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Show ilfrnTirmiristtlsffl Hrr-r-T nMswrrTn-nim siisiiisiistfSsifrlfl Thero Is a small island lying about two miles off the gulf coast, near Corpus Cor-pus Chrlstl, In Texas, that can bo reached when tho tlilo is out by wading wad-ing or riding a horse through the shallow shal-low water. The Island Is a beautiful spot, eagerly sought by tourists, picnic pic-nic parties and tired peoplo who want to enjoy an outing. After a day's enjoyment In this lonely retreat a small party of young peoplo who reside In the vicinity of Corpus Christ! were preparing to return re-turn to their homes when Miss Fanny Klackman, a pretty girl who enjoys riding on horseback, concluded that It would bo great fun to exchange her seat In tho boat with ono of the young men who had ridden a pony to tho Island. Whllo they were slowly Journeying through the water, laughing and singing, sing-ing, Miss Flackman's horse suddenly threw up his head, staggering and snorting as If frightened nnd hurt. Ho mado a powerful lunge forward, bellowing bel-lowing like a wild mustang, and as he mado an attempi to rear up for another an-other plunge, two long, snnkty looking arms shot out of the water by tho side of his head. Realizing that some monster mon-ster had attacked her horse, Miss Flackman screamed with terror, calling call-ing loudly for help. John Sailings urged his horse speedily forward. Ho was raised on tho coast, and being fnmlllar with tho denizens of tho sea, ho no sooner saw tho slimy sucker than he recognized it as a part of a monster devil fish. "An octopus, a devil fish," shouted a dozen voices ns those on horseback crowded to the rescue of their com- panlon. Tho horses scented danger, and though the boys wcro lashing them with fury nnd driving their spurs Into their flanks thoy refused to approach ap-proach their struggling comrade. The boys In the beat pushed the bow of their little craft closo to tho dovll fish, and ono of them began to strlko It with an ore, while another made battle with a boat hook. Tho enraged monster suddenly rose to tho surface, spreading out a tangled mass of long suckers, and emitting an Inky fluid that colored the waters of tho sea. Revolvers and guns were quickly brought into action and the boys rained lead into the quivering mass of living deviltry, which seemed to havo no further effect than to Increase Its rage and cause It to lash tho sea with some of Its arms, while others wore fastened upon the struggling horse. Finding that he could not force his horse close enough to bo of servtco to Miss Flackman, George Judy, a valiant young rancher, drew his pockctkntfo and plunged Into tho sea. Seizing tho Imperiled girl about tho waist, bo drew hor on his shoulders and was in tho act of bearing her away when tho floundering horse turned his head around, dragging tho octopus bo near that It lashed against his body and caused him to stumble. Regaining an attitude of defense, ho found that an arm of tho persistent devilfish was fastened about tho screaming girl's anklo. His knife happened to bo a good ono, and a single forceful blow sufficed to sever tho repulsive member mem-ber of tho monstor's body. Other arms, vibrating with rage llko tho tongues of mad reptiles, shot abovo the confused waves, and In the midst of them appeared the head and great eyes of horror within a few feet of tho rescuer's face. The young man's blado flashed, and at every stroke a( tentacle fell, severed, upon the foaming sea. The monster squirmed and lashed the water, apparently little affected by tho loss of several of Its terrible weapons. When the boat touched the heroic young man's side, he was almost ready to fall from exhaustion. The horse shook the suckers loose from his nose, and as Miss Flackman and her valiant rescuer wero assisted Into the boat they saw tho fragments of tho octopus still quivering with combatlveness, slowly sinking about tho hideous head and body. |