The St. Charles herald., 1922-04-01

| 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 to the possession
of firearms, still drowsy, he forgot the
automatic, intent upon lallying 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 "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
stolid face of Hansen at the wheel,
his pale blue eyes glancing at the set
of his canvas and then taking on a
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 now and then, who
charged back snarlingly to the attack.
Brief though the fight had been
when Rainey arrived, there was ample
evidence of 1t. 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 emerges 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 fateful
moment, piling on top of him. blud-
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 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 MAIN, to
kill. A blow crashed home on Rainey's
cheek, sending him back dazed. strik-
ing madly, clinching to stop the pis-
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 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 siren blast
that told he was still fighting, still con-
fident.
Rainev 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 those
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 tlrobbing head
iarred 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 Roman maid
might have watched gladiatoria
combat; thrilled with the spectacle
hands gripping the rail. leaning LIT
| tie forward. She had no eyes FOL
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 a person. an Individual. but
| as an embodiment Of the conquerinf
male.
He got the gun. and he snatehed
drink Of brandy that ran through hi'
veins like quick fire. revivifying HIN
so that he ran up the ladder and came