The combatants did not close on the instant. The sharp blades shining
in their hands rendered them shy of a too near approach, and for some
time they kept apart. They did not, however, remain motionless or
inactive. On the contrary, both were on the alert,--moving in short
curves from one side to the other, and all the while keeping
_vis-a-vis_.
At irregular intervals one of them would make a feint to attack; or by
feigning a retreat endeavour to get the other off guard; but, after
several such passes and counter-passes had been delivered between them,
still not a scratch had been given,--not a drop of blood drawn.
The spectators looked on with a curious interest. Some showed not the
slightest emotion,--as if they cared not who should be the victor, or
which the victim. To most it mattered but little if both should fall;
and there were even some upon the raft who, for certain secret reasons,
would have preferred such a termination to the sanguinary struggle.
A few there were slightly affected with feelings of partisanship. These
doubtless felt a deeper interest in the result, at least they were more
demonstrative of it; and by words of exhortation and cries of
encouragement endeavoured to give support to their respective champions.
There were spectators of a different kind, that appeared to take as much
interest in the fearful affair as any of those already described. These
were the sharks! Looking at them, as they swam around the raft,--their
eyes glaring upon those who occupied it,--one could not have helped
thinking that they comprehended what was going on,--that they were
conscious of a deed of violence about to be enacted,--and were waiting
for some contingency that might turn up in their favour!
Whatever the crisis was to be, neither the spectators _in_ the sea, nor
those _upon_ it, would have long to wait for the crisis. Two men,
mutually enraged, standing in front of each other, armed with naked
knives; each desperately desirous of killing the other,--with no one to
keep them apart, but a score of spectators to encourage them in their
intent of reciprocal destruction,--were not likely to be long in coming
to the end of the affair. It was not a question of swords, where
skilful fencing may protract a combat to an indefinite period of time;
nor of pistols, where unskilful shooting may equally retard the result.
The combatants knew that, on closing within arms' length, one or other
must receive a wound that might in a moment prove mortal.
It was this thought that--for some minutes after their squaring up to
each other--had influenced them to keep at a wary distance.
The cries of their companions began to assume an altered tone. Mingled
with shouts of exhortation could be heard taunts and jeers,--several
voices proclaiming that the "two bullies were afraid of each other."
"Go in, Le Gros! give him the knife!" cried the partisans of the
Frenchman.
"Come, Larry! lay on to him!" shouted the backers of his antagonist.
"Bear a hand, both of you! go it like men!" vociferated the voice of
some one, who did not seem particularly affected to the side of either.
These off-hand counsels, spoken in a varied vocabulary of tongues,
seemed to produce the desired effect. As the last of them pealed over
the heads of the spectators, the combatants rushed towards each other,--
as they closed inflicting a mutual stab. But the blade of each was met
by the left arm of his antagonist, thrown out to ward off the strokes
and they separated again without either having received further injury
than a flesh wound, that in no way disabled them. It appeared, however,
to produce an irritation, which rendered both of them less careful of
consequences: for in an instant after they closed again,--the spectators
accompanying their collision with shouts of encouragement.
All were now looking for a quick termination to the affair; but in this
they were disappointed. After several random thrusts had been given on
both sides, the combatants again became separated without either having
received any serious injury. The wild rage which blinded both,
rendering their blows uncertain,--combined with the weakness of their
bodies from long starvation,--may account for their thus separating for
the second time, without either having received a mortal wound.
Equally innocuous proved the third encounter,--though differing in
character from either of those that preceded it. As they came together,
each grasped the right arm of his antagonist,--that which wielded the
weapon,--in his left hand; and firmly holding one another by the wrists,
they continued the strife. In this way it was no longer a contest of
skill, but of strength. Nor was it at all dangerous, as long as the
"grip" held good; since neither could use his knife. Either could have
let go with his left hand at any moment; but by so doing he would
release the _armed_ hand of his antagonist, and thus place himself in
imminent peril.
Both were conscious of the danger; and, instead of separating, they
continued to preserve the reciprocal "clutch" that had been established
between them.
For some minutes they struggled in this strange fashion,--the intention
of each being to throw the other upon the raft. That done, he who
should be uppermost would obtain a decided advantage.
They twisted, and turned, and wriggled their bodies about; but both
still managed to keep upon their feet.
The contest was not carried on in any particular spot, but all over the
raft; up against the mast, around the empty casks, among the osseous
relics of humanity,--the strewed bones rattling against their feet as
they trod over them. The spectators made way as they came nearer,
nimbly leaping from side to side; while the stage upon which this
fearful drama was being enacted,--despite the ballast of its
water-logged beams, and the buoyancy of its empty casks,--was kept in a
continual commotion.
It soon became evident that Le Gros was likely to get the worst of it,
in this trial of strength. The muscular power of the Frenchman was
inferior to that of his island antagonist; and had it been a mere
contest of toughness, the former would have been defeated.
In craft, however, Le Gros was the Irishman's superior: and at this
crisis stratagem came to his aid.
In turning about, the Frenchman had got his head close to the sleeve of
O'Gorman's jacket,--that one which encircled his right wrist, and
touched the hand holding the dangerous knife. Suddenly craning his neck
to its fullest stretch, he seized the sleeve between his teeth, and held
it with all the strength of his powerful jaws. Quick as thought, his
left hand glided towards his own right; his knife was transferred to it;
and the next moment gleamed beneath, threatening to penetrate the bosom
of his antagonist.
O'Gorman's fate appeared to be sealed. With both arms pinioned, what
chance had he to avoid the blow? The spectators, silent and breathless,
looked for it as a certain thing. There was scarce time for them to
utter an exclamation, before they were again subjected to surprise at
seeing the Irishman escape from his perilous position.
Fortunate it was for him, that the cloth of his pea-jacket was not of
the best quality. It had never been, even when new; and now, after
long-continued and ill-usage, it _was_ almost rotten. For this reason,
by a desperate wrench, he was enabled to release his arm from the dental
grip which his antagonist had taken upon it,--leaving only a rag between
the Frenchman's teeth.
The circumstances had suddenly changed! the advantage being now on the
side of the Irishman. Not only was his right arm free again; but with
the other he still retained his hold upon that of his antagonist. Le
Gros could only use his weapon with the left arm; which placed him at a
disadvantage.
The shouts that had gone up to hail the Frenchman's success--so late
appearing certain--had become suddenly hushed; and once more the contest
proceeded in silence.
It lasted but a few seconds longer; and then was it terminated in a
manner unexpected by all.
Beyond doubt, O'Gorman would have been the victor, had it ended as every
one was anticipating it would,--in the death of one or other of the
combatants. As it chanced, however, neither succumbed in that
sanguinary strife. Both were preserved for a fate equally fearful: one,
indeed, for a death ten times more terrible.
As I have said, the circumstances had turned in favour of the Irishman.
He knew it; and was not slow to avail himself of the advantage.
Still retaining his grasp of Le Gros's right wrist, he plied his own
dexter arm with a vigour that promised soon to settle the affair; while
the left arm of the Frenchman could offer only a feeble resistance,
either by thrusting or parrying.
Their knife-blades came frequently in collision; and for a few passes
neither appeared to give or receive a wound. This innocuous sparring,
however, was of short continuance and ended by the Irishman making a
dexterous stroke, by which his blade was planted in the hand of his
antagonist,--transfixing the very fingers which were grasping the knife!
The weapon fell from his relaxed clutch; and passing through the
interstices of the timber, sank to the bottom of the sea! A scream of
despair escaped from the lips of the Frenchman, as he saw the blade of
his antagonist about to be thrust into his body!
The thrust was threatened, but not made. Before it could be given, a
hand interfered to prevent it. One of the spectators had seized the
uplifted arm of the Irishman,--at the same time vociferating, in a
stentorian voice--
"Don't kill him! we won't need to eat him! Look yonder! We're saved!
we're saved!"