The Argosy, January 1907 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

/ 208 Billy. sleep.” The rain had quite ceased now. Billy was sopping wet, but he stretched him- self obediently on the sand, and in a min- ute he was sleeping soundly. I sat by his side, watching rank after rank of the crabs crawling stealthily out of the sea, As before, they came from every side of the island, and there was no pause in their advance. It occurred to me that it had been wiser to have selected our place in the center of the cay, rather than so near the sea, since thus the approach of the crabs might have been delayed somewhat, but I had not the heart to awaken Billy. 50 we remained on the sand a few rods from the sea, while our enemies steadily drew closer. It seemed that their advance was alarmingly swift. The night before I had not seen them thus on their first ap- pearance, but I fancied that to-night they were really more active in their move- ments. It was perhaps the result of something in changed weather condi- tions, or possibly in the ocean currents. Whatever the cause they crowded for- ward with disconcerting haste, and it was not long before those on the sea side of us were within a yard. I waited until the line was hardly a foot from me before I began thrusting them back with my foot. The task was easy enough at the start, for the crabs were in a single layer as yet, and it was only on the sea side that I had to drive them back. Billy slept on serenely, undisturbed by the crack- ling rustle of the creatures’ progress, or the sound of my boots striking them. But as I pushed back the throng, the crabs continued their movement forward, until they had passed me a little way on either side, then they circled in again, and in a little while they had surround- ed us on all sides, although as yet those from the other shore of the island were at some distance. This fact made me realize fully for the first time, that the movement was not merely a steady struggle for the dry land, but a definite attack. Still, there was no difficulty in keeping them at a distance, but the numbers were increasing with frightful rapidity. Al- “You lie down and get some THE ARGOSY, ready the circle about us was of two or three layers thickness, and not for an instant could I relax my efforts. Soon I perceived, to my horror, that I must make the circuit around my sleep- ing brother with greater rapidity or some of the creatures would be on him. Five minutes later I was fairly running around the line, kicking desperately at every step. Not only that, but at every lap I was forced to mend my pace. My breathing grew labored, my head was spinning, my heart thumping, and my feet were like lead when at last I realized that the labor was beyond my strength. The line of advancing crabs from the other sides of the cay had now come up with the others and there was a great and growing pile of the creatures all about me. =~ The wall about us was so high now that it was only with the utmost diffi- culty that I could thrust it back at all. With my failing strength, I could no longer maintain the open spot. I shout- ed at Billy as I leaped and ran. In a moment he sat up, rubbing his eyes. “ Quick, quick, Billy!” I cried, for I was near falling with fatigue. He sprang to his feet and looked about him. ‘Chen without a word he was attacking the mass, with strength and ferocity that did nity heart good to see. I sank down where he had been, and watched him dully. I was too worn with my toil to think even. I forgot the crabs, everything, in the blessed joy of rest. It was perhaps a half-hour later when the sound of Billy’s voice aroused me. “You must help,” he was crying to me, as he ran at the threatening wall. At the same moment a sharp pain in my right hand, which was resting on the ground, awoke me to complete conscious- ness. I shook the evil thing from me, and leaped to my feet. A frenzy of rage against the crowding things possessed me and for a minute I fought them so fiercely that I had cleared the spot again. But the effort left me weak and trembling. “T can’t stand much more of this,” Billy said brokenly, and there was de- spair in his voice. (EO) .OO (E@)