The Portland daily press., 1890-12-01
A-sUNc AND THE PIRATES
youths Companion. ]


belonged to that highly esteemed class
of Nung or farmers.
A-sung was one of the brightest schol-
airs in the village school. But A-sung's
father was poor and had many children,
SO he felt compelled to take his son from
school to save the expense, and also that
he might have his help in the paddy
field.
A-sung was in a somewhat melancholy
mood one bright afternoon as he sat be-
meath clump of mulberry trees near
the river. From his little knoll he could
gaze over wide expanses of rice fields,
and before him spread the broad surface
Of the river at Blenheim Reach.
A beautiful American bark lying at
anchor half mile away was the object
of his earnest attention.
Suddenly there was great puff of
white smoke from her deck, followed by
heavy report. A-sung seemed to have
been watching for this. He directed his
gaze to black speck mile down the
river, and saw the splashes as the shot
struck near it and ricochetted on over
the surface. The crew were practicing
at the guns.
When the firing ceased small boat
left the bark, directed toward a point
higher up the river, and he knew that
some of the officers were coming ashore
to take exercise ON horseback, as was
their custom. A-sung sprang up and
started back to the village.
On his way he had to pass near small
fishing hamlet situated on an inlet of the
river. He hurried along with some trepi-
dalton, for the inhabitants had bad
reputation. 1t was reported that they
were addicted to smuggling and piracy
in their swift boats, called fast crabs"
But he came to q sudden halt as loud,
piteous screams came from one of the
huts.
A huge, ugly Chinaman came out
dragging a girl whom he was beating
numerically with thick piece of BAN
boo. He wore short, wide trousers, a
dirty quilted blouse and broad hat of
bamboo strips. His feet were bare. He
was vicious looking ruffian. At last
the girl broke away from him and ran
swiftly toward A-sung, pursued by her
tormentor.
The boys first thought was to take to
his heels, but he boldly waited till the
fugitive reached him, when he grasped
her waist and darted away behind an
embanlunent into patch of tall reeds,
where they both lay painting until their
pursuer gave up the search.
The girl was quite pretty, but ragged
and covered with bruises. She was cry
ing with pain and fright. A-sung's eyes
filled with tears of sympathy.
"Was that your father" he asked pity
ingly.
mo, venerable sir" sobbed the girl.
He bought me-"
"Oh!' said A-sung, with contempt at
the thought of helping a slave girl. But
his better feelings prevailed. He felt in
his pocket and drew out two pieces of
cash and ball.
"Take these" he said. I'm sorry for
you. Better wait till he goes to sleep
before you go back" Then he rose and
crept cautiously awayso as not to attract
attention. In little while he reached
the village.
AS he approached he saw two foreign
ers on horsebackin the street surrounded
by more than 200 children, who were
dancing about and shouting, "Cooc-chel
cooc-cheg' Throw cash. The grown
people crowded the doorways enjoying
the sport. The two men were laughing
heartily, and scattering handfuls of cop
per cash to see the children scramble for
it. When they had emptied their peck
cts they rode on, still laughing, and met
A-sung. They were dressed in white
linen, and one of them wore Panama
hat, the other blue cap with a gold
band. A-sung recognized them as Off
GERS of the bark
"Say, Prescott" said the one with the
hat, 'there's boy that would suit me.
Speak to him."
They stopped, and Prescott addressed
A-sung in Chinese.
"What is your name, boy?"
"A-sung, venerable sir" replied
A-sung. what is your name, veneer
able sir?" he added politely.
"Never mind" replied Prescott. "The
venerable Lord Captain Denville wants
a boy to serve him. Lead us to your
father, and oppose not"
A-sung's eyes sparkled joyfully. Has
tily he led the way along the granite
paved street, and stopped before low,
neat house. Inscriptions ON red paper
and an urn for joss sticks were at the
entrance. His father came to the door
"a grave, dignified farmer. A-sung put
his hands together and saluted him with
deep respect and said:
"Venerable father, here is the vener-
able lord captain and the venerable lord
Never Mind, who want boy to serve
them"
Prescott restrained his desire to laugh
at A-sung's mistake regarding his name
anu urleny INFORMED the farmer or Capt.
Denville's wish to employ his son as
cabin boy, for which he would pay him
$40 a month. After due consideration
the farmer consented, and it was ar
ranged that A-sung should come aboard
the nsxt day in the boat Of the compra-
dor-the man who supplied the ship
with fresh provisions.
lis A-sung good boy" asked Capt.
Denville.
"Him good boy now, bimeby no can
tell" replied the farmer gravely.
The officers rode away, and his father
said to A-sung: Doubtless the gods thus
show their favor. With the money thus
gained from these barbarians you can re-
sumo your sublime studies, and my son
shall yet bring honor to my old age"
The next day A-sung went on board
the Harlequin. His father went with
him and formally presented him to the
captain.
Him good boy now, bimeby no can
tell, he repeated solemnly, as he took
his departure with the comprador.
A-sIng looked about with wonder.
Inc deck was clean and white. -Four
cannon were mounted, black and threat
enlng-two 9-pounder carronades on the
quarter deck, long 1S-pounder pivot
gun amidships and a 3-nounder nivot
on the forecastie: Swarthy, active sail
ors were at work on deck or in the rig
cling. They were all Manila men from
the Philippine islands, who speak tha
Spanish language. The captain. his two
mates and the clerk were the only white
men on board.
A-sung was sent below to the Chinese
steward to be instructed i'll his duties.
When he came ON deck again in the af-
ternoon he beheld an animated scene.
Two long, pull away boats were along
side the bark. They carried masts with
mating sails, and besides pulled about
twenty oars on each side. They were