The Lamar register., 1922-01-11

Voice and Action.
men against twelve fo'c'sle rats. I'll
give you two minnits TO start work"
''You talk big with yore gun in
pocket" said the Finn. Me good
man Ms you emmy day"
Lund's face turned dnrk with
burst Of rage that exploded in voice
and action.
"You think ] need my gun, do We,
you pack Of rats? Then try II on
without t."
Ills hand slid to his holster inside
his heavy coat. His arm swung. there
wns streak Of cleaning metal In the
lifting sun-rays, flying over the heads
Of the seamen. 1t plunkcd in the free
water beyond the ice.
"Come on" roared Lund. "or I'll rush
you TO the first bath you've had in
1--we years" The Finn lowered his
head. and charged; the rest followed
their leader. The hot food had stead
led their motive control TO certain
extent. they were firiner on their feet,
less vague of eye. but the crude alco-
hol still fumed in their brains With
out II they would never have answered
the Firms call to rebellion.
lie had promised. and their drunken
minds believed, that refusing in n mass
to work would automatically halt
things until they got their rights"
They had not expected an open fight.
The spur OF alcohol had thrust them
over the edge. given them a swifter
flow Of their Impoverished blood. tenn
porary confidence in their own PROV
ess. mock valor that answered
Lunds contemptuous challenge.
Lund. thought Rainey, had done a
fooI-hardy thing In tossing away his
gun. II was magnificent, but 1t was
not war. Pure brnvadOl But he had
scnnt time for thinking. Lund tossed
him a scrap of advice. Keep movin'!
Don't let 'em crowd your Then the
fight was Joined.
The girl leaned out from the prom
ontory to watch the tourney. Tama-
da, impassive as ever. tended his fires.
Sandy crept down to the beach, drawn
despite his will. and shufIled In and
out irresolute, too weak TO attempt
to mix in. but excited, eager to help.
Deming. Benle and the two neutral
hunters. stood to one side, waiting,
perhaps. to see which way the fight
went, reserves for the apparent vic
tor.
The Finn, best and biggest of the
sailors. rushed for Lund. his little
eyes red with rage crazy with desire
to make good his boast that he was as
good as Lund. In his barbarlc way
he was somewhat Of dancer, and his
legs were as lissome as his arms. He
leaped. striking with fists and feet.
Lund met him with a fierce upper
cut. short-traveled. sent from the hip.
His enormous hand, punched to n
knuckly lump of stone, knocked the
Finn over, lifting him, before he fell
with his nose driven in. its bone shat
tered. his lips broken like overripe
fruit, and his discOlOred teeth knocked
out.
He landed on his back. rolling over
and over. to lie still, half stunned,
while two more sprang for Lund.
Lund roared with surprise and pain
as one caught his red beard and swung
to 1t, shifting and kicking. He
wrapped his left arm about the man.
crushing him close up to him, and,
as the other came, diving low, butting
at his solar plexus, the giant gripped
him by the collar. using his own i'm
petus, and brought the two skulls to-
gether with thud that left them
stunned.
The two dropped from Lund's re-
laxed arms like sacks, and he stepped
over them. alert. poised on the balls
Of his feet. letting out shout of
triumph, while he looked about him