Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

SO ENDS “We've got a show,” he said. “If-we take them by surprise. Samson, I suppose you are willing to fight for your life? You’re in a corner?” The inference was plain in the scornful tone. Samson winced. ““ Tl fight,” he said suddenly. “‘ All right. They are all on the main deck. We'll go out through those ports, over the taffrail to the poop. If they hear #s—there’s the end of it! It’s three to one. I'll take you, Samson. Pinckney, you and Sykes take the port ladder. take the starboard. On the. word, we'll charge ’em. If we can throw the bolts off the companionway and hold off until Evans gets to us with a gun or two, we’ve won. If not—?”’ He shrugged his shoulders and turned to the two women. “Close those after-ports ofiien we're through. Keep the cuddy closed. You can watch, if you want to. If they get us—put out your hands.” They extended their palms. They trem- bled a little as the skipper put into each of them a pellet. “Cyanide,” he said. ‘I don’t need to tell you what to do. Nor when. You'll never know—” His deep voice faltered, and the sweat ran down his face like a stream. He took half a step toward Mary, and checked himself. ‘ We’ve just got five minutes,” he said. ‘‘ Out with you and go like snakes. I'll give the word. When they ‘hear the cabin clock they'll break all hell loose. So, if we’re to win out, we must get the jump on them.” There were four of the stern ports, and each opened. inward. The four men sat on the sills, cutlases beneath their teeth. They reached up to the taffrail, hoisted themselves, feet on the frames. Then, with a spring and a flexing of muscles, they were up‘and gone, gliding over the -rail to the deserted deck, where the idle wheel swung between spokes. In the cuddy the two women, each with a pellet of death clutched Jin her palm, closed the windows. Beyond, the two sharks were trailing back and. forth in the wake. The women looked at each other, blanched, Jistening for some sound above, watching the hands of the clock. TA - THE DAY. We'll. 609 Two to starboard and two to port, the four white men writhed over the planks. At the break of the poop*they rose to all- fours, still out of sight from below. A shot “was heard. Evans was firing at random through the main skylight. If he would understand when they opened the com- panion, if he had guns ready, they might win through. Five chiming strokes sounded from be- neath them, blending with fainter tinkles from the clock in the main cabin. There was a crash of wood under an ax blow. The skipper leaped to his feet, cutlass gripped. ““ Now!” he yelled, and vaulted the poop rail while the rest bounded down the lad- ders. There was a moment or two of scythe- like strokes as the cutlases rose and fell. The Malays, taken by itter surprise, massed confusedly. The skipper won through to the companion and backed to it, his left hand fumbling for the bolts while he exchanged blows with Badoun, fighting like a disappointed fiend. ‘““Evans!” he roared. And his great bass, that could top a gale, boomed vibrant. “Up! With the guns!” - Badoun’s sword swept in a feinting circle about the skipper’s clumsier weapon. But the captain’s fury matched the Malay’s speed. His cutlas thrust aside the steel, and, as the serang leaped back, the skipper lunged. The cutlas blade entered Ba- doun’s chest, deep, with the blood spurt- ing as the Malay reeled. And the bolts had been slipped. Behind the skipper the companion doors slid back, a pistol barked, Telak fell writh- ing, Evans leaped out, thrusting a revolver into the skipper’s ready hand, handing a shotgun at Sykes. Pinckney stooped and gathered up another pistol that lay on the top of the. ladder. The crew fell back at the fall of Badoun and Telak. The shot, the sight of the guns, swept the madness from their brains as a broom clears cobwebs. They knew the fight was lost. “ For’ard with ye!” shouted the skipper. “Down to the foc’sl’e! Drop your knives!” THE OHIO STATE | CON OOO