"
He laughed, rendered ugly by her open defiance.
"Then I 'll teach you. You are not the first of your kind I have tamed,
young lady. The door is locked, and you have n't any weapon; don't try
to fool me!"
"I have told you once," she said earnestly, "not to touch me."
He glanced about sneeringly, yet impressed by her manner of speaking.
"Good Lord! do you mean Craig? A lot that fellow will help you. But we
've had enough of this. Will you come over here to me?"
"No!"
"Then I'll take a chance; damn me, but you're worth it!"
Neither one saw me, yet I was across the room before he had taken the two
steps forward, and gripped her arm. I saw her struggle to break free,
and then, out of the shadow I leaped at him, both hands seeking his
throat. There was to be no alarm, no shooting, if it could be avoided.
While it might be true, as he had boasted, that the crew was forward, we
could afford to take no chance. The very impetus of my rush sent him
staggering, and left her helpless on the deck; yet I got grip on his
collar, choking back the first cry, and struck him once, a half-arm jolt,
which would have sent him sprawling, but for the cabin wall. Yet he
rallied so quickly as to overcome this advantage. Judging him from his
size I had underrated his fighting ability, for he was all muscle, swift
in movement as a cat, squirming out of my grasp before I could close
firmly.
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