The Mena weekly star., 1919-10-02
HuunIIIIIIuIIIIIHIIliIIIlIIIIIlIlIIIlIi
 Copyright by A. 0. McCiurg Go.

A half dozen had reached the deck, leaning from the rail, the others below clambering after their leaders, when
 with A rush we met them. It was force. mad fight fist and club pitted against knife and cutlass, but the de- fenders struck like demons incarnate. ' doubt if the struggle lasted two min tes I heard the blows, the paths, the 4 cries of pain, the dull thud of wood against bone, the sharp clang of steel in contact, the shuffiing of feet on the deck. the splash of bodies hurled over board. Each man fought for himself. in his own way. l thought only of her, and Ieaped straight for her assailant with bare hands, smashing recklessly through the nasty guard of his cutlass and gripped the copper devil by hair an1 ih. at. knew he fell to the deck Neneath our feet, but I had my work cut ut for ne. He was a he'll hound, slippery as an eel in his half nakedness, .,trong as an OK. and fight ng like fiend. Yet had him foul, my .rip unbreakable, as forced his 1eei- back against the rail, until it cracked the swarthy body sliding inert to the deck. Whirling to assist the others 1 found no need. Except for bodies here and there the deck was clear. men were struggling in tn, chains; two below in the boat were endeavoring to cast off, and Schmitt. with Estevan helpless in his arms, staggered to the side and flung the shrieking Spanish cur overheard out into dark water. l heard the splash as he fell, the single cry his lips gave. but he never again appeared above the sur face. Above the bedIsm Watkins roared out an order. That's it, bplliesl that's iti Now let her dropl We'll send them to hell where they belong. Good shot; she anded!"
 It was the hank of spare anchor, balanced for an instant on the rail, then sent crashing down through the frail bottom of the boat beneath. The
 wreck drifted away into the fog, the
 two miserable occupants clinging des-
 perately to the gunwales. I lifted Dorothy to her feet, and she clung to
 me unsteadily, her face yet white. Watkins, have you figured up re-
 uts?"
 1.-Two of our men are cut rather
 badly. and one hasn't come to yet from
 a smart rap on the head"
 ~None got away?r
 Not less they swum, thar's six dead
 ones aboard. Four took ter the water. mostly because they he'd to. The only
 Twin one O the bunch Is thet nigger 1Esslde the wheel, an nuthIn' but .
 thick skull saved him"
 ~Then there were eleven in the
 party. What do you suppose has be-
 come of the others aboard the Ma
 murT'
 T dunno. sir; they might be waItin'
 out there in fog. Perhaps the nigger
 cud tell you"
 crossed over to where the fellow
 sat on grating. his head in his hands. the girl still clinging to my sleeve, as
 though fearful Of being left alone. The
 man was repuIsive brute, his face
 stained with blood, dripping from a cut across his low forehead. He looked
 up sullenly at our approach. but made
 no effort to rise.
 Look yere. you black villain."
 roared Watkins, driving the lesson
 home with his foot, don't be a playin
 possum yer. Stand up an answer Mis-
 ter Carlyle. or yerll git worse clip than l give yer afore. Whar is the
 bloody bark?'
 Pounding her heart out on the
 rocks yonder," he said civilly, unless
 shes slid off an gone down. To the
 west, maybe mile CT so."
 What about the crewT
 They got away in the boats, an
 likely mostly are ashore. We were in
 the last boat launched. and headed
 out so far ter get round ledge O
 rocks we got lost in the fog. Then the
 mist sorter opened an give us a glimpse o' yer topsails. We didn't ex-
 pect no fight. once we got aboard Expected to find something easy, of coursef Perhaps 1t would have been
 n-what is 1t you see out there. Simms7"
 The seaman, who was standing with
 noiiowed hands shading his eyes. star Ing forth into the swirling drapery of rog, turned at my call and pointed ex- citedly.
 There's bark aground wonder, sir {;
 ana 1t looks like the Namuri'
 Even as crossed the deck to his
 siue the wreaths of obscuring mist
 seemed to divide, as though swept
 apart by some mighty hand. and there
 m the full glow of the sun, picture
 m frame, lay the wrecked vessel.
 tuners saw 1t as did. and gave vent to recognition.
 Damned if 1t ain't the old hooker I" She got what was coming to her all right mates"
 And she's lousy with treasurel" Uome here, Saml That's the Of the Namur."
 CHAPTER xxxii. The Last of the Namur. The vessel was plainly total wreck, ~t<<