The Final Adversary (19 page)

Word of the match spread like fire through the ship. Crew and passengers alike talked of little else that day, and Davis said to the captain, “I’ve never seen so much excitement, Captain. We’d better lay-to until the match is over. I don’t think we can get enough men to operate the ship!”

“It won’t take long, Mr. Davis.”

“You’re right about that, sir!” Davis laughed. “I just hope Sipes doesn’t hurt the fellow. That wouldn’t look good.”

“I’ll stop it immediately if it gets bad.” Then he smiled. “What if the minister wins?”

“Can’t happen!”

“I suppose not. But if such a miracle does take place, we’ll all get more preaching than we’ve had in our entire lives.”

“You’d go to the services?”

“Yes, and so would you!”

“Aye, sir—but it won’t come to that!”

Barney was amused at the way the other missionaries were so protective of him. “They act like there’s been a death in the family,” he said to Katie as they held to the rail and watched the gray swells rock the ship.

“I know I suggested you, but we’re all afraid you’ll get hurt.” Her eyes reflected her concern. “I don’t think you ought to do it.”

“I’m not sure about it myself.”

“So you
are
nervous!”

“About getting hurt? Not a bit.”

“But he’s so big—that old Sipes!”

“And slow,” Barney shrugged. “If he were twenty pounds lighter and in good shape, I’d be a little worried. But he’s gone to fat and can’t move fast. All I have to do is stay away from him for four rounds.”

Katie was not convinced. “Then what
does
bother you about the match?”

“Oh, I just think it’s a cheap thing to do,” Barney said slowly. “It’s a trick. A sort of practical joke on people.”

“I—never thought of it like that.”

“These men are lost, most of them,” Barney said. “And how’s Sipes going to feel when he can’t beat me? That’s all he’s got—his strength. Do you think he’ll want to hear the gospel after he’s been beaten?”

Katie stared over the rail, thinking hard. Finally she said quietly, “Well, Barney, both of us had to get whipped before we’d listen to God. Maybe that’s what it’s all about. Maybe Mr. Sipes needs to learn he
can
be beaten.”

Her comment provoked interest, and he asked, “Do you think so, Katie? I’d just about made up my mind to call it off.”

“Everyone would call you a coward, you know.”

Barney laughed and turned to look at the waves. The wind was cold, but he loved the clean smell of the sea. “One thing about doing time in Sing Sing, Katie, it sort of takes the edge off remarks people make. After that hell, who cares what people say?”

Andy came up on deck to stand beside them. “Barney,” he said, “do you think you can stay away from him for four rounds?”

“Sure.”

“You’re taking this pretty lightly!” he said, irritated. “Don’t you realize how important it is?”

“It’s just a boxing match, Andy,” Barney shrugged. “And I wish we hadn’t gotten into it.”

“Barney’s not sure it’s right, Andy,” Katie added. “He thinks it might even do harm.”

“Barney!” Andy argued. “It
is
right! It’s a glorious chance to prove to some sinners that Christians aren’t a lot of weaklings! And remember, if you can do it, we’ll have them listening to the gospel every service. You see how important that is, I hope?”

Barney hesitated. He had never been able to argue with Andy. Now he felt the same pressure, and it bothered him. But he gave in. “If you and Awful think I ought to do it, I will.”

“Why, you know Awful! He’s in his element! You just do your part, and I’ll preach some sermons to those men that will burn their hides!” Andy beamed as he hurried off.

Katie said, “I’m not sure Andy is the right one to preach to the crew, Barney.”

“He’s the best preacher.”

“I don’t know that,” she said stubbornly.

“I think
you
ought to preach,” Barney suggested.

“Don’t be silly!”

“Well, you’ll be giving the people in Liberia the gospel, won’t you? So why not get a little practice.” The idea tickled him. “Yes, that’s the way it will be.”

“Andy would never permit it,” Katie protested. “Besides, I’d be too scared.”

“Don’t worry about Andy,” Barney said. “You just get a good sermon ready.”

“Barney, don’t get hurt.” Her voice was laced with concern. The wind whipping her hair and the cold sea spray giving her cheeks a rosy flush was a lovely sight, but went unnoticed by Barney. “You didn’t come all this way to get beat up in this old ship!”

****

At eight o’clock the hold was almost full. During matches every passenger and crew member possible would come to the match. Lighted lanterns hung above the makeshift ring. Unlike those in a real ring, the ropes were made of manila instead of the softer material.

Tonight the missionaries were added to the regular attenders. They were grouped together on one side, facing the crew on the other, with passengers mingled among the spectators. Captain Seale lifted his hand for silence, then announced, “There will be four matches this evening, but the first match will be the most interesting. We have at one hundred and seventy-one pounds, Reverend Barney Winslow. His opponent, at two hundred and six pounds, First Officer Melvin Sipes.”

Barney came to the ropes wearing a suit coat over his shoulders and a pair of worn trousers that he’d cut short.

Sipes had a coat slung over his shoulders, covering his trousers. When the two men tossed their coats aside, a murmur rose from the crowd. Sipes’ bulk was awesome—thick muscles in the arms and shoulders that rippled as he moved. He had a thick paunch, but it looked hard and firm.

Barney appeared slender and fragile next to his contender. He himself knew he was in better shape than he’d been since he had fought regularly. He’d run for miles every day and was
feeling stronger than ever. It had been part of his training to get ready for the mission field.

Captain Seale gave his instructions, warning the fighters about low blows and instructing them to step back at once in case of a knockdown. As he spoke, Barney paid little attention. He let his eyes rove over the crowd and was amused to see the alarm and fear in the eyes of his friends. None of them knew how fit he was, and how that skill always won in the ring. He saw the hunger for violence in Sipes’ face, and then the captain said, “Shake hands and come out fighting!”

They touched gloves and retreated to wait for the bell.

“I hope the dear boy don’t hurt the poor lad,” Awful said as Andy joined him.

The bell rang and the match began. Barney had known the burly officer would charge like a mad bull, and was prepared for it. He simply picked a wild right off with his left glove and stepped aside, sending Sipes into the ropes. He jumped back and came at Barney again, angered at his failure to connect. But again he was unable to lay a glove on the smaller man. He was throwing tremendous punches, but they were slow, making Barney almost laugh as he evaded some and picked others off.

Katie watched with bated breath. It looked as if Sipes were overpowering Barney. She cringed as the officer threw blow after blow, any one of which would have destroyed Barney. But as the round ended and the two men retreated to their respective places, she noticed Sipes was heaving, while Barney was breathing normally.

Andy desperately wanted his brother to win, so he cautioned Barney to stay away from Sipes. This instruction amused Awful because he knew what Barney was doing.

The bell rang, and this time Sipes was more careful. He had fought many times, usually overcoming his opponent by brute force, but this match was different. In the first round he discovered that the preacher was tricky.

Barney perceived Sipes’ strategy and waited for the left
punch. It was a good one, good enough for the amateurs Sipes dominated. But compared with the swift, crisp blows Barney had seen from expert boxers, it was but a puff. Bat simply moved his head, and as the arm lunged past, Barney landed two sharp blows with his left to the officer’s cheek, followed by a hard right to the body.

Cries of surprise filled the air. Was it possible that a preacher could possess such skill? A red welt stood out on Sipes’ face, and the man knew he had been beaten but refused to concede defeat. Throwing lefts and rights from all angles, he tried to smash his opponent, only to have him skillfully avoid every punch.

Captain Seale had seen many fights, and he knew that Barney could have sent crushing blows to Sipes’ face and body. The big man was slow; Barney moved like lightning!

But Barney made no effort to hurt Sipes. When the bell rang, he went to his place and stood against the ropes. Sipes, on the other hand, was gasping for breath but refused to give in when his coach demanded, “Stop fooling with this guy! What’s wrong with you?”

“He—some kind of—dancin’ master! But I’ll get him—this round!”

Sipes was crafty, and though his plan was illegal, he was going to do it to save his pride. In the next round, he suddenly threw his arms around Barney and drove him to the ropes. Holding him there with one vise-like armhold, he sent crushing blows to Barney’s kidneys and then to the nape of his neck. It was like getting hit by an axe handle, and Barney tried to break free.

The captain tried to pull Sipes from Barney, but the man hung on and continued to batter Barney.

“Stop it, Sipes! That’s illegal. Let him go!” the captain yelled, getting a good hold around the waist and jerking him away.

Barney’s head was swimming, his eyes wouldn’t focus. But he had no time to recuperate, for Sipes broke free from
Captain Seale and lunged at Bat again, smashing a right to his head that sent him to the floor.

“Foul blow!” the captain shouted and would have stopped the fight, but Barney got to his feet.

“Are you all right?” Seale asked.

Barney felt dizzy but he nodded, and the captain stepped back. This time Winslow reverted to his old skill, acting from pure instinct. As Sipes roared in, Barney stood flat-footed and drove his fist at the officer’s unguarded chin. The blow stopped him dead in his tracks, and he dropped his hands. Barney could have sent a killing punch in, but his head had cleared, so he simply waited until Sipes regained his senses.

Every spectator recognized Sipes’ helplessness and knew Barney could have half killed the man if he had wanted to. But he chose not to. As the fight went on, Barney moved around the ring, and Sipes followed, trying a jab here and there. By the time the round ended, Sipes could hardly breathe or hold his hands up. Barney had clearly won, and the captain raised Bat’s gloved hand in a symbol of victory.

The missionaries, as well as a few of the spectators, cheered wildly. Andy was elated and was already preparing his sermon in his mind.

Captain Seale raised his hand for silence and said with a slight smile, “I will see all of you at services this Sabbath day according to the terms of the match.”

“Hey, Captain, you don’t really mean that!” one man groaned, followed by a mixture of laughs and groans from the others.

Barney’s voice broke through as he called, “Captain, may I have a word?”

“Why, of course!”

The crowd grew quiet as the champion raised his hand. “I’d like to release all of you from the promise you made about this match,” he said.

Andy stared in unbelief; the captain’s eyes glinted with interest.

“This was not a fair match, and I am sorry to have taken part in it. You see, I was a good boxer for some years. It’s like you officers. You can run the ship because you’re professionals. That’s how I won the fight—I’m a professional boxer.” Then Barney turned and walked over to Sipes.

“Mr. Sipes, it was not a fair match, and I apologize.”

Dumbfounded, Sipes gazed at him wide-eyed, then at the crew, who waited for the usual stream of curses.

But Sipes’ face split in a grin and he said, “Well, blast my pants! You’re a cool one!” He stuck out his hand, saying, “I ain’t no welcher! I said I’d be at church—and at church I’ll be!”

“So will the rest of us,” Captain Seale echoed, his steely eyes sweeping his crew and officers.

Later, Captain Seale said to Andy, “It was the best thing that could have happened to you people. We would have come—but a congregation by force isn’t worth much, is it?”

“No, it isn’t,” Andy agreed, adding with a smile, “That brother of mine! He’s supposed to be a little slow! Imagine his thinking of such a thing! And it was so right!”

“You may know your philosophy, Andrew, but that young man knows people!”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Welcome to Africa!

The S.S.
Caledonia
docked at Liverpool, and after a ten-day layover, proceeded on its journey to Africa. The bad weather that had plagued them on the first leg of their journey now gave way to milder, warmer winds, and the ancient ship nosed steadily through the gray waters.

Lily Ranken and Tobe DeLaughter had finally recovered from their seasickness, and the voyage became almost like a pleasure cruise.

But Awful Gardner knew better and was fully aware that difficult days lay ahead. Though he said little to the others, he often spoke of this to Barney. His premonitions were confirmed late one Sunday afternoon ten days after leaving Liverpool. Barney and he were having coffee with Captain Seale in the dining room when the subject came up. “Well, now,” Gardner said, “these are fine days for all of us, Captain.” He sipped his coffee, his face thoughtful, adding, “I’m thinking, though, we’ll look back on this time as the golden days once we’re into the country.”

Captain Seale stirred his coffee slowly, put the spoon down, and after sipping the hot brew, remarked, “You’re right, and I’m worried about your young people—about all of you, as a matter of fact.”

Barney raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Why, we’ll be all right, Captain.”

Seale gave him a steady look. “You’re all babes in the
woods, Reverend,” he said. “I know a little about the place you’re going to. Do you know what it’s called?”

“Liberia, of course.”

“It’s called ‘The White Man’s Grave’ by many,” Seale said grimly. “I’ve taken many passengers there. Some of them were missionaries like yourselves. And I’ve hauled many of the survivors back to the States.”