Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-11-01

prove of his daughter being near me. Ihen'
again, I caught him in frequent deep consul
tations with the long-tail sailors, circum-
stance that struck me as boding US the white
portion of the lorcha crew., no good. Still,
as he was Ling LUIS father, l refrained from
making any trouble, for her sake.
Zone afternoon we had run into creek at
the head of which was situated a small VII.
lape. where the lowder informed me l could
dispose of a number of chests containing the
seductive drug. Without delay, the light
boat belonging to the lcrcha was Lowered,
and Obed, Haynes, and myself jumped in, a
couple of the sailors pulling us ashore. !
had instructed the lowder to keep a geod1
lookout, and allow no one to come aboard
during my absence, which he promised to 90:
We were all we'll armed-a fact we all had
reason to be thankful for few hours after
wards.
"While Obed, who had come on shore
merely for the purpose of stretching his legs,
and Haynes, who desired to take look at
the country, we're strolling idly about, l at
tended to the business 1 had to transact, which
consumed the remaining hours of daylight:
I succeeded beyond my expectations, and
made arrangements to land sixty chests the
next morning.
Lighting cigar, strolled forth from the
village, striking into the narrow path Leading
to the landing-place. About halfway over
took my friends, who we're saunterlng leisure
ly along enjoying the calm summer evening.
We were suddenly startled by the appear
ance of Ling Lu, who, with flying bounds
was rushing along the path now scarcely dis
tingushabie from the dark, gloomy shadows
cast by the trees growing on either side. -,
Throwing herself into my arms, she laid
her head on my shoulder, and, sobbing violent
", related in broken sentences the alarming
incidents that had happened aboard during
our absence.
"Obed and Haynes listened in silence to
to Ling LUIS story, their faces revealing the
intense anxiety that agitated their bosoms.
ut appeared that, soon after we had left
the lorcha, man-ofwar junk ran into the
creek, auchoring some distance ahead of our
vessel. The petty mandarin in charge OF
the Junk came on board the lorcha, and was
received by the lowder with loud exclama'
tions of delight. Ling Lu, who was standing
close by, heard her father propose to the man
DARN to seize the lorcha, plunder the craft,
share the proceeds, and when we returned, to
kill US outright then destroy the vessel, thus
removing all trace of our fate. 10 all OF
which the mandarin acquiesced, and at that
very moment the rascals we're waiting for us
to come aboard to murder the entire party IN
cold blood.
"Ling Lu, horri6ed at her fathers unex'
pected treachery, determined to warn US OF
the peril, and, under cover of the darkness
glided over the side into a boat towing as
tern, and thus reached the shore in time to
prepare US for the terrible surprise awaiting
our temperance aboard the lorcha.
"In the silence that followed. l could heal
the deep, excited breathing of my friends. who
appeared to be taken completely aback al
Ling LUIS startling announcement.
However, there was no time to be thrown
away. Every moment was valuable to US
who stood alone and deserted in an enemy
country, with our vessel in the hands of pl
rates thirsting for our blood. 1t was appa
rent to US all that our fate depended upon TIT
recapture of the larcha without her, it woulc
be impossible to escape the bloody-mindee
rascals, who would sUon be ashore to search
US out.
I'VE held hurried consultation, and al
though the odds we're greatly against us, W
resolved to drop down the creek in boat
board the lorcba under cover of the dark
ness, and retake the craft at all hazards.
awe all had revolvers bowieknives ant
double.barrel shot.puns, which, in the hand
of men desperate and determined, could b'
used with terrible effect. In silence W
threaded our way toward the left-hand banl
of the creek, which was the nearest to th
lorcha, glancing keenly along the shore for
boat or sampan of some description.
II had tried to induce Ling Lu to remain
ashore out of harms way, for | assured tn
beautiful girl that there would be desperat
work when our presence should be discovered
But the devoted, artless child of nature
would not leave my side. She had left he
father to prove her love for me, and claspe'
her yielding form to my heart, whispering
few fond, reassuring words in her ear. Neve
before had I experienced such emotions a
surged through my breast, and may add
madam that they have been stranger to m
ever SINCE -,
"It was after nine o'clock when we fnall
succeeded in obtaining boat, and, launchln
the little craft, we drifted down with the slug
gish tide. There we sat grasping our arms
F peering through the deep darkness of nigh
or watching the twinkling lights of the villag
family discernible.
"Soou the huge, numbering hull of the jun
loomed up above the light mist that rested o
the surface of the water, and fierce thrill
excitement ran through my veins as the moi
symmetrical proportions of the lorcha cam
in sight Obed guided the sampan with
broad .bladed paddle, which he dipped cal
tiously in the muddy waters of the cree
Not ripple was heard as we glided undf
the counter, remaining stationary in the deel
impenetrable shadow of the vessel, while wit
, breathless interest we listend for the slighte
sound. The hum of low, grulnbling voice
reached our ears through the open air por
| of the cabin, mingled with sharp, metal
f sound, which strongly suspected to be gol!t
In all probability, the mandarin and tt
. treacherous lowder were amusing themselv'
, by dividing the hard cash, of which there WI
r a goodly sum in the cabin.
q "Peerng over the low rail of the lorcha,
0 could not discover single soul on the qua
t ter-deck. 1t was silent and deserted. III
: lookout, probably, was stationed forward
give warning Of our approach. With tr
. grip, raised myself over the counter, M
Y tioning for my comrades to follow, while L'r
!. Lu remained in the boat. Steathily we Gre
iowa, ds the skylight, beneath which swung
|. large oil lamp. Glancing down through tt
b clear glass, we had all undisturbed view
IS all that was trauspring within the cabin. (