The Lamar register., 1921-12-21

had finally achieved, to reach the
mnst-rack of Delaying pins. seize one
OF the hardwood clubs and with this
weapon. beat his assailants to the
deck.
He stood against the mast. his
clothes almost stripped from him, the
white of his flesh cleaning through
the tatters, streaked with blood. Save
for his eyes, his face was no longer
human, only mass of fayed flesh
and clotted beard. But his eyes were
alight with battle and then, as Rainey
gazed, they changed. Something of
surprise, then of delight, leaped into
them. followed by burning flare that
was matched in those Of the girl who,
with RaIney herding back the sea-
men, had turned at Lund's yell of vic
tory.
The girl wheeled and fed. dodging
behind Tamada. who gave way to let
her pa-s. his ivory features showing
no emotion. closing up the fore com
panionway as Peggy Simms dived be
low.
Lund did not follow her. Instead,
he laughed shortly and appeared to
see Rainey for the first time.
"Jumped me, the bunch of 'em !" he
said. his chest henying, his breath
coming IN spurts from his laboring
lungs. Couldn't use my gun. But I
licked 'em. D-n 'eml Equals? H-lw
He seemed TO have clear recol-
lection of the fight. He smiled grim
ly at Deming. who glared at him,
nursing his broken arm, then glanced
at the man that Rainey had mastered.
"Dld him up. eh7 Good for you,
mateyl You didn't have to use your
gun. Jest as well, you might have
plugged me. An the gal had one,
after ALL"
He seemed to ruminate on this
thought as IL It gave him special cause
for reflection.
He surveyed the rueful, groaning
combatants with the smile of con-
queror, then turned to the seamen.
Here, your" he roared, and they
Jumped as II galvanized into life by
the shout. "Chuck bucket of water
over 'emi Chuck water till they git
below. Then clean the decks. on
watch. you're out of this. Below with
you. where you belong. Jumpl
"They all fought fair" he went
on. mot a knife out. Only Deming
there. when he knew he was licked.
tried TO git my gun. Yo're yeller.
Deming." he said. with contempt that
was as II he had spat In the hunters
face. II thought you were better
man than the rest. But you've got
yores. Git down below an wen fix
you up
Lund passed his hand over his face
"rm some mess myself" he said,
stretching his great arms. ''Give me
fve-finger drink, Rainey. afore
clean up. Some scrap. And the gal
Did you see the gal. Raineyf''
Out of the bloody mask of his face
his agate eyes twinkled at Rainey
with sort of good-natured malice
"After this CHEEKY little fracas." said
Lund. mopping at his face. "we1l
mebbe have n nice quiet, genteel sort
of ship. My gun went overheard.
didn't It? Better let me have that one
you've got. Rainey."
lie stretched out his hand for 1t.
Rainey delivered it. reluctantly.
There was nothing else to do. but he
felt more than ever that the Karluk
was henceforth to be one-man ship,
run at the will of Lund.
But the girl. too, had weapon.
He hugged that thought. She carried
1t for her own protection. and she
would not hesitate to use it, What a
girl she wasl What a woman. ratheri
Ralney thought Of her as one does OF
n pool that one plumbs with a stone.
thinking to find II fairly shallow. only
to discover It gulf with unknown
depth and currents. capable of smiling
piaci,lness or sudden storm.