True Blue: Stirring Stories of Naval Academy Life — page 54: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Ce a | ” Fi ; TRUE BLUE. “Just in time—it’s him, Faraday!” followed in accents ot rare excitément. Clif scanned the speaker, sprang from beside a little skiff. “ He instantly recognized him—the blacked-up man of the hoodoo hovel. The fellow was making for him. Clif gave a roll to evade. His hand came up, as he reversed, holding a revolver. “What is this?” he uttered, and Clif"might well ques- tion, tle had found the strength to grasp the weapon, but now, suddenly, as he straightened out his arm, a sharp twinge stiffened it. ‘rom elbow to finger tips a sudden palsy made every sinew nerveless. His elbow must have struck a stone, deadening the en- tire nerve structure of the member temporarily. “That I'll take!” and the man snatched up the pistol “You, as you happen in my way, also.” “You won't!” retorted Clif. tle slipped the man’s grasp and made a spring—it was to land in the boat with a crash. The odds were against him, his weapon gone, one arm uselessly crippled. in a race he would be no match for the merest novice Clif aimed to get clear of the villain’s clutches till he could recuperate and made it. After a desperate struggle, however, as the boat went sliding out into the water, forced like an arrow by the pressure of Clif’s vigorous dive, the man sought to hinder his escaping prey. | He made a grab and fell. going slap into the water, but he accomplished half his purpose. His hands struck the two light oars at the bow, tipped them, and they went tearing away with the current. _ Towards its forceful central sweep Clif was now borne in a dizzying whirl, the boat almost tipping. He saw his position at once—he was free of his pur- suer, but unable to guide his crazily cavorting craft. If spilled out, expert swimmer as he was, he might not be able—owing to his helpless. arm—to breast the fierce current and get ashore, ” — , » on - i Gee? Poy er ht Kes At aS egies,’ aie 7! - = “a . ~ comicbooks.com | a * ™ , z