CHAPTER XXI
A FIGHT FOR A BOAT
As by a prearranged signal, all four of the Germans threw down theiroars and jumped to their feet. Harris, at that moment, in spite ofJack's warning, had been gazing across the sea absolutely unconsciousof his surroundings. He was lost in thought.
Frank, at the helm, uttered a cry of warning even as the closest Germanleaped for Harris and the latter wheeled quickly. He dodged just as theman struck out with a knife he had drawn.
"Want to cut me up, do you?" muttered Harris.
In spite of the wabbling of the boat he fell into an attitude ofdefense--the old fighting form that had won for him the championship ofthe British navy in the squared circle. He didn't advance, for hewasn't certain of his footing, the boat pitched so, but he felt fullyable to take care of himself.
It was characteristic of him that he made no cry for help. He knew thatJack must have heard Frank's cry of warning. He knew that he would getall the assistance it was in Jack's power to give; and he felt that ifJack were unable for any reason to aid him he must, nevertheless, givea good account of himself.
When Harris evaded the first blow, the German, caught off his balance,pitched forward against him. Harris was almost toppled over, but hethrew his left arm around the man's neck and aimed a vicious blow athim with his right fist.
The German's knife arm, because of Harris' hold, dangled helpless athis side. In vain he sought to get it in position where he could drivethe point into Harris' body. Harris realized the man's intention. Witha sudden move, he pushed the German from him and struck out as he didso. The man staggered back, reeled unsteadily and toppled over the sideof the boat with a cry.
The three other Germans rushed Harris at that moment. This time theBritish sailor was not caught off his guard, and he held the men atarm's length for several seconds.
Meanwhile, Jack had leaped forward, crying to Frank as he did so:
"Keep the helm, Frank! We don't want the boat overturned."
Frank obeyed, much as he would have liked to join in the fight.
Jack reached Harris' side and together the two faced the three Germans.
"We've got them, now," said Harris, quietly.
"Men," said Jack, quietly, "unless you return to your oars immediately,we shall be forced to throw you overboard."
There was a snarl from the three men. Suddenly one dropped to his kneesand seized Harris by the legs. Caught off his guard, the latter fell tothe bottom of the boat and the others leaped on him.
A knife flashed in the hand of one. With a cry, Jack stooped downquickly and seized the man's wrist even as the point of the weaponwould have been buried in Harris' back. The lad twisted sharply and theknife went flying into the sea.
"You would, would you!" cried Jack.
He jerked the man to his feet, planted two hard blows on his chin, andas the man reeled forward clipped him once more. One, two, threebackward steps the man took and then pitched over the side of the boat.
"Two gone!" exclaimed Jack.
But he was wrong. For the first man who had been knocked into the seahad been revived by the shock of the cold water. Swimming around theboat unobserved, he had come up behind Frank and now reached up andgrabbed Frank by the coat. With a cry of alarm, the lad toppled intothe water.
Jack heard his friend's cry. Quickly he took in the situation. Harrishad regained his feet and seemed capable of disposing of the tworemaining Germans. With a cry to Harris, Jack leaped over the side.
Some distance away he saw Frank struggling with the German who hadpulled him from the boat and he swam quickly in that direction.
"I'm coming, Frank!" he called. "Hang on to him."
Frank was doing his best, but he had been taken by surprise and theadvantage was with his opponent. The German's hand closed about thelad's throat and he was slowly choking him. Even as Jack came abreastof the struggling figures, Frank threw up his hands and the twodisappeared from sight.
Jack, greatly alarmed, dived after them.
Below the surface of the water his hands encountered the strugglingfigures. He seized the first his hand came in contact with and struckupward. Upon the surface again, he found that he had seized hold ofFrank.
Keeping his fingers clenched tightly in Frank's coat--that the ladmight not be drawn under again Jack aimed carefully at the face of theGerman, which now was close to him, and struck out with all hisstrength.
Instantly, the hand on Frank's throat relaxed and the German sank fromsight.
By the force of the impact as the blow landed Jack knew that the Germanwould trouble them no more. Supporting Frank with his left arm, hestruck out for the boat with his right.
The German officer leaned over the side and lent a hand in draggingFrank's limp body over the side. Jack clambered over after him. Then hetook a view of the part of the boat where Harris battled with two ofthe enemy.
Both of the latter wielded knives and it was plain to Jack that Harrishesitated to come to close quarters with them, as he had no assistanceat hand; for he realized that, should he be overcome, the men wouldhave little trouble of disposing of Frank and Jack, as they tried toclimb back in the boat. But now that Jack was able to come to hisassistance again, Harris made ready for a spring.
Jack saw this move and called:
"Wait a minute, Harris!"
Harris stayed his spring and Jack again advanced to his side. Jack'sface was white and his clothing was dripping water. He was very angryand his fingers clenched and unclenched.
"You men," he said in a cold voice, "were given a chance for your livesthe same as the rest of us. Now you will either throw down those knivesor die."
One made as if to obey, but the other stopped him.
"Wait!" he cried. "He wants us to throw down our knives so they canoverpower us."
To the other this seemed good reasoning. Both Germans, still wieldingtheir weapons, drew backward slowly. Jack and Harris advanced as slowlyafter them.
"Drop them!" cried Jack, again.
Suddenly one of the Germans sprang forward and aimed a vicious blow atJack with his knife. The move had been so unexpected, retreating as themen had been, that Jack was almost caught off his guard. He sidesteppedquickly, however, and avoided the knife.
But in leaping aside he had jostled Harris, who, dodging a blow aimedby the second German, now was thrown off his balance. In vain he triedto catch himself. It was no use. He went over the side of the boat,uninjured, but for the moment unable to lend Jack a hand.
With two foes before him, Jack realized there was not a moment to belost. He determined to take the offensive himself, in spite of the oddsagainst him.
With a subdued cry of anger, he charged the two Germans, in spite ofthe violent rocking of the boat. He caught a stabbing wrist with hisright hand and twisted sharply even as he drove his left fist into theman's face. There was a cry of pain and the knife clattered to thebottom of the boat. Again and again the lad struck, paying no attentionto the second man. Then, with an extra vicious blow, he knocked theGerman clear of the boat into the sea.
At the same instant, Harris, who was just climbing back into the boat,uttered a cry of warning and Jack turned just in time to dodge a knifethrust aimed at him by the second German.
With only a single enemy before him, a smile broke over Jack's face. Hecalled to Harris.
"Stay back, Harris. I'm going to settle with this man myself."
The German shrank back, and for a moment it seemed that he would throwdown his knife and cry for mercy. But if he had such a thought in hismind, he discarded it; he sprang at Jack, fiercely.
Again Jack avoided the thrust of the knife and caught the stabbingwrist in his right hand. Then, bringing all his tremendous strength tobear, he stooped slightly and jerked with his hand.
The German was pulled clear of the bottom of the boat and ascended intothe air. Then he shot suddenly forward and cleared the boat by a goodfive feet.
There was to be one last encounter before the
possession of the boatfinally came into the hands of the friends undisputed. One of theGermans, revived by the water, had come up aft and laid hold of theboat near where the German officer sat. The latter saw him and shiftedhis position just in time to avoid being dragged overboard.
He grew suddenly very angry.
"You murderous dog!" he cried.
Rising to his feet he stooped quickly and seized an oar. Before the manin the water could realize his purpose, he had brought the oar downwith all his force on the hand that grasped the boat.
With a howl of pain the German released his hold, his fingers shatteredby the force of the blow. Without a word the German officer dropped theoar and resumed his seat.
Jack and Harris now approached Frank's side and the former bent overhim. Frank was just regaining consciousness. He smiled as Jack askedhim how he felt, and asked:
"Did you lick them all?"
"You bet," returned Jack, then turned to Harris. "I suppose we shouldpick up some of those fellows, if we can. We can't see them drownbefore our eyes."
"You're too soft hearted for me," declared Harris. "However, whateveryou say."
They gazed into the water. There was no German in sight.
"Be ready to jump in the moment a head appears," said Jack.
Harris nodded and the two stood ready to give aid to the first enemythat should appear.
Ten minutes they waited--fifteen. No head appeared above the surface ofthe water.
"I guess it's no use," said Jack, slowly, at last. "They're gone!"