The Go Ahead Boys and the Treasure Cave Part 10

"Lemme go," said Sam roughly, knocking Fred's hand aside.

"Grab him, John. Grab him," shouted Fred as the excited negro made his way past the seat where he was located.

"Lemme go," said Sam darkly, and seeing the look on his face John drew back instinctively.

"Hold him, Grant! Grab him, Pop!" shrieked Fred, at the same time rising to his feet and attempting to catch Sam from behind.

He was too late, however. Sam, seeing that he might be balked in his purpose, took no more chances. He made one flying leap almost over the heads of Grant and George, who were waiting to seize him. This was done so unexpectedly that the two boys were taken by surprise, and though they tried to do as Fred had begged them, they were unsuccessful. Sam tripped and fell forward, but when he landed he fell squarely on top of his enemy.

The boat rocked dangerously. Fred was thrown from his feet and fell headlong to the bottom of the boat. In falling his head struck one of the thwarts, so stunning him that he was unable to move.

"Separate 'em, Grant!" cried John. "Stop that fight!"

Grant threw himself upon the contestants and tried to pinion Sam's arms behind his back. The negro and the sailor were both powerful men, however, and Grant was thrown violently backward as though he had been a mere fly. George caught him just in time to prevent his going overboard.

"I can't stop them," he gasped.

"Hit him on the head," cried John. "Do anything. Make 'em stop. Here, let me get down there," he begged.

"Sit down," shouted George. "Sit down, John, or you'll have us all upset."

"No, I won't, either. Let me get by."

"Sit down, String," begged Grant. "Keep your seat."

"Take this oar, then," cried John. "Hit that c.o.o.n on the head with it."

"It's too big," exclaimed Grant. "Give me something smaller and I'll hit him all right."

The two men in the stern of the boat were locked in each other's embrace. Sam had had the advantage, for he had landed on top of his adversary. Petersen, however, had muscles of steel, hardened by years of service and labor on shipboard. He tried to grab the black man by the throat. The two slipped to the bottom of the boat, where they struggled for the mastery until the veins stood out on their temples and the sweat rolled from them in streams. Their breath came in gasps. It was a strange sight that the early tropical sun looked down upon.

They wrestled and writhed about on the bottom of the boat, first one on top and then the other. It seemed miraculous that they did not go overboard. The s.p.a.ce in which they struggled was so limited that it was next to impossible for any one of the boys to get himself in a position to separate the fighters. Several times Grant tried, but he was always driven back, and after several narrow escapes from falling into the water he gave up the attempt. Fred still lay quietly in the bow, too dazed to be of a.s.sistance.

"We must stop this," cried John. "They'll kill each other."

"I know it, String," agreed Grant, "but what can we do?"

"Hit Sam over the head. He's the one that started it."

"I can't get to his head. His feet are pointed this way and every time I try I get a few swift kicks and nothing more."

"But we must do something to stop them," urged George.

"All right, Pop," said Grant grimly. "You suggest something."

"Isn't there a club in the boat?"

"I don't see any."

"Throw water on them."

"We might do that," exclaimed Grant. "Hand me that canvas bucket, String."

Grant filled it to the brim with water and then soused it as nearly as he could into the faces of the fighters. The only effect it seemed to have was to revive them both and the struggle was continued with renewed fury.

"That won't do," cried Grant.

"It seems to be a question of who will weaken first," remarked John, grimly. "I guess we'll have to sit and watch until that time."

"Not at all," exclaimed George. "I say we all pile on and make them quit."

"And all go overboard if we try that," said Grant. "You forget that we're in a boat, Pop."

"Let me up there, then," urged George. "I'm sure I can end the fight."

Grant gave way to his comrade, only too willing to let some one else try his hand at the problem. They changed places carefully and George prepared to put his plan into execution.

"You better stay here beside me, Grant," he exclaimed suddenly.

"What for?"

"We'll each grab a foot and pull for all we're worth."

"What good will that do?"

"If we can pull one of them away it ought to stop the fight, oughtn't it? A man can't fight with himself."

"All right," agreed Grant. "We'll see what we can do, anyway."

"Be careful now," advised George as Grant took his place beside him.

"This is pretty ticklish business."

The two boys knelt side by side on one of the seats. They leaned forward, eagerly waiting for a chance to seize the infuriated negro by his feet. This was no easy task, however, for his feet flew in all directions and kicked viciously backward, so that a few bruises were the sole results of the first attempts of the two boys.

"Hit him on the shins," advised John. "That'll fix him."

"We'll try this first," said Grant doggedly. His knuckles were bleeding and his forearms were sore from the treatment he had received from Sam's boots. The pain made him angry and more determined than ever to accomplish his purpose.

The fight was now desperate, even more so than before. No human beings could continue at such a killing pace for long, however. Sam still had the advantage which he had held from the beginning. His great powerful hands were now feeling for Petersen's throat, and from the expression in the Finn's eyes it was evident that he could not hold out much longer.

Help must come to him and come quickly.

"I've got him," cried Grant suddenly as he caught hold of one of Sam's feet. "Grab the other one, Pop. Quick."

George grabbed all right, and held on, too. He received a blow over an eye which opened up an ugly cut, but still he hung on desperately.

"Now, pull!" shouted John. "Pull with all your might!"

Both boys exerted themselves to the utmost. They braced themselves and pulled with all the strength that was in them. It was difficult for them even to hang on, however, for Sam struggled desperately and the two boys were thrown all about. Still they retained their hold.