the water, and the
sound was close now.
Wallen swept his hands across his
eyes. He could make out the other
vessel plainly now. gliding like a shad-
ow down upon them-lfke shadow
save when the guns flame burst
through the bIackness, angry red.
And now aft behind him showed an
other flame. A curious sight. The
steam pouring in immense volumes
from the engine room hatch was
streaked, as it swirled upward, with
darts Of yellow and bright red. There
was fire below
A Ghinaman, one of the coal pass
ers, naked to the waist, blackened,
burned, yelling in torment. demented
appeared suddenly upon the deck, ran
by him and leaped headlong from the
rail overheard.
The bridge, useless now for nayiga-
ton was deserted. LayntOn rushed
down the ladder and into his room a;
the quartermaster, who had been AT
the wheel came tumbling after the
captain, and, like the mates, swung
the forward ladder to the foredeek.
The Monleigh rolled with a sudden,
heavy lurch. Wallen moved instantly
back along the deck. Was she sink
ing? He halted at the lounging room
door for n final glance.
The steam, roaring from the engine
room hatch, was streaked now with
deeper yellow. deeper red And now
there came the crackle Of small arms
from the crew forward-the answer a
demoniacal mab-scream from close
aboard and, it seemed, thousand
tiny flashes as the fire was returned.
They were close alongside noW-he
heard the swish of the others screw
going asgern to stop the way. They
were preparing to board. Why Why
not stand off and sink the Monleigh?-
the Monleigh was probably sinking
now. Yes, he knew why. They were
afraid that what Mott had suggested
might be true-that he in the darkness
might escape In a boat.
He laughed suddenly. What was it
Gunga had said: "A fight sahib, that
| would to Allah l might see again
before l die =. Well, Gunga had not
prayed to Allah in vain. Gunga would
have his fight. They were going to
board. God. how they lined the decks
and rails out there-they were in their
hundreds!
1t was light now, like the play OF
lightning with the volleying of the
small-arms Aye, Gunga would have
his fight! He laughed again wildly
and then terror came.
1t seemed to freeze his soul with
horror, unnerving him, unmanning him
for an instant What of her And
then Wallen's face drew into set, rigid
lines. and there came into his eyes Il
look that was not good to see-and he
turned and dashed below.
"Open, Gunga, quick :" he shouted
And as the door swung back: Miss
MacKay-both of youths way'
They ran out to meet him, and he
caught her suddenly steadying her as
there came a violent shock-and witt
the shock hideous, louder outburst OF
yelling.
1t was Ram Gulab Singh alongside
Half carrying her, half guiding her
Wallen, with Gunga behind, gained the
top of the companionway, ran out onto
the deck through the starboard door
of the Iounging room and. protected
on this side by the Lighthouses, rushed
forward toward the bridge.
II was last stand that was all
ultimately the same rs though they
had remained below, except that here
they could die fighting and not as rats
in a trap
He and Gunga could hold the bridge
ladders until the Monleigh went down
or until at least every other part OF
the ship was in the hands of Ran
Gulab Singh; and the charthoust
would serve as protection for hel
until-until-his brain went sick agar
with fear at thought of her-and it die
not seem to be his voice that was
shouting so reassuringly over the hor
rible babel around him.
Up you go, Miss MacKay! That,
it! Splendid Now into the chart
room" He pushed her almost forci
bly, inside-and swung toward Gunga
"Gunga, take the starboard ladder
I'll take the port"
Around him was an inferno
screams, shrieks, yells and cries, the
shrill hiss of escaping steam, the SHARP
crackle of IA flame leaping upward
through the engineroom hatch, the
crash and rattle of small-arm fire filled
the air.
Below on the forward deck it was
IS though hell itself We're loosed The
great looming shape Of a vessel lay
against the Monleigh's bow. from
which, to join scores already there
white-clothed figures, like a horde OF
ghouls. poured onto the Monleigh's
flush deck; and, as a fre-fame sho
heavenward, Illuminating the scene tC
| daylight brightness, the naked steel OF
the kris fiickered in its downward
weep, and dark. grimacing features
bowed, and out Of the features in {
.orribiy Incredible way the eyes gilt
tered. And here and there upon the
deck forms law sprawled and prone as
they had fallen.
Wallen ripped open a box of car
tridges with his thumb nail and LEI
them tumble loose into his pocket, as