Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-29

Gus country. capital table. a. watch
mirJh and merriment reigned. And all IN s
waiie, as the champagne corks popped, and
the piano unkled. and gay groups coated
under the awning art, murder, Stealthy and
pl'iless, lGrked like coEc1snt tiger
ready To spring upon his prey. Bates was
there, civil, silent, scrupulouSly attentive
10 his duty, but often 20 be seen colferriug
with set OF oravny, bra s-compleNionrd
mariners, belonging To the Chinese por fiOa
OF the crew, and whose countenanceS Oeltei
them sorely II they would not have been
than on that or a rexpecta crab like ours.
OF the European sailers, by far the most re-
liable were four or i've stalwart A. BIS,
lately discharged from the Windsor Castle,
aud in whose courage and steadiness 1 felt
that could trust.
From what had overheard was perfect
~ well aware al what Juncture OF our voy-
age the peril awaited as. i knew the Mar
rows" 10 be the name OF the most contracted
part OF the channel, lying between a long
cham OF isiets ana the mainland, place no.
torious for outrages on the part OF the nu-
meTous pirates whom the Incidence or cou-
nivaDce of the Chinese government permits
To iDfest the coast Nothing was easier taan
FOR "A force OF determined men 10 lie hid
among the many creeks that interSect the
shore and to ssssil an un protected mercha
man be ore Their intention was conjectured.
The CaSSandra was a swift vessel and
with a good head Of steam on ard the can
non which She carried should have had lit.
tie doubt OF her power 10 repulse an attack
could but nave relied on my crew. With
traitors ON board, however. ready At sig
nal 10 assist the enemy, there could he no
hope OF a successful defence The more saw
ct the Chinese moiety OF the crew. the less
like heir SCARED, SsllOw faces, some OF
which bore the singular and uudcfnable eN-
Pr - ION that came OF long so burning Ia the
Tapping camp, while all had the air OF true
ulent maraudeTs. Most OF the Christian sea-
men were Portuguese-docile,s warthy crea-
lures but not oVer-warlike, while tine Eng
liSh sailors, with the exception OF the DRAFT
from the Windsor Castle, really were what
sin bad descrlbed-the sweeping Of the grog
shops on the wharf.
Ii needed all nv self control and command
OF features To maintain an unruffled aspect,
join In general conversation, and avoid Civ
ing Bates, the traitor, the slightest IN King
that knew or suspected nothing. He on
| his part, was discretion itself. l could tell,
| by various signs, that he was annoyed at
my refusal TO maintain q high rate OF speed ,
| so as TO enter the Narrows during the hours
of the darkness, which would probably have
facilitated his projects; but on finding that
| was firm he accepted my decision with a
tolersbly good grace, and IL was not until
| morning that we quilted the broader chan
| mel and ran into the straits.
4 "HOw beautiful How lovely Xhat
| sweet islands," exclaimed the ladies who
| stood on the steamers poop, admiring the
| erect of the rosy morning light as IL played
| on the waving groves and dense vegetation
OF the many islands, or all sizes and sha pes,
| between which and the coast we were now
/ threading our way; and the children clapped
| their hands with delight as the red fiamiu-
| goes and silver plumaged ducks rose from
| the swamps on Changing wing. Bat the sight
most desired 10 behold was the open sea
1 hey Ond, If, as was u Unlikely, We should be
| allowed 10 reach IL in safety.
| Captain" said the third mate, Hardy, q
brave and good lad, a. he came hurr ling
| towards me, there's net-sC the look outs
| deciare-right ahead OF us, blocking tue
| channel"
/ sprang into the shrouds, glass IA hand.
anu ono glance suflicet To confirm The young
| ster's WORDS. Across the practicable seaway,
from ShOal TO shoal, stretched a huge net,
| supported here and there by a line Of stakes,
/ and marked by a streak OF fOaming water.
| We were indeed in the tolls. for had heard
| often OF this favCTite device OF the pirates.
My best course was, clearly, 10 keep on.
| Run, Louis, TO Mr.. Bradshaw, the eugi-
neeT," said 10 a smart boy, the stewarl :
| lad, beside me; "desire him TO put the full
| bead OF steam on and keep The Csssandra at
her highest rate of speed. OF with YOU, al
come back To report"
The boy went, but DID not return. The en-
| glLcs worked but slacKiy, and soon a holrse,
| confused noise arose from below. ''Same-
| thing wrong in the engiue- room" said (.
wonderingly. "Mr. Harry, go below and In
| QuiTe what is 8miss."
But the mate had scarcely begun to de-
| scend the ladder before he cried out: Multi
ny, sir, below, Some of these Chinese vile
lains have"
Then he was dragged down by unseen
hands, and left the sentence unfinished; while
almost Instantly the screw ceased 70 revoive,
| aud the steam came rushing up the waste
| pipe, as the Cassandla located idly down the
| current. A cry OF surprise was uttered by
the passengers, and was answered by another
cry-the fierce, exulting yell OF barbarians
assured OF an easy victory, as forth from the
/ mangrove fringed waters OF a nelghboring
| creek there emerged three lorchas, their
/ straw calls spread To catch the breeze, and
| their long sweeps flashing the water into froth
Il as the frantic rowers tugged at them, while
/ outstripping these came on a score Of boa Is
Il sampans, and canoes, full OF wild and scan
lilly Clothed figures, who came on as fast as
PADDLE and pole could urge their light skids,
Il hourishing their weapons with every posi-
| BILE gesture OF brutal menace.
i looked around for Bates. He was, as
Il expected, among the Chinese on the fore
deck, some OF whom had overpowered the
/ engineer and 1remen and stopped the en-
| gines, while the Others were obviously pre-
| pairing for rush aft. Then 1 threw q glance
| at the approaching pirates. IF Hamilton is
| unable TO keep his promise, Heaven help
| u.s." said i, with a groan, as my eye ranged
but what was hostile. "They shall not, any
bow, say that i failed TO do my best. Cast
loose that gum" ordered, pointing TO brass
csrronadei train IL forward and when
The pick OF my English crew obeyed, as
ficer; and the advancing CRinaman, IN whose S
hands now cleaned knives and swords,
| threw back as they were confronted by the
Il threatening muZze of the cannon.
Chicken hearts," Numbered Bates, who
was really bold villain, and he added some
words OF Chinese which revived their cou-
use. spiked every gun OF the lot with my
/ own hands,"
Il 81 know You did, you traitor" shouted
Duckett, the second mate, suddenly emery
/ ing, armed TO the teeth, from the cabin hatch;
Il "but Captain Hepburn and L were clever
| enough TO set all right without your being
the wiser. All, you thought me stupeded,
did you, with the drugged liquor? You're
| mistaken, my hearty, for / pitched brandy
/ and opium overheard together, aud -"
/ Before the second mate could complete his
speech Bates had drawn his revolver and
| tred three shots, the first OF which grazed
Ducketts left temple, while the third in
1 jured me slightly In the shoulder. Bang! in
answer, went the brass gun, and the grape
shot swept the fore decks as with the scythe
OF death, moving down the mutinecrs IKE
| grass. But already the canoes and sampans
were graphing with US, and the ladies'
| shrieks blended with the war-cries OF the
pirates, as wild forms came clam boring over
the Cassandra's bulwarks, and the Chinese
crew, cowed for moment, plucked up spirit
| enough 10 renew the attack.
What was mat? Surely, could not he
mistaken. 1t must belt was a ringing
| British cheer that reached me, In the mid &
L OF all that hendish discord, and promised
| hope. A boat, yes, and another, came to-
| wards us as fast as the gallant rowers could
/ urge them with their tough ashen oars.
| The boats OF III. NJ. s. Wasp, no doubt, for
| here, from behind the friendly shelter OF a