The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-04-06

lanl, place notorious Tor uAifAeos "a
The part Of he numerous pirates WHOM
the ipdoieueo Or convenience of thc Chi
nese government permits TO uiesl thi
coast Nothing was easier than for
force Of determined men to iie bid anoul
The many creeks thAt lniAid the shore
and 70 sssail an unprotected merchant
man before their intention was eonjectur
ed.
The Cassandra was a swim vessel, an,
with good bead of steam on aud tht
cannon which she carried ! should hsvt
had liltle doubt of her power to repuls,
an attack could have relied upon hel
crew With traitors on board, however
ready at signal to assist the enemy
there caud be no hope Of successful
defence. The more saw Of the Chimes,
moiety Of the crew, the less liked theii
scared ssllow faces, some Of which Dor,
the singular and undehnable expression
that came Of a long sojourn in the Taep
ing camp where al had the air of trucu
lent marauders Most Of the Chimes,
seamen were Portuguese, docile, swarthy
creatures, but not over war-liko, while
the Euglsh sailors, with the exception
OF the draft from the Windsor Castle
really were what sin had described
the sweepngs Of the grog-shops on the
wharf.
II needed oil my Seli-oontrol aud com.
mand of features TO maintain on unrufii
ed aspect, join in general conversation
aud avoid giving Bates, the traitor, the
slightest inkling that knew or suspected
anything. lie, on his part was discretion
itself. | could tell, by various signs, that
be was annoyed at my refusal TO main
tain high rate OF speed, so as TO enter
the Narrows during the hours of dark
ness, which would probably have iacii.
ated his projects; but on finding that
was firm be accepted my decision with
a tolerable good grace, sad it was not
until the morning that we quilted the
broader chanuel and ran into tho straits.
How beautifnll How lovelyl What
sweet islands exclaimed the ladies as
they stood on the steamers poop, admir-
ing the effect Of the rosy morning light
as il played upon the waving groves and
dense vegetation of 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 delight as the red namingoes and
silver-plumaged ducks rose from the
swamps on changing wing Bat the
sight most desired to behold was the
open sea beyond, it, as was very likely,
we should be allowed to reach it in safe
ty.
Captain, said the third mate, Hardy, a
brave and good lad, as he came hurrying
towards me, there's net--so the look
outs decare-right ahead OF us, blocking
the channel.
sprang into the sbrouds, glass In
hand, and one glance suiiiced TO confirm
the Youngsters words. Across the prac-
ticable sesway, from shoal to shoal,
stretched huge net, supported here and
there by line of stakes, marked by a
streak of foaming water. We were in
deed in the tolls, for had heard often OF
this favorte device of the pirates My
bes; course was clearly, to keep on.
Run, Louis, to Mr.. Bradshaw, the en-
gineer, said | to smart boy, the stew
ards lad, and desire him to put full
head of steam on and keep the Cassandra
at her full speed. OF with you and come
back TO report.
The boy went, bat did not return -
The engines worked but sackly, aud
soon hoarse, confused noise arose from
below.
Something wrong in the engine room
said wonderingly. Mr.. Hardy, go be-
low and inquire what is amiss.
But the mate had hardly begun to
descend the ladder before he called out;
Mutiny, sir, below. Some Of these
Chinese
Then hc was dragged down by unseen
hands and left the sentence unfinished,
while almost instantly the screw ceased
to reyolve, and the steam came rushing
up the waste pipe, as the Cassandra
boated idly down the current. A cry Of
surprise was uttered by the passengers,
and was answered by another cry--the
fierce, exulting yell Of barbarisns assured
of an easy victory, as forth from the man
grove fringed waters OF a neighboring
creek there emerged three lorchas, their
straw sails spread TO catch the breeze,
aud their long sweeps lashing the water
into iroth as the frantic rowers tugged at
them, while outstripping these came on
score Of boats, sampans aud canoes,
full of wild aud scantily clothed figures,
who came on as fast as paddle aud pole
could urge their light skins, nourishing
their weapons with every possible ges.
turs Of brutal menace.
looked around for Bates. He was,
as expected, among the Chinese on the
the foredeck, some of whom had over
powered the engineer and fireman aud
stopped the engines, while the Others
were obviously preparing for rush aft
Then threw glance at the approaching
pirates. II Hamilton is unable to keep
his promise, heaven help Us, said | with
groan 81 my eye ranged over land and
water, without seeing aught but what
I was hostile.
They shall not, anyhow, say that !