Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-10-11

1
Swarthy, active sailors were at work OF
deck or In the rigging. They were al
Manila men from the Philippine Islands
who speak the Spanish language. Tn
Captain, his two mates and the clera
were the only white men on board
| A-sung was sent below to the Chimes
steward to be instructed in 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 Will
mating sails, and, besides, pulled abou
twenty oars on each side They weri
armed with gingals fixed in swivels OF
the gunwale; these were Chinese fire
arms, carrying large ball.
A number of Chinese of mercantile ap
pearance were on deck earnestly con
versing with Captain Denville. A grea
many small chests of mango wood GOV
cred with rawhide were piled near by
One of these was open, and A-suug saw
that the upper half of the chest was di
vided into twenty compartments, in each
of which was dark brown ball of pecu.
liar appearance and smell. Evidently
there was the same number of balls in the
lower part of the chest.
A-sung soon found out that this was
crude opium, and that the merchants
were buying it. He was on an opium
ship.
The purchasers paid for the drug some
times with Spanish or Mexican dollars,
and sometimes with silver ineots called
sycee. The coins had all been stamped
over and over again with Chinese stamp:
until they were completely defaced
These were called "chop dollars" The
value of both coins and sycee was ascer.
tanned by weight.
As the merchants paid the silver, il
was passed over to the "shroff, grave,
specialized Chinaman, who sat at his
table under the awning on the quarter
deck, and with his brass balances care
fully ascertained the value of it. He had
need of care, for he was under heavy
bonds for the correct performance of his
duty.
A-sung was very much interested in
the boarding MEETINGS, which were triced
up every night from the rail to the rig
ging. These were for protection against
night attacks by Chinese pirates, who
were many and dangerous in those wa
tiers. But what excited his greatest in
terest was the practice at the big guns.
At first the loud reports nearly made
him jump out of his blue and gold slip
pers, but he soon became accustomed to
the noise. The cannon were touched of
with joss-stick, in primitive fashion,
and at night some of these were always
kept burning near the mainmast, in
readiness for sudden attack.
Venerable younger brother" said the
steward one day to A-sung, chow many
dollars worth of opium do you think are
in this barbarian ship?"
Venerable elder brother, I do not
know" replied A-sung.
"There are four hundreds of thou
sands" said the steward. "Verily,
it would be rich prize for the pi-
rates"
W. "SOho dltcr A-ounS Jolueu tue
Harlequin, he asked the Captains per-
mission to go and see his father. Cap
tain DeuviIle granted his request, and
he went ashore in the compradors boat
With light heart he trudged away to
the village, where he was received with
( great JOY by his father and by his young
friends and schoolmates.
He spent a very happy day. All tbs
children of the village were eagerly pre-
pairing for their "Lantern Feast" which
was to take place that night. This is
the children's feast in the spring, when
they are allowed to have their own way
in everything, and indulge in merry
making to their hearts content.
A-sung wished to stay ashore thai
night in order to take part in the festivi-
ties, but as Captain Denville would ex
pect him to come on board he resolved
to go out to the ship with the compradol
in the evening and ask leave of absence
till the next day. So at evening he
walked back to the landing.
On the way he saw two men approach.
ing him, one of whom he thought was
the ruffian who had beaten the slave
girl. He was not sure of this, however,
as this person took another path and socn
disappeared,
The other man came on and met him
He was a portly, well-dressed Chiaamar
and saluted A-sung politely with an e..
gazing smile. He stopped and proceedFi
to address many fiowery aud fiatter;ne
remarks to the boy, in the course o
which he alluded to his connection with
the Harlequin, claiming to be himself al
old friend of Captain Denville's.
Although A-sung was in hnrcy hi
listened with pleasure to one who haC
evidently formed such high opinion u.
him at sight; and he replied unsnspect
ingly to some adroit questions regarding
the armament and regulations of tn,
ship.
At last the stranger took leave Of him
courteously wishing him abundant felic
ity and the highest honors and promo
ton. Then, as if with a sudden thought
he took from the breast of his rich over
garment small bundle tied up in a silk
handkerchief
Venerable younger brother" he said
"here are some excellent cherDots wild
which to regale the sailors and official
of the barbarian ship. They are especi
ally choice for those who watch at night
as they will Danish the god of drowsi
ness"
He gave the boy the bundle, and AGAR
took polite leave. A-sung now hurried
to the landing and got there just in time
to go off with the comprodor.
Captain Denville kindly gave him per.
mission to return to the Lantern Feast
after he had performed few duties; ant
by the time the comprador was ready tt
return, the night watch was already or
deck. Then A-sung happened to thinl
of the cheroots. He ran below, united
the bundle, and brought up handful
which he distributed among the MaGils
sailors, with whom he was already {
great fayorite. Then he gave a couple
to the seond mate, who was the officer o.
the watch, and sprarg into the boat.
When he reached the village the
"Lantern Feast was in full progress
The strees was crowded with gaily dressed
children carrying colored lanterns anc
forming in line for the procession.
In the midst of this joyful scene, wher
the merriment was at its height, pale
ragged, muddy figure appeared at A
sung's side and touched his arm. He
recognized the slave girl whom he had
befriended. She was shivering witt
cold and fear.