The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-12-31
what is it?" she cried.

out the stamping ana yelling were
loud in his ears, and he plunged out
on deck. AS he emerged he saw the
stOlid face of Hansen at the wheel
his pale blue eyes CHANGING at the set
of his canvas and then taking Oh q
CLINT that turned amidships.
Lund looked like bear surrounded
by the dOg-pack. He stood upright
while the six hunters tore and
smashed at him. Lunds arms swung
like clubs, his great hands plucked at
their holds, while he rOared vOlleys of
deep-Sea, defiant oaths, shaking or
striking off a man n0w and then, who
charged back snarlingly TO the attack.
Brief though the fight had been
/ when Rainey arrived, there was ample
evidence of it. Clothes were torn and
faces bloody, and already the men were
painting as Lund dragged them here
and there, failing, striking, half
smOthered, but always coming up from
| under, like rock that energies from
the bursting of a heavy wave.
A hunter lunged out heavily and
confidently TO meet him as the others
| got Lund to his knees for a fateful
moment. piling on top of him, biud-
geOning blows with cultural cries of
fancied victory.
Rainey's man struck. and the
strength of his arm, backed by his
hurting weight, broke down Raineys
guard and left the arm numb. The next
instant they were at close quarters,
swinging madly. rife with the one de-
sire to down the other, to main, TO
cheek, sending him back dazed. strik-
ing madly, clinching to stop the pis-
| tOn-like smashes of the hunter clutch
ing him, tryihS~cu trip him, hammer
ing at the derce face above him as they
both ,sVent down and rolled into the
scIppers, tearing at each other.
He felt the mans hands at his
throat, gradually squeezing out sense
and breath and strength. and threw
up his knee with all his force. 1t
struck the hunter fairly in the groin,
and he heard the man groan, with the
nearly out. The man seemed to>fade
away for second. the choking fingers
relaxed, and Rainey gulped for air.
His eyes seemed strained from bulg-
ing from their sockets in that fierce
grip, and there was fog before them
through which he could hear the roar
of Lund. sounding like a siren blast
that told he was still fighting. still con-
| fident.
Rainey saw his face. one red mask
Of blood and hair. with his agate
eyes fiaring up with the glory of the
fight. He roared no longer, saving his
breath. One of the men tackling his
legs dropped senseless from the buffet
he got on the side of his skull, and
Lund's kick sent him scudding across
the deck, limp, out of the fight that
could not last much longer.
All this came as Rainey, still dazed,
helped himself by the skylight toward
the companion, going as fast as he
could to get his gun. If he did not
hurry he was certain they would XIII
Lund. No man could Withstand those
odds much longer.
Lund killed. 1t would be his turn
next. and the girl would be left at
their mercy. The thought spurred
him, clearing his tlrobbing head,
Jared 0y the smashes of his Still sense
less opponent who would be coming
to before long.
Then he saw the girl. standing by the
rail, not crouching. as he had somehow
expected her to be. shutting out the
sight of the fight with trembling hands,
but with her face aglow, her eyes
shining, watching, as a Roman maid
might have watched a gladIatorial
combat, thrilled with the spectacle.
hands gripping the rail, leaning a lit
tie forward. She had no eyes for
Rainey. her soul was I'D in arms.
backing Lund. The shine in her eyes
was for the strength Of his prime
manhood, matched against the rest,
not as a person. an individual, but
as an embodiment Of the conQuering
male.
drink of brandy that ran through his
veins Ike quick FIRE, revivifying him
so that he ran up the ladder and came
on deck ready TO take decisive hand.
But he found II no easy matter to
risk shot in that swirllne mass. They
all setrled to be arm weary. Blows
no longer rose and fell Lund was
slowly dragging the dead weight Of
them all toward the mast. The two
men On the deck still lay there.
Rainey's opponent was trying to get
up. wiplng clumsily at the blood on
his face blinded. A man broke loose
from the scrimmage, on the opposite
side from Rainey. who barely recog-
nized the dlsheveled figure with the
bloody. battered face as Deming. The
hunter had managed to get hold Of
Lund's gun. Rainey's aim was screened
by q sudden lunge Of the huddle Of
men. He saw Lund heave. saw his
red face bob up. mouth open. roaring
once more. saw his leg come up in a
kick that caught DemIng's
arm close 70 the elbow,
saw the CLEAN OF the gun az Il streaked |
10 and overheard. and Deming stag |
gering hack. ciutching at his broken
50. evrsing with the paln. 20 hrine
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