For Love and Glory.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8160, 15 June 1906, Page 2

For Love and Glory.

CHAPTER IX. k FANDANGO ON BOARD THE YACHT.

The Spaniard invited the first attention, beoausa he had dared to place a profane hand upon tbe saored person of tho fair Evangeline. He was net lanshiug quite so heartily now, for she bad somehow managed to free ono of her hands, tvith Which she prJlod his hair and beard and aoratcihed his face with the fury of a little termacaut His cup of humiliation was filled to overflowing when a set of hairy Augers fastened upon his throat,, and compressed his windpipo so vigorously that h«"s whole system seemed paralyzed for the moment. Of course, tho struggling Evangeline found a ohanca to break free, Cut she did not attempt to fly ir.iin th • Mpot, for gremtlv to her amazement and deliirht she recognized something lamiliar in this wild Highland slogan uttered by tbe knight who had so providently come to their assistance, and whose identity was easily guessed. Goidie had pretty good notion to continue the choking process until tho Spaniard fellow grew black in the face, but was deterred by two things, his dislike for taking human life and tha fact that under existing conditions be could not conscientiously devote so much of his time to one individual, when there were other's who needed attention. As the next best thing, he had an inspiration, a desire to cool the other's ardour, and viith a single flip he tossed Seuor Juan overboard as though he had been the stub of a cigar. A splash announced bis safe arrival in the green waters or Yeddo harbor, and the knowledge of its shark infested oondition would -jdouhtleßß add greatly to the Spaniard's pleasure. Armand bad also arrived. Quite naturally, be steered staaight for the other "gentleman" who so forgot himsolf as to lay ■ a hand ■upon a woman. Uodaigo had a little warning, for he saw the big Sawney pounoe upon Don Juan, and realized that something was happening not ■down on the bills. Still, he was taken at a disadvantage, and could do no more than raise his arm in defense than the American jumped him. It was strange what spirit possessed Armand. He aotually forgot that he lacked nerve and "eand" and all those attributes so indiapensible to a courageous soul, and acted as though he had borrowed some of them from the McGregor, who bad enough and to spare. The high admiral was not a big man, but ah all-round athlete, who had daring his time been concerned in many and various affairs ■calling for both valour and a level bead.

When his hasty defense was beaten doan by the impetuous rush of the American, Takanori endeavoured to doable on himself and make np in agility what he lacked in strength. Given a few seconds' repite, and he oould draw some deadly Filipino weapon, or else his friends might arouse from the stupor into wbicb they appeared to have been thrown by this unexpected attack, and pome to tne rescue. Perhaps Radcliffe suspected this; perhaps he knew it was poilcy for him to beep persistently at it until be bad reduced his enemy to some suoh condition of harmlessness as characterized the spluttering Spaniard just tossed over the rail by the giant from the North. So he kept everlastingly at Godaigo, battering him as a man tray bis pet punching bag when up against it good and strong; and if the cassical features of the admiral did not suffer to some extent from this furious cannonade of right and left-banders it would be a miracle.

And finally be landed a tremendous thump on the solar plexus that apparently knocked the Jap completely out, for be fell in a huddled heap. Thus were two of their enemies done for in a spaoe cf time incredibly brief. No wonder the girls, who had again flown to each others' arms, gazed upon the scene with astonishment, the one stunned into silence, the other bubbling over with pride for her Ferdinand, whom she urged on to further brilliant aoheivements after the manner of true game sports at a dog fight though . the sandyhaired champion 'needed no "sio ""em, Tige" to continue his efforts. Tbe two Japa who had been witnesses of this remarkable little "seance" had managed to recover somewhat from the spasm of alarm into which they had been thrown by the sudden nature of the attack. Where they bad expected a swarm of assailants, only a twain appeared, and although much ground had already been lost, the case was far from hopeless. So one of them, in reality God- ' " aigo's chief of staff, and second in command on board the yacht, began xo shout to the orew. He used the Japanese language, and yet if the words themselves were like so much Hebrew to our -worthy gentlemen who conducted tbe assault, they were quite able to understand the animus by which they were directed. Armand had again drawn bis weapon, thrust into his pocket at the time he pounded the Hong-Kong conspirator. The lanterns bung about gave quite enough illumination to disclose, this grim object which he held; and the nearest Jap shrank back appalled, believing this madman might think himself justified

By St. George Rattiborne. Author of " Dr. Jack," "The Witch from India," " Captain Mynheer Joe," " Dr. Jack's Wife," etc., etc.

in opening his battery without furtner ceremony. Already there w&s an unhoaval forward. The affair had only been in progress a comparatively short time, but the crew had evidently been hovering near, bent upon enjoying the little game which there masters had set up, and wheh was well understood among them. Yes, there were coming headlong, anxious to be in the pressmen who loved a fracas as well as they did their dinner, great rough fellows, Japs, and Malays, and Anaks who knew only the sea for a mother, coming with a rush and a shout. Two against a dozen, pvrhaps twenty—tbe odds were terrible, and though they fought gallantly,, the interlopers must sooner or later be crushed under overwhelming numbers. So it seemed. There was something, however, besides valor in the game. Diplomacy could assume its share. To think of Gordie conceiving the value of such a thing as a nostage, when his mind was at the feverish battle stage; but that was juet what he did. Pounuing upon tbe seoond in command, he tore away the little Jap's sword just flashed from its scabboard, and tossed it aside. The Oriental was a pupnefc in his hands, and Gordie worked him like a monkey on a stick. "Stand back, youl" he bawled, with all the power of hie stentorian lungs, "keep your distance, or I wring this chaps neck like a ohicken. Shoot the first man who comes near, laddie, shoot him like a dog." Atmand was quite ready to do it. It is possible none among tbe polyglot crew had enough command of "English as she is spoke" to fully comprehend the exact import of what was shouted at them by this great giant who towered above them as famous old Fugi-yama reared her orest far beyond the green, villa-dotted bills around Yokohama; but everything was so suggestive of war's bristly front sd indicative of trouble to their seoond in command if they dared adavnee, that the warning was as patent as though trumpeted in choicest flowery Japanese. Therefore they came to a halt as the McGregor had requested, lined up some ten feet or more away, where with the sullen or eager look of tigers upon their broad brown faces they appeared to await the turn of events. It was a stunning picture. Armand stood to the fore, with leveled weapon, and beyond lined up the, desperadoes who formed the yacht's crew, as ugly a set of scoundrels as might be imagined on the stage or in real life. And Tessib saw it all, Testae who had deliberately informed "aim here upon this same harour of Yeddo that he lacked the spirit in men that caused them to risk everything for the woman they loved—ye gods! Armand knew her eyes were upon him and that it was something besides disdain that filled those peerless obrs now; but his pride was up in arms' and he meant to rub in it good and hard. Having shaken the little Jap muoh as a terrier might a rat Gordie reduced him to somtehing like a dishrag limp and inert. "To the boat, all—we go ashore!" he shouted. Armand without turning his bead, said: "Ladies, our boat is back toward tbe stern on tbe other side. Be so good as to lead the way with McGregor, while I look after these gentle savages iu the rear. Don't say anything—seoonds are worth everything now, but go at once!'" How her eyes sparkled at hearing his dominant words of command. Why, Armand waa worhty of a woman's worship, atfer all. Perhaps he had aroused from his satisfied happy KO-luoky state of existence, and promised to display a character seoond to none iu her uatalogue of heroes. She obeyed him as meekly as a lamb-—obeyed gladly, as thought the dramatic situation possessed for her elements of thanksgiving in that it afforded this young man a ohance to discover wha he was made of.

As they moved slowly off the Titan still dragging his unwilling hostage along with one great hand the otber menacing the crew and Armand also falling back step by step as if to slow music tbe only sounds to be heard were tbe wbird expletives to which the half-strangled Spaniard gave vent as he splashed in the water just over the aide and begged fora rope; a buoy, any old thing that was handy and by means of which he could keep himself afloat until such time as they lowered a boat, (To be Continued.)