Ensign Merrill — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

ery the story to those he held most dear. _ The temporary feeling of helplessness went as quickly _ “as it came, leaving him again cool and deliberate. His ‘mind worked rapidly, stimulated by the trying situa- tion. Fully believing that Blood meant what he said, i: Merrill saw at once that a compromise would have to # -bemade. He was just on the point of replying when “there came an interruption from an unexpected source. ' Mark’s attention was centered on Blood, so he did fe “not see the awful fear that had crept into Daly! gs eyes. i ‘From the moment the Badger’s commander had entered the ssi thus giving a signal for the execution of i _ the prisoner’s grim purpose, the fugitive guard had_ “never removed his gaze from the former’s hand. _ Standing scarcely two feet away, he had bent over in “his absorbing interest until the terror-stricken counte- “nance was directly above it. He said nothing and ‘made no sign until his desperate companion struck the |'match. The sight of that threatening flame, approach- ‘ing nearer to the bag of powder, drew from the mana wild, inarticulate cry of fear. _ Then, with a rapid puff of his breath, he extinguished the burning lucifer, and threw himself upon Blood. ‘Merrill, from his point of observation upon the stairs, ‘was quick to see the advantage thus gained. Shouting to the sailors above to follow, he plunged down the ladder, and, after hurriedly placing the lamp in a cor- ‘ner out of sa boen: joined the struggling combatants. _ Daly’s assault had come so unexpectedly that Blood ‘was carried to the floor in a heap, luckily on one side of the powder. He did not remain inactive long. Blas- ‘pheming. horribly, the infuriated villain entwined his powerful arms around his assailant’s body, and witha te ee wrench forced him underneath. Me ust at that pt ‘a & 2 ps . Las. AV aye *, i + } & a Bay se ¢§. . , : . ta “death, Pe. auathiatie, with no Sel 6) remaining to