red to arouse suspicion--he
had heard a noise, or seen a shadow--and was investigating curiously.
He came up to the stern rail, standing still, a huge bulk in the gloom,
his gaze on the swinging boat. Then, unsatisfied, he leaned forward,
and began to explore with one hand. Apparently he touched something
strange; the edge of her skirt it must have been, for there was a bit
of cloth in the lifted fingers. Noiselessly I arose to my feet,
planting myself firmly on the wet deck. There was but one means of
escape now, and big as the fellow was, I must accept the chance.
Another minute would mean discovery, and his bull voice would roar the
length of the ship. He neither saw, nor heard me, his whole attention
concentrated on the boat. Without warning, putting every ounce of
strength into the blow, I struck, landing square on the chin. There
was a smothered groan, and he collapsed, hurled back bodily, his arms
flung up. I heard him thud against the rail, his great form bending to
the shock, and then he went over, whirling through the air.

The result was so sudden, so unexpected, as to be all accomplished
before I realized its possibility. I saw him go down, blindly clawing
with his hands at the open air, and yet it was more a delirium than a
reality. There was no splash, no cry, and I leaned over the rail,
rubbing my bruised knuckles, and staring down into the black void where
the fellow had disappeared, scarcely believing the truth of what I had
actually witnessed.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice barely audible. "What has happened?"

Her voice seemed to recall me instantly, to restore my numbed faculties.

"Why, really I hardly know," I answered, yet stepping back to grip the
ropes. "The fellow had hold of your dress, did n't he?"

"Yes, oh! I was so frightened, and--and then he jerked me horribly."

"That was when I hit him. I must have got the big brute just right.
He fell back as if he had been pole-axed, crashed into the rail, and
went overboard."

She looked down into the swirl beneath, clutching the edge of the boat
with her hands.

"Is--is he down there--in the water? Do you--you suppose he is
drowned?"

"I don't see what else he could be. I did n't mean to kill him; just
to knock him out, but I don't believe he had any swim left by the time
he hit the water."

"I--I cannot bear to think of it!"

"Now see here," I said, coming back to my senses. "This is all
foolishness, and losing