The Lamar register., 1919-05-21

leader not to be despiscd ar tempor-
lied with; no cewardly. hrainlcss fool.
The passage leading forward was
wide enough to permit Of our advanc-
Ing together and for few steps the
light drlbbled in past US quite suili-
cient for guidance. had been down
this tunnel once before, and knew the
bulkhcnd was not far away, but The
few steps necessary plunged us into
profound bluCkneSs, through which We
advanced cautiously with outstretched
hands. No slightest sound warned OF
danger and was already convinced in
my own mind that the refugees were
not hiding there. when II happened.
Within an instant We were lighting To-
our lives. fronted not by two men, but
by score. who flung themselves curS
ing upon Us. Their very numbers and
the narrowness Of the passage was
our only salvation. At first our resist
ance was blind enough. guided only by
the senses Of touch and sound. We
could see nothing of ou- antagonists,
although their fierce rush hurled Us
backward. I fired into the mass, as
Watkins slushed madly with his cut
lass. both managing In some way to
keep our feet. Hands gripped for Us,
a b-dlam OF ouths splitting the air;
yet. even in that moment Of pande-
monlun. was quick to realize the fel-
lows were wenpOnless, seeking only To
reach and crush us with bare hands
The same discovery must have come
TO the hind of the sailor. for lac yelled
.A. ~ tlgt4 nN
blade drawing blood. l Joined him.
striking with the butt of the pistol We
killed and wounded the curses Of hate
changed into sharp cries Of agony, but
those behind pressed the advance for
ward. and we were inevitably swept
back into the light Of the cabin lamp.
Then | saw faces. hideous in the
glare. demonacaI In their expression Of
hatred-a mass OF them, unrec"gniz-
able, largely OF Wild, half-lndiun
type. with here and there II bearded
white. Nor were they all bare-hunded
In many grip flashed knife. and
directly fronting me. with meat
cleayer upllfted 10 strike. Sanchez
yelled his orders. Ignoring all others
/ leaped straight at him. crying To
Watkins ny l sprang.
..Bnck lad; dash out that light; I'll
hold these devils here a minute
dld-God knows how II was like
NO fighting ever / had done before.
mad. furious melee. amid which lost
all consciousness OF action. all guild
ance Of thought. struggling us wild
brute. with all the reckless strength Of
Il - III
tIon; | am sure | fellcd Sanchez with
one blow OF my pistol butt; in some
Wny that deadly clcavrr caine into my
hands and | trod on his body. swing
ing the sharp blade with all my might
into those scOwling faces. They gave
suiIenly backward they had TO. yelp-
ing and snnrling like pack of wolves,
hacking nj me with heir short knives.
/ was cut uYain and again. | stood ON
quiVering flesh. crazcd with blood. and
seeking only to kill. l saw htcrs
crushed in. arms severed. the sudden
squirting Of blood from CHASTITY wounds.
Oaths mingled with cries Of agony and
shouts Of hate. Then in an instant the
light was dashed out and all was dark
ness.
1t was as though my brain snapped
back into ascendency. l was no long
er raging fury, mad with the desire
to kill. but cool-headed, planning es-
cape. Before hand could reach me
In restraint. 1 sprang backward and
ran. stumbled up the stairs leading
to the companion. The vague glimmer
of daylight showing through the glass,
revealed the presence OF Watkins. l
heard him dash the door wide open,
call to those on deck. and then saw
him wheel about to again confront the
devils plunging blindly forward toward
us through the dark cabin. We could
hold them for time ut least, yet l
had the sense TO know that this check
would prove only temporary. They
out-numbered US ten to one, and would
Arm themselves from the rack. Yet
the greater danger lay in the possible
disloyalty of my own men. dozen OF
us might hold these stairs against as
sault, but treachery would leave US
helpless. II one among them should
steal below forward. and force open
the door from the forrcastle, we would
be crushed between two waves OF men.
and left utterly helpless. l saw the
whole situation wildly, and as quickly
H.. ia. ,t,,. l.t.. fpuaitsiz-g