oval lenses of clear blackness, set
close together, were in the front of the bulk, just over the spot where
the tentacles started. These gigantic, appalling, expressionless eyes
were fixed upon him. The monster was coming aboard to see what kind of
creature it was that was giving him so much trouble.

Jan saw that the end of the fight was very near. The thought, however,
did not unnerve him. Rather, it put new fire into his nerves and
muscles. By a tremendous wrench he succeeded in reaching with the knife
the tentacle that bound his right arm. This freedom was like a new lease
of life to him. He made swift play with his blade, so savagely that he
was able to drag himself back almost completely into the cabin before
the writhing horrors again closed upon him. But meanwhile, the monster's
gigantic body had gained the deck. Those two awful eyes were slowly
drawing nearer; and below them he saw the viscid mouth opening and
shutting in anticipation.

At this a kind of madness began to surge up in Jan Laurvik's overtaxed
brain. His veins seemed to surge with fresh power, as if there were
nothing too tremendous for him to accomplish. He was on the very point
of stopping his resistance, plunging straight in among the arms, and
burying his big blade in those unspeakable eyes. It would be a
satisfaction, at least, to force them to change their expression. And
then, well, something might happen!

Before he could put this desperate scheme into execution, however,
something did happen. Jan was aware of a sudden darkness overhead. The
monster was evidently aware of it, too, for every one of the twisting
horrors suddenly shrank away, leaving Jan to lean up against the
doorway, free. The next moment a huge black shape descended
perpendicularly upon the fleshy mountain of the monster's back, and a
rush of water drove Jan backward into the cabin.

As the electric lamp had gone out when the glass was broken, Jan could
see but dimly the awful battle of giants now going on before him. So
excited was he that he forgot his own new peril. The danger was now that
in the struggle one or other of the battling bulks might well crush the
cabin flat, or entangle the air-tube and life-line In either case Jan's
finish would be swift; but in comparison with the loathsome death from
which he had just been so miraculously saved, such an end seemed no very
dreadful thing. He was altogether absorbed in watching the prowess of
his avenging rescuer.

S