Page:The Overland Monthly, Jan-June 1894.djvu/275



894.]

An Encounter with Chinese Smugglers.

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up over my shoe top, pulled my sock own over my shoe, and emptied the urning tobacco on the bare ankle, all ie time shaking with uncontrollable lirth, and for the time being perfectly elpless. My time had come ! I could tand it no longer ! " the worm turned," Drcing myself upward with a violent

k.

He rolled off to the ground, and uick as lightning I was on top of him nd clutching at his throat like a mad- mn. He was a man of great strength nd far stronger than myself. I realized as he forced himself to his feet and t>re my hands from his throat. I was iitisfied I was the more active of the wo and the better wrestler. Although icking in strength, I hadn't the least ear of his downing me. Neither one f us had time to reach a weapon, our ands being actively employed other- ise. Each of us felt sure of overcom- g the other without their use. As he tore my hands from his neck, I irned him over and reversed our posi- ons, but being slightly excited and ild from the effects of his burning bacco on my leg, I did not hold him purely ; exerting his great strength, e again got on top. I was growing eak and losing my strength, and feared iat I should become an easy victim to y burly opponent ; but I noticed now lat he was more badly winded than I, id not capable of much further effort.

grand effort had to be made. I could ?ar a crashing in the woods; some of s companions had heard his whistle id were hurrying up. They would soon revent my escape. My rifle fell when first went to the ground on the foot of y adversary ; I had no idea where it as now, as it was dark. The fresh rivals would certainly be armed, and oulcl readily overpower me, even if un- "mecl, by sheer numbers. During this entire fracas not a word ad passed, excepting a few of a slightly tofane nature, such as men indulge in

when they are at loggerheads with each other. I had long since recognized my would-be captor as the gentleman who had interviewed me at the hotel. He had been in the vicinity when I had fired at the deer ; had heard my shot ; had got close enough to hear the doe run, and hear me crash through the brush after it. Hiding himself, he had recognized me, knew what my business there was, and he proposed to detain me till their business in the neighbor- hood was completed. There was no doubt in my mind whatever that he would kill me willingly, rather than allow me to escape. These facts had gradually forced themselves upon me. I felt sure I had discovered the truth, and I was bound to overcome this man if I had to kill him.

We struggled desperately on the ground, first one had the advantage, then the other. He was gradually grow- ing weaker and more winded. At last I forced him under me ; as he went over I saw a pistol barrel glisten. Wrench- ing it from his hand I placed the muzzle against his temple, but shame over- came me, I could not murder him. Seizing the barrel of the revolver in my hand, I raised the weapon over my head and dashed it down on his temple. It struck with a dull, thudding sound. The fierce clutch on my limbs relaxed ; the senseless form quivered and lay still. My opponent was harmless, not dead, but stunned.

I darted away in the dark woods. I could hear the companions of my late opponent a few yards off. Now they reached the spot where the struggle had occurred, and stumbled over the limp form of their comrade. They spoke to him, no answer, they shook him. I saw the flicker of a light as they bent over him. An exclamation followed. They heard me hastening away and fired two shots in the direction of the sound. I stopped, jumped behind a tree, but instantly dropped on my face and