The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-09-18


"Those were no mates o. ours, sir"
SAID Watkins Indignantly. "They are
half-breed mongrels and no sailors;
Estevan Is a hell-hound, an so far as
my voice goes, I'd rather die on this
deck than ever agin be bloody pirate.
1t that the right words lads?
The others grumbled assent, but
their muttered words had in them a
ring of sincerity, and their faces ex-
hibited no cowardice. One only asked
question.
I'm fer fightin', sir" he said grim
ly, "but what'll we use? Them lads
amt comm aboard bare-handed, but
damn If I've seed weapon on this
hooker"
Oars three knives, an a meat
cleaver in der galley, sah," chimed in
Sam.
'We'll do well enough; some of you
have your sheath knives yet, and the
rest can use Delaying pins and capstan
bars. The point Is to not let them get
aboard, and, If there Is only one boat,
we will be pretty evenhanded. Pick
up what you can, and man this rail
quietly now, hearties, and keep your
eyes Open"
1t proved longer wait than l ex-
pected. Unable to withstand the in
action any longer l turned and took a
few steps aft, thinking to gauge our
progress by the wake astern. / was
abaft the cabin on the port side when
Dorothy called my name-a sudden ac-
cent of terror in her voice.
The alarm was sounded none too
soon. Either fortune, or skill, had
served those demons well. They had
succeeded in circling the stern of the
Santa Marie, unseen and unheard by
anyone aboard. Even as she shrieked
the alarm, hand was at her throat,
and she was struggling desperately in
the merciless grip of half-naked In
dian.
Yet at that they were too late, the
advantage of surprise had failed them.
A half dozen had reached the deck,
leaping from the rail, the others below
clambering after their leaders, when
with rush we met them. It was a
fierce, mad fight, fist and club pitted
against knife and cutlass, but the de-
tenders struck like demons incarnate.
l doubt II the struggle lasted two min
ties. / heard the blows, the oaths, the
cries Of pain, the dull thud of wood
against bone, the sharp clang Of steel
in contact, the shutting of feet on the
deck. the splash Of bodies hurled over
board. Each man fought for himself,
in his own way. / thought only of her,
and leaped straight for her assailant
with bare hands, smashing recklessly
through the hasty guard Of his cutlass
and gripped the copper devil by hair
and throat. / knew she fell to the
deck beneath our feet, but / had my
work cut out for me. He was q hell
hound, slippery as an eel In his half
nakedness, strong as an OK, and fight
ing like fiend. Yet 1 had him foul,
my grip unbreakable, as 1 forced his
neck back against the rail, until it
cracked, the swarthy body sliding inert
to the deck. Whirling to assist the
others I found no need. Except for
bodies here and there the deck was
clear; men were struggling In the
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. heard the splash as
he fell, the single cry his lips gave, but
he never again appeared above the sur
face. Above the bedlam Watkins
roared out an order.
"That's 1t, DULLES! that's 1t! Now
let her drop! Wen send them to hell
where they belong. Good shot; she
landed! !"
1t was the hank Of a 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. / lifted
Dorothy to her feet, and she clung to
me unsteadily, her face yet white.
watkins, have you figured up re-
sults?'
1.-Two Of our men ere cut rather
badly, and one hasn't come to yet from
a smart rap on the head"
"None got awayf"
"Not less they swum, thar's six dead
ones aboard. Four took ter the water,
mostly because they he'd to. The only
livin' one o. the bunch is tibet niger
longside the wheel, an nuthin' but a
thick skull saved him."
"Then there were eleven In the
party. What do you suppose has be-
come of the others aboard the Ma
mur3"
81 dunno, sir; they might be waitin'
out there in fog. Perhaps the niger
cud tell you"
I 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