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e other, the madman would summon up courage to make a sudden attack. The attack, however, was precipitated by Gaff inadvertently glancing over his shoulder to observe how far the sun had yet to descend. Instantly, with the leap of a panther, Graddy was upon him with both hands grasping tightly at his throat. Down, down, he pressed him, until Gaff lay on his back with his head over the gunwale. His strength now availed him nothing, for unnatural energy nerved the madman's arm. Billy sprang up and tried to disengage him from his grasp. As well might the rabbit try to unlock the boa's deadly coil. Wrenching the tiller from his father's grasp he hit the madman on the head with all his might; but the poor boy's might was small. The blow seemed to have no effect at all. Again and again he brought it down in an agony of haste lest his father should be strangled before the other was felled. At last he hit him with all his force behind the ear, and Graddy's grasp relaxed as he fell prone on the body of his insensible victim. To pull him off and haul his father into a more convenient position was the work of a few seconds. "O daddy, daddy, speak to me," he cried, loosening his father's neckcloth and unbuttoning his shirt. "Oh, quick! get better before _he_ does," cried Billy wildly, as he shook his father and laved water on his face; "oh! he'll get well first and kill you." In order to do all that lay in his power to prevent this, Billy suddenly sprang up, and, seizing the tiller, dealt the prostrate Graddy several powerful blows on the head. It is not improbable that the frightened boy would have settled the question of his recovery then and there had not his father revived, and told him to stop. For some minutes Gaff sat swaying about in a confused manner, but he was roused to renewed action by seeing Graddy move. "We must hold him now, Billy. Is there a bit of rope about?" "Not a inch, you tied it all round the oars." "It's awkward. However, here's my necktie. It an't strong, but it's better than nothin'." Gaff was about to take it off when Graddy recovered suddenly and attempted to rise. The others sprang on him and held him down; but they did so with difficulty, for he was still very strong. All that night did they sit and hold him, while he raved and sang or struggled as the humour seized him. They did not dare to relax their hold for a moment; because, although he lay sometimes quite s
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