The Spoilers | Page 3

across to the dockhouse, backing against it. The girl followed.
Again came the warning blast from the steamer, and the voice of an
officer:
"Clear away that stern line!"
"Oh, we'll be left!" she breathed, and somehow it struck Glenister that
she feared this more than the men whose approaching feet he heard.
"YOU can make it all right," he urged her, roughly. "You'll get hurt if

you stay here. Run along and don't mind us. We've been thirty days on
shipboard, and were praying for something to happen." His voice was
boyishly glad, as if he exulted in the fray that was to come; and no
sooner had he spoken than the sailors came out of the darkness upon
them.
During the space of a few heart-beats there was only a tangle of
whirling forms with the sound of fist on flesh, then the blot split up and
forms plunged outward, falling heavily. Again the sailors rushed,
attempting to clinch. They massed upon Dextry only to grasp empty air,
for he shifted with remarkable agility, striking bitterly, as an old wolf
snaps. It was baffling work, however, for in the darkness his blows fell
short or overreached.
Glenister, on the other hand, stood carelessly, beating the men off as
they came to him. He laughed gloatingly, deep in his throat, as though
the encounter were merely some rough sport. The girl shuddered, for
the desperate silence of the attacking men terrified her more than a din,
and yet she stayed, crouched against the wall.
Dextry swung at a dim target, and, missing it, was whirled off his
balance. Instantly his antagonist grappled with him, and they fell to the
floor, while a third man shuffled about them. The girl throttled a
scream.
"I'm goin' to kick 'im, Bill," the man panted hoarsely. "Le' me fix 'im."
He swung his heavy shoe, and Bill cursed with stirring eloquence.
"Ow! You're kickin' me! I've got 'im, safe enough. Tackle the big un."
Bill's ally then started towards the others, his body bent, his arms flexed
yet hanging loosely. He crouched beside the girl, ignoring her, while
she heard the breath wheezing from his lungs; then silently he leaped.
Glenister had hurled a man from him, then stepped back to avoid the
others, when he was seized from behind and felt the man's arms
wrapped about his neck, the sailor's legs locked about his thighs. Now
came the girl's first knowledge of real fighting. The two spun back and
forth so closely entwined as to be indistinguishable, the others holding

off. For what seemed many minutes they struggled, the young man
striving to reach his adversary, till they crashed against the wall near
her and she heard her champion's breath coughing in his throat at the
tightening grip of the sailor. Fright held her paralyzed, for she had
never seen men thus. A moment and Glenister would be down beneath
their stamping feet--they would kick his life out with their heavy shoes.
At thought of it, the necessity of action smote her like a blow in the
face. Her terror fell away, her shaking muscles stiffened, and before
realizing what she did she had acted.
The seaman's back was to her. She reached out and gripped him by the
hair, while her fingers, tense as talons, sought his eyes. Then the first
loud sound of the battle arose. The man yelled in sudden terror; and the
others as suddenly fell back. The next instant she felt a hand upon her
shoulder and heard Dextry's voice.
"Are ye hurt? No? Come on, then, or we'll get left." He spoke quietly,
though his breath was loud, and, glancing down, she saw the huddled
form of the sailor whom he had fought.
"That's all right--he ain't hurt. It's a Jap trick I learned. Hurry up!"
They ran swiftly down the wharf, followed by Glenister and by the
groans of the sailors in whom the lust for combat had been quenched.
As they scrambled up the Santa Maria's gang-plank, a strip of water
widened between the boat and the pier.
"Close shave, that," panted Glenister, feeling his throat gingerly, "but I
wouldn't have missed it for a spotted pup."
"I've been through b'iler explosions and snowslides, not to mention a
triflin' jail-delivery, but fer real sprightly diversions I don't recall
nothin' more pleasin' than this." Dextry's enthusiasm was boylike.
"What kind of men are you?" the girl laughed nervously, but got no
answer.
They led her to their deck cabin, where they switched on the electric

light, blinking at each other and at their unknown guest.
They saw a graceful and altogether attractive figure in a trim, short skirt
and long, tan boots. But what Glenister first saw was her eyes; large
and gray, almost brown under the electric