The spectator., 1922-02-28

lIouUlc CoIuluS Was COiiHctltu Altll the girl
 On the border of dreams he was brought back by q strange noise on deck, q rush of feet, many voices. and topping them all, the below of Lund, roaring, not for help. but in challenge.
 Rainey, half asleep. jumped from his bunk and rushed out of the room. He had no doubt as to what had hap pened; the hunters had attacked Lund! And, unused 10 the possession of firearms, still drowsy, he forgot the automatic, intent upon rallying to the cry of the giant. As he made for the companionway, the girl came out of her fathers room.
 What is it?" she cried.
 "Lund-hunters :" Rainey called back as he sped up the stairs. He thought he heard q wait" from her, but the stamping and yelling were loud in his ears, and he plunged out on deck. As he emerged he saw the stold face of Hansen at the wheel, his pale blue eyes glancing at the set of his canvas and then taking on glint that turned amidships.
 Lund looked like n bear surrounded by the dog pack. He stood upright while the six hunters tore and smashed at him. I.und's arms swung like clubs, his great hands plucked at their holds, while he roared volleys of deep-sea. defiant oaths, shaking or striking of man now 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 panting as Lund dragged them here and there, failing, striking, half Smothered, but always coming up from under, like rock that emerges from the bursting of a heavy wave.
 A hunter lunged out heavily and got Lund to his knees for a fateful moment, piling on top of him, bud geoning blows with guttural cries of faneied victory.
 Rainey's man struck, and the strength of his arm, backed by his hurling weight, broke down Rainey's 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 maim, to kill. A blow crashed home on Rainey's cheek, sending him back dazed, strik- itN. An.1T f,lf nnhf hfYNfy tA HiS ton-like smashes of the hunter clutch ing him, trying to trip him, hammer ing at the fierce face above him as they both went down and rolled into the scuppers, 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. It struck the hunter fairly in the groin, and he heard the man groan with the sudden agony. But he himself was nearly out. The man seemed to fade away for a second, the choking fingers relaxed, and Rainey gulped for air. Ills 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 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 flaring 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 kill Lund. No man could withstand thase odds much longer.
 Lund killed, it would be his turn next, and the girl would be left at their mercy. The thought spurred him, clearing his tIrobbing head, jared by 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 . lit- tie forward. She had no eyes for Rainey, her soul was up In arms. backing Lund. The shine in her eyes was for the strength of his prime manhood, matched against the rest, not as . person, an individual, but as an embodiment of the conquering male.
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