A Lad of Mettle

by Nat Gould

Muriel Wylde was still weak from the effect of the shock she had received, and Edgar had to support her. He seemed nothing loath to do so, and his companion felt a sense of pleasurable security with his strong arm round her waist.

On reaching the quay Edgar called out to a boatman, who came slowly towards them in his tiny craft.

He explained that he wanted to be taken to the Cuzco, and the boatman agreed.

Edgar handed his companion down into the boat, and as she stepped on to the seat she looked up and gave a cry of alarm. Behind Edgar stood the tall Egyptian, who had crept stealthily up, and was about to stab Edgar in the back. At her cry Edgar looked round, and, seeing no other way of escape, he sprang into the water. The Egyptian sprang after him, and grasped Edgar by the arm. A terrible struggle then took place, and in the water the Egyptian proved the more powerful.

The man in the boat made no movement until Muriel Wylde seized a round pole, and tried to hit Edgar’s assailant on the head. The boatman then took the part of his countryman, and attempted to seize the pole and wrench it out of Muriel’s hands. The girl, however, was now thoroughly roused. Edgar had rescued her, and she must do the same for him, for he was in deadly peril. The Egyptian dragged Edgar down and got his head under the water, with the evident intention of drowning him.

A struggle commenced in the boat, but by a lucky stroke Muriel managed to hit the boatman in the chest, and he fell overboard. The Egyptian was not far from the boat, and Muriel, raising the pole, brought it down heavily on his head, causing him to loose his hold of Edgar.

Half suffocated, Edgar came to the surface, and struck out feebly for the boat.

Muriel leaned over the side and grasped him by the arm. Pulling with all her strength, she managed to give him sufficient assistance to help him to scramble into the boat.

The two Egyptians in the water were on either side of the boat, and were trying to upset it, and Muriel kept them from clambering in by hitting at them with the pole.

Edgar was well-nigh exhausted, but he managed to set the sail, and, as the breeze was blowing from the shore, the boat soon made headway and left the Egyptians behind. Finding pursuit hopeless, they swam ashore, and stood there gesticulating furiously.