Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-02-20

until my hand was on the companion
door ready to slide 1t open.
"Tll not be long below" said sober
ly. Better go forward and see that
your lookout men are awake, and then
come back here
The port stateroom | had not pre-
viously entered because of locked
door. l determined on breaking in
here. There was no key in the lock,
and the stout door resisted by efforts.
Placing the lantern on the deck l sue
ceeded finally in inserting the blade
OF Ratchet so as to gain purchase
sufficient to release the latch. AS the
door yielded a sharp cry assalled me
from within. 1t came forth so sud
denly and with so wild an accent
stepped blindly backward in fright my
foot overturning the lantern, which,
with single flicker of the candle, went
out. In that last CLEAN l saw a dim,
in the darkness, cleaned two green,
menacing eyes, growing steadily larger,
nearer, as l stared at them In horror.
Was 1t man or beast? Devil from hell
or some crazed human against whom
must battle for life? The green eyes
glared into my face. lifted my hand
toward him, and touched-hair! My
antagonist was a giant African ape.
Even as the big apes grip caught
me, ripping through jacket sleeve to
the flesh, realized my great peril, but
l was no longer paralyzed with
| fear, helpless before the unknown.
drove my Ratchet straight between
those two cleaning eyes. The brute
| staggered back, dragging me with him.
| His humanlike cry of pain ended In a
snarl, but, brief as the respite proved,
1t gave me grip on his under Jaw and
an opportunity to drive my weapon
twice more against the hairy face. The
pain served only to madden the beast
and before could wrench free he had
me clutched in an iron grip, my jacket
torn into shreds. His jaws snapped ut
my face, but l had such purchase as
| to prevent their touching me, and
mindless Of the claws tearing at my
|
until the neck cracked and the lips
| gave vent to a wild scream Of agony
I dared not let go; dared not relax for
an instant the exercise Of every ounce
of strength. felt as though the life
was being squeezed out of me by thu
grasp of those hairy arms; yet thu
very wise In which / was held yielded
| ha hof 4
the deck and both my hands foun'
Judgment under the jaw, the muscles
Of my arms strained to the utmost, a
forced back that horrid head. Littl'
by little 1t gave way, the sutferin,
brute whining in agony, until the pail
becoming uncomfortable, the clingin,
arms suddenly released their hold let
ting me drop heavily to the deck
BY some good fortune l fell upor
the discarded Ratchet, and stumbled
to my feet once more, gripping thu
weapon again In my fingers. l sprant
straight toward him, sending the sharI
blade of the Ratchet crashing agains
the skull. The aim was good, thu
stroke a death blow, yet the monste
got me with one paw, and we fell tt
the deck together, he savagely claw
ing me in his death agony. Then thu
hairy figure quivered and lay motion
less. I released the stiffening grip
rising to my knees, only to immediate
ly pitch forward unconscious
When / camo back once more to If
was upon the schooner's deck breath
ing the fresh night air, Dorothy an
Watkins bending over me.