The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-08-09
HIDING FOR LIFE.

where had for some years resided, and
proceeding to Swallow, one of the ports
upon the east coast of China open for
foreign traffic. arranged my affairs at
that place sooner than l expected, and as
no steamer bound for the south was in the
harbor, or expected for some days, de-
termincd to proceed in the Heather Bell
bark-rigged sailing vessel of about thre
hundred tons register.
was we'll acquainted with her captain,
but what perhaps chiefly induced me to
take passage in his vessel was the fact O.
his daughter being aboard. Lotto Moor,
was goldcn-haircd, blue-eyed darling,
upon whose fair head some seventeen sum
mcrs had smiled. Upon her mothers de-
mise, she had Quilted her home in Eng
land to accompany her bereaved faith
or in his wandering g from cline to cline.
The Heather Bell sailed i ON Swallow
just rs day broke. On the evening of the
next day, little before ten o'clock, I was
sitting with Miss Moore in the saloon, ad-
miring some water-color sketches that
young lady had executed, when the chief
mate entered.
"Thcre's large junk coming right
toward us, sir. BY the number Of sweeps
she pulls, l reckon she carries consid-
cradle crew." he said.
l knew what he mcnnt, and sodid the
skipper, just rs we'll as if he had spoken
all that was passing in his mind; more
over, I appreciated his motive tor reti-
cence, for if he had said plainly that he
feared she was pirate, it would have
alarmed the fair girl, who, thoughtless of
danger near, was chatting so vivaciously
with me.
Captain Moore ran up deck; and when
heard him shortly aftcrward tell the
mate to call all hands, also proceeded to
the poop, and found him gazing inrently
through pair of binocular glasses at a
Chinese craft that was advancing. with
tur!ed sails, in the dead calm, being pr
PEELED by an array of oars that flashed
and gllttercd in the phosphoresccnt
water.
"Hc's an ugly customer, and no mis-
take. We sha'n't have much of show if
he attacks us, but Will let him see that
we are on the alert. Perhaps we can
manage to intimidatc him." he sad, as
he stopped down and commenced casting
adrift tho lasl,inSs Of a small oost-iron
four-pounder that was only useful as
signal gun.
Directly this unformidable cannon was
loaded with blank cartridge and d..
charged, the junk altered her course, a.
passed under our stern considerable d..
lance away. Captain Moore, when he NJ
tlced this movement, was inclined }
think that she was mere trading iunl,.
At midnight retired to my berth, and
had just sunk in the sweet embrace OF
sleep, when I was startled to wakefu,.
ness by the boom of heavy gun, while
the clash OF falling spars, mingling with
its echoing thunder, told me plainly that
our vessel was attacked, and that the first
shot had taken terrible effect upon hsc
l grasped my revolver, and rushed
through the saloon toward the companion
way, only hating for an instant near the
mizzen-mast to CLEAN cutlass from the
rack which surrounded it, ere assembled
to the deck. The scene that met nv ewes
on gaining it battles all description.
Tangled cordagc, rent sails and riven
lay In confused heaps around, and from
under the chaotic ruins issued deep groans
OF agony from the wounded and dying,
while myriads of torches aboard huge
junk that had ranged alongside, shed
across the sea weird, yellow glare, re-
vealing only too plainly the dread effects
OF wanton carnage.
AS the junk ran under our brows, a
multitude of fierce demons, powder
grimcd and insatiable in their lust for
blood, clambercd to our deck, and pressed
their way aft. The fallen spars and null
hilarious impedimcnts effectually pre-.
vented any one passing along the port
side, SO Captain Moore, three seamen
and myself, the only survivors, rushed
into the alley-way to starboard of the
deck-house, and there stood resolutely at
bay.
Our murderous antagonists possessed
no firearms, but each one carried a short.
pondcrous native sword, called pa KEEN :
these, however, were of but little avail
against the winged messengers of death
our trusty revolvers sent into the midst of
the advancing hordes, until it became an
parent to them and to us that our ammu-
milton was giving out.
Find Lottie, Mr.. Carter. We have
no chance; but for heavens sake save
her from those merciless wretches.
have my death wound, now," cried the
skipper.
sprang down the cabin stairway. and
found the fair girl kneeling at the table
lmploring succor from on high. He,
face was CHASTITY pale, and a tremor visibly
convulsed her frame when she saw nv
blood stained brow.
"Arc they subdued? Where is nv
tathers" she cried, as she sprang to he1
feet.
1caught her in my arms, and bore he,
bodily on deck. 1t had been nv inten
ton to place her in the captains gig thai
hung in the quarterdavits, and lower il
into the sea; but hardly had we emerged
from the companion hatch, when above
the clash of steel, and the groans of the
wounded, l heard ring out from three
hundred Threats, a word of dreadful inn
port-"Shing" (VictoryD and knew tina,
my brave comrades had been beater
down-that the pirates held undisputec
possession Of the vessel.
While in Swallow the ships iollv boat
or dingcy, had been injured; and, sine,
our departure, the carpenter had beer
employed repairing her bottom, as sht
lay inverted on the poop. knew that
should not have time to lower the or.
when heard the war-cry change to not;
Of triumph; and I instinctiveIy felt tina
our only chance of escaping death lay il