Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-08-05

1t so happened that my doubts were to
be solved, with vengeance, for as | was
making my way homeward, by a short
cut, from the house of Mr.. Travis, heard .
my own name mentioned, and mechan-
ically came to halt, close to ruinous !
godoWa, or native warehouse, void of
goods now, and through the rotten breach I
ed bamboo walls | caught a glimpse o
two persons in earnest conversation
One wore the flowing robe, which sufi
ciently denoted his country the other
was in European garb.
q" We must cut his throat,' said the
latter, thoughttully; " for Frank Hep
burns clear grit, though | never liked
the dog"
Must you, indeed, Mr.. Bates p
thought 1, for had recognized my pre-
cious first officer in the gentleman in
black shore going clothes, "but, with
your leave, there will be two to that bar
gain"
" You do as you muchey like. You
master !" said Sin, with II cackling little
laugh perhaps moro comfortable no
tale" tell"
But" said Bates, meditativey, cit
will be tough job. There are those
English forecastle fellows thatyou aooutd
put on board"
"Well, well, my dear Bates" replied
Sin, coaxingly; would it do for them to
say, Ah-chaug and partner no decent
hand, only scum of grog-shop no won
der CaSSandra no able to make fight in
the Narrow's."
'.Ah, that's it. Hepburn will make
fight, and those English chaps will stand
by him. Six brass guns, too, and long
rifle gun l tell you--"
And | tell you," interrupted Sin, be-
coming excited, "you finch now, and
Ah-chang say : Bates turned coward,
Bates no good he no get ten thousand
silver dollar. | say steamer must be
boarded, cargo must be taken, passenger
pay ransom, Or" and he ended the
sentence by passing his yellow hand edge
ways across his throat. "And as for
guns, why -Suro some one there !" he
added in alarm.
A bit of bamboo had cracked under
my feet, making considerable noise, and
l hurried away before my presence should
be discovered.
What was | to do Nothing was clear
er but that the toulest treachery was de-
signed, and that life and property were
alike in danger. The Cassaadra had on
board a valuable cargo, belonging to the
native merchants, who were to sail with
US, along with other wealthy passengers,
European and Chinese. From these lat
ter heavy ransom could probably, by
threats of torture, be extorted while the
steamer was no doubt insured for her full
value, and could probably be sold into
the Japan or Indian trade, after her car
90 had been unloaded, and the evidence
of unwelcome witnesses summarily sup
pressed.
What could do ? | might by expos
ing the plot to the Admiral in command
Of the station, frustrate, or defer is exc
cution, but that was all. Itneeds a strong
case to procure any action on the part OF
the Imperial authorities against rich
Chinaman, and had but my bare word
to set against the assertions of Bates and
Sin. l might resign, but even then,
with more plant captain, the CdsSdu-
dra could still go to sea on her dreadful
mission, and
"Why, Hepburn are you asleep ?'
cried genial voice, as | found myself
confronted by a special friend Of mine,
Captain Hamilton, Of Her Majesty's gun
boat Wasp, a dashing officer, and a
! splendid seaman, who had never forgot
ten, in the difference of our present rank,
our schoolboy frolics shared in England.
Well, | could not have wished for a
better adviser or safer confdant, and |
told him all. A long talk we had togeth-
er, and when we separated for the night,
Hamilton's parting words were =" Leave
it to me, Frank, to see you well through
this !"
We sailed in fair weather, and with a
smooth sea, and just wind enough to fill
the white sails Of the numerous pleasure
boats that danced m errly around US
Lillian was among the ladies who stood
on the qtay, waving her handkerchief to
me. | maTveed to myself what would
have been her feelings had she known
how soon the spotless deck Of the CoSSdlt-
Qro would be redeemed with blood All
chand and his partner Sin were there too,
to give US a parting blessing, as we went
out like sheep Cas they fully intended) to
the slaughter. But | kept my own coun-
sci, and rascally owners Of the steamer
saw in me nothing but dupe.
There were, as 1 have said, sundry pas
sengers, rich Chinese tor the most part,
with some Europeans, and few ladies
and children. The cabins were large and
splendid, and we kept, as usual in that lux
urious land, sumptuous table, at which
mrth and merriment reigned. And all
this, while, as the champagne corks pop
ped, and the piano sent forth sweet music,
and gay groups chatted under the awning
aft, murder, stealthy aud pitiless, lurked
like a couchant tiger, ready to spring up
on its prey.
Bates was there, civil, silent, scrupu-
lousy attentive to his duty, but often to
be seen talking with set Of brawny,
brass-c ymplexioned mariners belonging
to the Chinese portion Of the crew, and
whose oountenances belied them sorely if
they would not have been more at home
on the deck Of pirate junk than on that