The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-02-10

| tAsS AACASuGAtSS WIN "ClC W SOIL "AsA Oc,
along with other wealthy passengers, Eu-
ropean and Chinese. From these latter a
heavy ransom could probably, by threats
or torture, be extorted; while the steamer
twas no doubt insured for her full value,
and could probably be surreptitiously
sold into the Japan or Indian trade after
her cargo had heen unloaded and the evil
dence Of unwelcome witnesses summarily
suppressed. = .,, ..>.. ..,
What was to do? might, by de-
nouncing the plot to the admiral in CON-
mand of the station, Illustrate or defer its
execution, but that was all. 1t needs a
strong case to procure any action on the
part of the imperial authorities against a
rich Chinaman, and I mad but my bare
word to set against the assertions Of Bates
ami Sin. might resign, but then, with
more compliant Captain, the Cassandra
would 60 to sea, and 49,
Why, Hepburn, are you asleep or
awaken" cried a genial voice, as l found
myself confronted by an especial friend
OF mine, Commander. or Captain Hamil-
ton, OF H. NJ. gunboat Wasp, q dashing
officer and an excellent seaman, who had
never forgotten in the difference of our
present rank old schoolboy frolics shared
in England. Well, I could not have
wished for safer confidant, and in few
moments had told him all. A long talk
We had together, and when we separated,
Hamilton's parting words were: Leave
it to me, Frank, to see you we'll through
this" ,esG =:
We sailed in fair weather and with a
smooth sea, and just wind enough to fill
the white sails OF the pleasure boats that
danced merrily around US. Lillian stood
among the ladies on the quay, waving
her handkerchief l marveled to myself
what would have been her feelings had
she known how soon the spotless deck of
the Cassandra was likely to be Redeemed
with blood. All Chung and his partner
Sin were there, too, to give US a parting
blessing as we went out like sheep, as
they fully intended, to the slaughter. But
| kept my own counsel, and the rascally
owners of the steamer saw in me nothing
but dupe.
There were, as have said, sundry pas.
sengers, rich Chinese for the most part,
with some Europeans, and few ladies
and children. The cabins were large and
commodious, and We kept, as usual in
that luxurious country, capital table, at
| which mirth and merriment rel gned. And
all this while, as the champagne corks
POPPCA, oAu tAlC plouO liuAlCu, duu gay
groups chatted under the awning aft, muir.
der, stealthy and pitiless, lurRed like
couchant tiger ready to spring upon his
prey. Bates was there, civil, silent,
scrupulously attentive to his duty, but
often to be seen comforting with set of
brawny, brass-complexioned mariners,
belonging to the Chinese portion of the
| crew, and whose cOuntenances belied
them sorely if they would not have been
more at home on the deck of pirate junk
| than on that of respectable craft like
ours. OF the European sailors, by far
the most reliable were four or five stalwart
A. BIS, lately discharged from the Wind
sor Castle, and in whose courage and
steadiness felt that could trust.
From what had overheard I was per-
fectly well aware at what juncture of our
voyage the peril awaited Us. I knew the
Narrows" to be the name of the most con-
tracted part of the channel, lying between
long chain Of islets and the mainland, q
place notorious for outrages on the part of
| the numerous pirates whom the Incidence
| or cOnnivance Of the Chinese Government
| permits to intest the coast. Nothing was
| easier than for force Of determined men
! to lie hid among the many creeks that in
tersect the shore and to assail an unpro-
tected merchantman before their intention
| was conjectured. ..a.. +
The Cassandra was swift vessel, and
with good head of steam on and the can
non which she carried should have had
little doubt of her power to repulse an at
tack could but have relied on my crew.
With traitors on board, however, ready
at signal to assist the enemy, there could
be no hope of q successful defense. The
more saw Of the Chinese moieV of the
crew, theless liked their SCARED, sallow
faces, some Of which bore the singular
and undefinable expression that came
of long sojourning in the Tapping camp,
/ while all had the air of truculent maraud-
ers. Most OF the Christian seamen were
Portuguese-docile, swarthy creatures,
but not over-warlke; while the English
sailors, with the exception of the draft
from the Windsor Castle, were really what
Sin had described-the sweepings Of the
grog shops on the wharf.
1t needed all my self-control and com
mand Of features to maintain an unruf1ied
aspect, join in general conversation, and
avoid giving Bates, the traitor, the slight
est inkling that knew or suspected any,
thing. He, on his part, was discretion it.
self. l could tell, by various signs, that
he was annoyed. at my refusal to maintain
high rate of speed, so as to enter the
Narrows during the hours of darkness,
which world probably have facilitated his
projects; but on finding that was firm
he accepted my decision with . tolerably
good grace, and it was not until morning
that we quilted the broader channel and
ran into the straits.
How beautiful! How lovely! What
sweet islands," exclaimed the ladies who
stood on the steamers poop, admiring the
effect Of the rosy morning light as it
played on the waving groves and dense
vegetation of the many islands, OF all
sizes and shapes, between which and the
coast we were now threading our way
and the children clapped their hands with
dellght as the red hamingoes and silver
plumaged ducks rose from the swamps on
changing wing. But the sight most de-
sired to behold was the open sea beyond.
if, as was unlikely, we should be allowed
to reach it in safety. e S. {
Captain, - said the third mate. Hardy
brave and good lad, as he came hurry.
ing toward me, there's q net-so the
lookouts declare-4ight ahead of iis.
blocking the channel"
sprang into the shrouds, glass in hand,
and one glance suficed to confirm the
youngsters words. Across the practi-
cable seaway, from .shoal to shoal,
stretched / huge net, supported here and
there BY line Of stakes, and marked by
streak of foaming wafer. WesWefe in
deed in the tolls, for / had heard often Of
this favorite device Of the pirates. My
" Run, Louis, to Mr.. Bradshaw, the en-
al none aoi6 "a n asSASN< 49, tho sfAvv