The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-03

aboard"
 "A lost boat, likely-shipwrecke sailors adrift in the fog; perhaps cur other quarterboat. No one hailed | them?"
 "No, sir; told the men ter keep still till called you'
 The crew were all gathered at the rail, staring out into the mist, whis- pering to each other. I pressed my way | among them. We may have Ueen clinging there a minute of two, breathlessly listening. Then a voice spoke directly in front of me out from the dense fog.
 "Try t.e port oar, Pedro; we must have missed the d-n ship" 1 straightened up as though struck, i my eyes seeking those of Watkins, who i stared sack at me, his mouth wide open in astonishment.
 You heard that?'' whispered. 'Do you know who spoke?'
 DO I? Dead or alive, sir, 1t was Manuel Estevan."
 "Ay; no other, and alive enough, no doubt. Lads, come close to me and i Hsten-they must not hear us out there. By some devils trick the Ma mur has followed our course, or else yODder are a part of his crew cast away. They clearly know of us-per- haps had glimpse through some rift fin the cloud-and are seeking to board with boat party. 'Tis not like ly those devils know who we are probably take us for a merchant ship becalmed in the fog and liable to be- come an easy prey, if they can only slip on US unseen. How are you, bull lies? Ready to battle your old mates?''
 Those were no mates O ours, sir" said Watkins indignantly. '"They arc 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. It 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 a question.
 'Tm fer fightin', sir," he said grim ly, ''but whatll we use? Them lads ain't comfn' aboard bare-handed, but damn if I've seed a weapon on this hooker"
 Oars three knives, an a meat cleaVer in der galley, sah," chimed in Sam.
 wen do well enough; some of you have your sheath knives yet, and the rest can use belaying pins and capstan bars. The point is to not let them get aboard, and, if there is only one boat, we will be pretty even-handed. Pick up what you can, and man this rail- quietly now, hearties, and keep your eyes Open.P
 It proved a longer wait than I ex- pected. Unable to withstand the in action any longer I turned and took a few steps aft. thinking to gauge our progress by the wake astern. l 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 Goon- 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 lAS dAdI1Af d 4ldIU "dS dI ICE LuIOdLV and she was struggling desperately fin the merciless grip of half-naked h. dian.
 Yet at that they were too late, the advantage of surprise had failed them. A half dozen had reached the deck, Ieaping from the rail, the others below clambering after their leaders, when with rush we met them. It was 0 fierce, mad fight, fist and club pitted against knife and cutless, but the de lenders struck like demons incarnate. doubt if the struggle lasted two min tes. l heard the blows, the oaths, the cries of pain, the dull thud of wood against bone, the sharp clang Of steel in contact, the shuff1ing of feet on the deck. the splash of bodies hurled over board. Each man fought for himself, in his own way. I thought only of her, and leaped straight for her assailant with bare hands. smashing recklessly through the hasty guard of his eutlass and sripped the copper devil by hair ana thl at. knew =he fell to the deck Neneath our feet, but I had my work cut ut for ne. He was a hell hound, slippery as an eel in his half nakedness, -trong as an OK, and fight ,ng like a fiend. Yet 4 had him foul, my grip unbreakable, as 4 forced his -lecl- back against the rail, until it cracked, the swarthy body sliding inert to the deck. Whirling to assist the oTners I found no need. Except for bodies here and there the deck was clear; men were struggling in the ehainsj two below in the boat were endeavoriRg 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 5he never again appeared above the sur face. Above the bedlam Watkins roared out an order.
 lesRttnHed sToHerrew.A