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THE ifcMiSNRY PLAINDBAIIHR. iniidsasrit^ ILL. fctfv-.. t CHAPTER XXIII--Continued. • --16-- It was as though my brain snapped back in;o ascendancy. I was no longer a raging fury, mad with the desire to kill, but cool-headed, planning escape. Before a hand could reach me In restraint. I sprang backward and ran. I stumbled lip the stairs leading to the companion. The vague glimmer of daylight showing through the glass, revealed the presence of Watkins. I heard him dash the door wide open, call to those on deck, and then saw him wheel about to again confront the devils plunging blindly forward toward us through the dark cabin. We could hold them for a time at least, yet I had the sense to know that this check would prove only temporary. They •out-numbered us ten to one, and would arm themselves from the rack. Yet the greater danger lay In the possible disloyalty of my own men. A dozen of us might hold these stairs against assault, but treachery would leave us helpless. If one among them should steal below forward, and force open the door from the forecastle, we would be crushed between two waves of men, And left utterly lielptess. I saw the whole situation vividly, and as quickly chose the one hope remaining. "Watkins," I called sharply back over my shoulder. "Get the boats ready and be lively about it. We'll hold these follows until you report. The two quarterboats will hold us all. Knock out the plugs in the others. See that Miss Fairfax is placed safely In the afterboat, and then stand by. Send me word the moment all Is ready." I had glimpse of the thick fog without as he pushed througn the door, and of a scarcely distinguishable group of men on the de^k. Those about me could only be located by their restless movements. I stepped down one stair conscious of increasing movement below, the meat cleaver si ill gripped in yJHf hands. * Any of you armed with cutlasses?" ftvjv *Oui, m'sieur, Ravel DeLasser." •"Stand here, to right of me, now an-' «tfeer at my left. Who are you?" •Jim Carter, sir." •'Good; now strike hard, lads, and you others be ready. The cabin is full of 'em, and it Is your life and mine in the balance. If we can get away In this fog they'll never find us, but we've got to hold them here until the boats " are ready. I killed their captain, Sanchez. That Is where we've still got them, without a leader." > "But they've got arms?" "Only hand weapons," broke In Carter. "There's ball In the bandoliers, but no powder. I wus goin' ter break open a cask, but Estada put me at mother job." "Then that leaves us on even footing, lads, we ought to be equal to them Willi the cold steel." • V CHAPTER ftXIV. f In Claap of the Sea. -•The sounds of voices and of mov- •fag bodies were plainly discernible, b*t the darkness was too dense below to permit the eye perceiving what was taking place. The rattle of steel told me some among them had reached the arm rack. There followed the crash of wood as though the butt of a gun had splintered a door panel. Then a •nice pierced the babel. Sly mind jpripped the meaning of it all; they bad found a leader; thexi.had released Ifanuel Estevan. Now the real fight •Iras on! I could hear the fellow question those about him, seeking to learn the situation. "Who have cutlasses? So many! dtozen form with me. Now bullies they are on the stairs there, and that to the only way to the deck. Now then --to hell with 'em !" We met them, point to point, our advantage the narrow staircase and the higher position; theirs the faint glim- •aer of light at our ba<£q|. The first TIM Pint Rush Was Reckless and Deadly. '1 rush was reckless and deadly, the In- ; furiated devils not yet realizing what they faced, but counting on force of numbers to crush our defense. Manuel led them yelling encouragement, and sweeping his cutlass, gripped with both hands, in desperate effort to break through. DeLasser caught its ' wJWte mjr cleaver missing hiSi with its sharp edge, nevertheless dealt the fellow a blow which hurled him back Into the arms of the man behind. I saw nothing else In detail, the faint light barely revealing indistinct figures and gleam of steel. It w»s a pandemonium of blows and yells, strange faces appearing and disappearing, as inen leaped desperately at us up the steps, and we beat them remorselessly back. I saw nothing more of Manuel in the fray, but his shrill voice urged on his fellows. It was strike and parry, cut and thrust. Twice I kicked my tegs free from hands that gripped me and DeLasser fell, a pike thrust through him. Who took his place I never knew, but a stout fighter the lad was, wielding his cutlass viciously, so that we held them, with dead men littering every step to the cabin deck. But they were of a breed trained to sucli fighting, and the lash of Manuel's tongue drove them Into mad recklessness. And there seemed no end of them, sweeping up out of those black shadows, with bearded or lean brown savage faces, charging over the dead bodies, hacking and gouging in vain effort to break through. I struck until my arms ached, until my head reeled, scarcely conscious of physical action, yet aware of Manuel's shouts. "Now you hell-hounds--now! once more, and you have them. Santa Maria! you^ve-got to go through, bullies --there is no other way to the deck Rdsh 'em! That's the way! Here you--go In outside the rail! Broth of hell! Now you have him, PedroI' For an instant I believed it true: I saw Jim Carter seized and hurled side Mays, his cutlass clashing as it fell, while a dozen hands dragge^l him headlong Into the ruck beneath. But It was only an instant. Before the charging devils could pass me, a huge figure filled the vacant space, and the butt of a gun crashed Into the mass. It was the Dutchman, Schmitt, fighting like a detnon, his strength that of an ox. They gave way in terror before him, and we went down battering our way, until the stairs were clear to the deck, except for the dead under foot. When we stopped, not a fighting man was left within the sweep of our arms. They scurried back into the darkness like so many rrits, and we could only stare about blindly, cursing them, as we endeavored to recover breath. Schmitt roared like a wild' bull, and would have rushed on, but for my grip on his shirt. Get back, men!" I ordered sharply. "There may be fifty of them yonder. Our only chance is the stairs." We flung the bodies on one side, and formed again from rail to rail. Below us there was noise enough, a babel of angry voices, but no movement of assault. What they would do next was answered by a blase of light, revealing the silhouette of a man, engaged in touching flame to a torch of hemp. It flung forth a dull yellow flare, and revealed a scene of horror. Our assailants were massed halfway back. Between us, even ten feet from the stairs, the deck was littered with bodies, ghastly faces staring up. with black stains of blood everywhere. It was Manuel's hand which, had kindled the light, and the first croak of his voice told his purpose. "Now you skulking cowards," he yelled pointing forward, "do you see what you are fighting? There are only five men between you and the deck. To hell with 'em! Come on! Ill show you the way.!" He leaped forward; bttt It was his last step. I sent the cleaver hurtling through the air. I know not how it struck him, but he went down, his last word a shriek, his arms flung out In vain effort to ward off the blow. Schmitt roared out a Dutch oath, and his gun, sent whirling above me, crashed into the uplifted torch. Again it was black night, through which the ejre could perceive nothing. Even the noise ceased, but It hand gripped my shoulder. "Who are you?" "Watkins. The boats are ready. The one forward has pushed off loaded. The afterboat Is alongside. There is such a fog, sir, yer can't see two fathoms from the ship. The girl Is In the boat, but LeVere ain't. The mate slipped out o' sight In the fog. He's somewhere aboard." N^ver mind him; the fellow can do no harm now. Move back slowly lads. Schmitt and I will be the last ones out." We closed the companion door as silently as possible end for the moment there was no sound from within to show that our cautious withdrawal had been observed. I stared about, but was able to perceive little beyond the small group awaiting my orders. The fog clung thick and heavy on all sides, and it was impossible for the eytf to penetrate to either rail. Fortunately there was no weight of sea running. "There is nothing more to keep us aboard lads. Stow yourselves away and hang on; I'll wait here until you are all over." They faded away Into the mist, dim spectral figures, and I remained alone, listening anxiously for some hostile sound from below. Satisfied that the lads were safely over the rail and the decks clear, I turned toward the ship's , side. As I did so a yell reached my ears from the blackness below--the hounds had found voice. I ran through the fog in the direction the others had disappeared, and whose presence Was not «*wu noticed until we came together. Yet be must have been there expectant and ready, for a quick knife thrust slashed the front of my jacket, bringing a spurt of blood as the blade was jerked back. Even as my fingers gripped the uplifted wrist, ere he could strike the second time, I knew my antagonist I knew also this was a fight to the death, to be terminated before that unguarded crew below could attain the deck. It was LeVere's life or mine, and lo the balance the fate of those others In the waiting boat alongside. The knowledge gave me the strength and the ferocity of a tiger. I ripped the knife from his fingers, and we closed with bare hands, his voice uttering one croaking cry for help as I bore in on his windpipe. He was a snake, a cat, slipping out of my grasp as by some magic. At last I had him against the rail, the weight of us both so hard upon It that the stout wood broke, and we both went over, grappling until we splashed into the water below. The shock loosened my hold; as I fought a way back to the surface I was alone. My strength began to fall, hope left me as I sank deeper and deeper into the remorseless grip of the ocean. I was not afraid; my lips uttered no cry, no prayer--I drifted out into total unconsciousness and went down. WHEAT GROWERS SHOULD WORK TO AVOID LOSSES TO 1920 CROP BY HESSIAN FLY m. CHAPTER X*y. development of Hesaian Fly From Egg to Adult. The Open Boat. I dime back to a consciousness of pain; unable at once to realize where I was, or feel any true sense of personality. Then slowly I comprehended that I rested in a boat, tossed about by a fairly heavy sea; that it was night and there were stars visible In I (prepared by the United States Depart the sky overhead. I stared at these, ment of Agriculture.) vacant of thought, when a figure Losses to the winter wheat crop seemed to lean over me, and I caught | from Hessian fly have been rather wide spread. Losses are reported in the Shenandoah and Cumberland valleys. Straw-fallen wheat due to this cause was commonly observed in these regions where the percentage Infestation by the Hessian fly has very materially increased this year. Reports received from the western half of the Mississippi basin also indicate Increased abundance of the pest. No Remedy for Pest. Growers of winter wheat should put Into practice at once measures advocated by the United States department of agriculture to avoid losses, to the 1920 crop by the Hessian fly. There. Is no remedy for the pest when once it takes possession of a crop of wheat Injury can be prevented solely by keepthe fly out of the wheat. The depart ment experts say the following meth ods are effective? I- KlIW I . v - arr<i&&r VvaM£Ma&7 a iI-V; v. S? -iriSi - •#. Savory beans, Mexican peppets, choice bits of tender --all in a hot Spanish sauce! Such is Libby*» Chili Coil Carne--ask your groccr for a packagc today. Try with rice, mashed potatoes or spaghetti--iff deKghtf libby, McNeill fk Libby, Chicago Speaks for itself. "Are you an- experieuced aviator?" , "Well, I've been at it three months and I'm all here." Save From Souring. If food threatens to sour in the muggy weather, it can sometimes b« saved by reheating. Do not sow wheat on stubble if possible to avoid doing so. Mow under all infested stubble and ruined .wheat where practicable soon after harvest, especially where this does not interfere with the growing of clover and forage grasses. Destroy all volunteer wheat by harrowing, disking, plowing, or otherwise. Plow Early and Deep. Plow all land to be sown to winter wheat as early and deeply as existing conditions permit and prepare a thoroughly pulverized and compacted seed .bed., Conserve moisture against a period of drought at seeding time. Use the best seed procurable. Keep the soil in good tilth and, most important of all, sow winter wheat during the fly-free period as advised by local farm advisers or state experiment stations. Community action in these measures is absolutely essential to complete success. B.A.TH0MAS Jr POULTRY STORAGE HOUSES IN !T°« » FRIEND DIFFERENT SECTIONS Devour Many Insect*, Insulated Potato House Is Best Adapted to South. This Was Not Death--but Life. the outline of a face, gazing eagerly down into my own. Instantly memory came back in a flash--this was not death, but life; I was in a boat with her. I could not move my hands, and my voice was but a hoarse whisper, "Mistress Fairfax--Dorothy!" "Yes--yes," swiftly. "It is all right, but you must lie still. Watkins, Captain Gurlyle la conscious. , What shall I do?" He must have been behind us at the Arooatook Type Is Distinctively a Product of Maine and Confined Largely to That State--West Uses Storage Cellars. (Frepaced by the United States Department of Agriculture.) • The Insulated potato house is not used extensively, and as a rule Is better adapted to southern than to northern climates. The construction feature of such a house is the thorough insulation of its walls, ceilings, doors steering oar, for his gruff, kindly voice | aQ(1 wlndows. In northern locations such a house must be heated by a stove. The Aroostook type of storage house, with concrete or masonry walls nnd wooden superstructure, is distinctively a product of Maine aul confined largely to that state. It Is expensive and is always located on a side hill or knoll In order that advantage may be taken of a ground level entrance. The basements are usually from 8 to 12 feet deep, and most of them have a capacity of several thousand barrels. Generally the onfy provision for ventllntion is by trapdoors in the floor through which the filling of the bins Is completed. Occasionally a ventilator is found to the roof. These houses, although practical in sounded very close. "Yer might lift him up, miss," he said soberly. "He'll breathe better. How's that, Captain?" "Much easier," I managed to breathe. "I guess I am all right now. You fished me out?' "Sam did. He got a boat hook in your collar. We cast off when yer went overboard, and cruised about In the fog hunting fer yer. Who was It yer was fightin' with, sir?' "LeVere." "That's what I told the lads. He's fi gonner, I reckon?'0 "I never saw him after we sank. Are all the men here?' "All but those in the forward boat, sir. They got away furstr an' we ain't had no sight ov 'em since. Maybe we Despite, Its general unpopularity, the toad is a harmless, Interesting and valuable creature. While the toad is often thought to be poisonous, the fluid which comes from a gland behind Jts eye is not harmful to human beings unless it comes In contact with a tender part of the body, such as the eye tor lip. Toads change their skin periodically by splitting the old skin down the back, peeling it off like a jersey and swallowing it. They are also useful guardians of growing plants and vegetables since they eat all sorts of insects. Their chief weapon against their enemy, the snake, is their ability to inflate their bodies to twice their normal size, thus making it difficult for snakes to Swallow them. REMEDY will when it gets daylight. Harwood's Maine, will never supersede the du, In charge. I give him a compass, an* out pjt or storage cellar now used lu told him ter steer west Wus thet I tj,e middle and far western states, right?" s • Each of these types of storage has "All I could have told him. I haven't I distinctive features which peculiarly had an observation, and it is all guess- I adapt it to Its own environment, but Work. I Iffiow the American coast lies do not necessarily preclude use in to that direction, but that is about all. | other localities. I couldn't tell If U bbe a hundred, or I «ty must have been in bad shape when you pulled n$e In?" The artificially refrigerated potato storage house is confined practically to the storage of porthern grown seed potatoes held In cold storage for sec- ATTENTION TO SANDY SOILS Very Deficient in Organic Matter and Are Subject to Blowing--8traw Covering Helps. vfMlWdy soils are very deficient to organic matter and are subject quite seriously to blowing. If such fields are covered with straw it will prevent this damage to a great extent. It will also add considerable to the hu mus content by Increasing the organic matter in the soil, and the soil will hold a much larger per cent of moisture. Consequently It will be far superior to a soil that is deficient in organic matter. The straw spreader Is very practical. "We thought you was gone, sir. You ond crop planting in the South. It is was bleedln* some, tbo, but only from thought that community cold-storage flesh wounds. Tlw young lady she p|ants of this type could be profitably Just wouldn't let yer die. She worked | asC4j by the southern truck growers, over yer for two or three hours, sir, afore I hed any hope. Her eyes were, downcast and her face turned away, but I reached out my hand and clasped her fingers. The mystery of the night and ocean was'| In her motionless posture. Only as her hand gently pressed mine did I gain courage, with a knowledge that she recognized and welcomed my presence. Watkins says I owe my life to you,' I said, so low the words were scarcely audible above the dash of water alongside. "It will make that life more valuable than ever before." (TO. BBS CONTINUED.) Flag of Denmark. The national emblem of Denmark, which Is the oldest In existence, dating back to the thirteenth century, was born of war, and the legend Is traceable to the fact, in a battle between the Danes and the heathen Livonlans. King Waldemar declared that he saw a cross In the sky. The news was communion ted to his troops, with the assurance that the portent was the sign of celestial aid. Th* cross forthwith became the national Emblem "The Danneborg." strength orf Denmark, as It was called. PREVENT WASTAGE ON FARMS Among Other Things There May Be 8pots That Wash, That Overflow or Are Poorly Drained. Look out for the waste places on the farm. Some of these may be on fields that wash; some may be on the overflowed fields;' some, the poorly drained places. The barnyard ma-, nure may be wasting; the implements being left out In the weather to deteriorate. The waste may be in trying to do with the hands what should be done with implements nnd machines. Look for wasted energy and wasted opportunity. BEST EQUIPMENT FOR GARDEN No One Can Enjoy Work With Crude or Unsuitable Implements-- Work Is Made Easy. Garden equipment Is essential for best results In making a garden. No one can enjoy work with crude or unsuitable Implements. All realize how easy hard work may be with the right kind of facilities for doing it. This is true in garden work. Garden implements cost so little in comparison to their value that no one can afford to get along without tjiem. The same may be said of farm implements and needed equipment In general. Healthy Chicks, More Eggs Assists Moulting--Good for Bowel Trouble and Other Diseases in Young Fowls RESULTS GREAT COST SMALL 1 purchased a bo* of fl. A. THOMAS' POULTRY REMEDY and began feeding according to directions. At that time my flock of 42 hens were only laying five to ten egg# per day. Today, one week from date ol purchase, I am getting eighteen eggs per day. MRS. FANNY MOORE. Alma. Nab. B. A. THOMAS* STOCK REMEDY. Make* healthy, thrifty stock. Keeps them free of worms. A medicine, not a food. Very economical. 6. A.Thomas' Hog Powder "Saves the Bacon" FARRIS* COLIC REMEDY. For horse ooUe. The easy way. No dread* ing. A child can give it. OLD KENTUCKY MANUFACTURING CO. taooaroBAna MDUCAH, KY. Preserving Morale. Morale implies morals, and more. It may be possible to be perfectly clean morally and yet have low morale. Morale Implies hope, courage, determination. Many a good man lacks these. He Is good morally, but has lost his grip on the world and himself. In spite of his goodness he Is doomed to defeat. On the other hand 'a man can't have the highest morale If his liffe Is not clean. Mental and physical Impurity are bound to leave their stain upon the life! Then in time of stress something will give way and the papers will talk about collapse and overwork and things. The only way to meet life's problems is to keep fit That means more than mere eating and drinking. It means the proper care of the whole organism. Ready Explainer. "Tomfby, your head is well Tou've been In swimming against my orders." No, pa; I was Just standin' on the bank watchin' the other boys when tliat little Tompkins kid did a 'bellybuster' an' splashed me." "Then, why wasn't your hat wet?" "I had it In my hand, pa, fannin' myself." "Ump! I guess I'll have to make a lawyer out of you, son."--^Birmingham Age-Herald. A man may not be a coward because he is afraid of a woman. He Was Fortunate. He recently returned from France and one of his arms is missing. He Is very sensitive about any mention of that loss, particularly so since it doesn't interfere with his work. But two young men, not nearly so efficient as he, who are employed in the same office, Insist on talking about his loss. The other day one of them began, 'Til tell you it is tough to lose an arm In a war for millionaires. Now--" "Now," Interrupted the young hero testily, "I want to tell you it's a lot better to be crippled in war than by nature." And there mi absolute sHeace ttt that office. Needed Shaving. TOoetor to?" asked the caller. "Yes, sir," replied the maid. "Can I see him?" "I'm afraid not. He's upstairs In hi« room, shaving." "Oh, very well. Take this bill ho sent me up to him and see. U he can shave that a little." Those Happy Dity*. - "These are my salad days," remarked the green worm as It slowly approached the lettuce in U*e'nourishing garden. New things to eat are being discovered dally--seemingly for the purposo of adding to the high cost of living. NECESSARY FOOD FOR TREES Fruit Grower Must Furnish Barnyard .Hnnwre or Fertilizer--Legume . ., - Crop Is Good. Since all trees get their food from the soil, It is up to the grower to furnliph barnyard manure or a good commercial fertilizer. Perhaps the most economical and dependable agency is the legume crop, and It not only gathers nitrogen, but also furnishes humus, thereby replenishing the soil. FOR MAKING SPRAY SOLUTION had taken scarcely three steps when The best lobster Ashing known aaj 1 collided against the form of a man. 1 aXeo# U* Atlsntte aaal, Most Satisfactory Method of Cooking Lime-Sulphur Is With SteM^T" and Large Kettles, Thoroughly reliable concentrated time-sulphur solution may be compounded on any farm. The most satisfactory method of (ooklng is with steam; but an ordinary large kettle (such as is used for butchering) may be used over, a tire when steam is not obtainable. GROWING HEALTHY CHICKENS Among Other Things Shade, Fresh Water, Clean Coops and Ventila. tion Are Important. Shade, clean, fresh water, "dean coops and colony houses, and good ventilation and plenty of room during the night are of the greatest Importance In growing healthy, strong, vigorous birds, whether they art for moat, egga or breeding. Off-Color Days are usually the reflexion of upset to bodily health* . Coffee drinking usually c&gger* ates such conditions and frequently produces them. That's why so many former cegee dfii*kers now favoj The Original POSTUM CEREAL Bod fuDy fifteen minutes and a delightful beverage results. Fine far children as well as grown-ups. Everywhere at Grocers. Two sixes* usually sold at 15c and 25c.