Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-02-08
CHAPTER XI--Continued

At first the spectacle seemed like
a weird dance, rather than a duel TO
the death. The tide began to crawl
In, the wind died. and the moo
sailed from star to star. without one
blow struck home. Sandomar Ium-
bered owe the sand. hammering the
air, his left hand thrust out as a
guard. The least of his short. choppy
blows would have crushed Eric's
skull, but always the quarry danced
away. Doggedly he followed him.
turning as he turned, wheeling. some
times standing still and swaying as
Eric tried to rush In. lunging like a
bear Mt every opening.
Eric spared for time. No one
knew better than he that he was fight
Ing a losing fight his only hope lay
In some fiuke of luck that for one
brief instant would equaIize the odds
against him. He was much lighter on
his feet than his foe. suppler, better
co-ordinated. but this could not begin
to compensate for Sandomar's super
human strength. He dared not feinf,
because he could not pass his enc
my's guard. He knew well that I'M
less he struck full force. an overhead
swing at close range. the huge left
paw would catch and tear the weapon
from his grasp. Never before had he
realized the full reach and power OF
Sandomar's arms.
The watchers we're grfmIv patient.
With them, 1t was just n question how
long Erie could dodge the terrible
flint. They hated him with all the
fury of their throwback; they ached
to see him fall; yet they gave him
credit for his dance of death. He
was like q fencer without q foil. They
grasped the strange, terrible incon-
gruity of his perfectly-timed catIike
rigadoon with such a partner, under
such a moon, on the beach OF such a
sea. He was like Sandomar's shadow.
az hard to catch and destroy.
But meanwhile Eric was firing.
The telegraph of his eye and brain
was a fraction slower. his step not
quite so light. No one knew. even
himself, the price he paid In nerve
force. The very tide of his life was
running out. More than once. the hum
ming flint Just missed his shoulder.
They fought to the waters edge
and back to the ridge. They fought
in the freight and the cold moon
beams. Once they drew clear to the
edge of the mud-reef where the creek
met the tide: Eric heard 1t suck. and
smack Its muddy lips, just In time.
To back into 1t would mean to sink
his knees In clinging silt.
They meant to kill him quickly.
True, most of them had no motive
than blind hate and fear. but
they were too crazed to care. They
did not stop to think that Eric's bones
would be poor picking now. His fall
could not change their defeat to vic
to wipe him out could never
wipe away the debt they owed the Law.
They were men OF low organization
and could express themselves only
violence. When Cargo turned
to q screaming dervIsh and ran to
his pal, they followed BY brute
Instinct.
His eyes sunk In his head. Cold
sWeat drenched him head TO foot
There was a growing heavy pain In
his appraised arm; he must strike
soon. II at all. Even now, should the
nance offer, he could not deal a full
powered blow. Soon, so o the
must fall from his hand.
Would the lucky fuke he fought for
lever come? No, he must win Oh lose
~ his own powers-and he found
hem wanting.
The lurid-eyed sailors saw the end
vas near. Rush him, Sandy r Big
smith yelled Go to 1t. you gorillai
got him groggy."
But Sandomar never changed pace.
he lunged, patient. tlreless.
And A dull. dim thought brood
ng In Eric's brain suddenly took vivid
orr<
Sandomar vas deaf He failed to
iced Smiths y*rIs because he did
ot hear them. This was the handi-
ap nature had put on him, to atone
or his giants strength. Both were
ne to the same flaw In his brain.
this handicap was Eric's
His dead white eyes began to glow
Ike garnets in their black rings.
He partly lowered his a as
lough In extreme exhaustion. His
houlders sagged, his feet faltered-
,andomar quickened his numbering
ace. The sailors began to utter
oarse yells.
But still Eric managed to dodge
ne terrible flint. Staggering, reel
liz. he backed down the beach. San
omar pushing him hard. No
anger Of his escape. the creek would
cut him of. II he turned to
.ade into IL, the frightful hammer
'0uld fall.
Now Eric heard again the suck and
of the mud-reef, drawn BY the
owing nde-but Sandomar did not
tar. F. Bandomar, sound did no !