The Portland daily press., 1890-12-01

lie glanced fearfully around. One OF
the pirate boats was close at hand, loom
ing up darzly, propelled bya great num-
Der of oars. Wild with fright, A-sune
rushed forward to the forecastle scream.
ing:
"Piratesl pirates! Alloy, hi VII.
The men on deck were all in a leadep
slumber, but some of the watch had
evidently sneaked below on finding that
the mate had gone to sleep.
At A-sungs cries three sailors rushed
ON deck. Though confused, they com.
pretended in moment the imminent
danger, and sprang forward to the pivot
gun amidships. By that time the pirate
boat was almost alongside, and sudden.
ly there burst from her crowded deck
the most frightful din of gongs and
savage yells, together with fierce dis.
charge of musketry and gingals.
Several large, flaming missiles were
thrown over the boarding nettings upon
the deck Three fell close to the pivot
gun, where they lay blazing and smol1.
ing, emitting u most horrible and suffo
eating stencil. Unable to endure it, the
sailors were driven from the gun.
One Of them ran aft to the cabin,
shouting "Senor Captain! Ladrones'
ladrones!" Another ran to the fore
castle to arouse his shipmates. The
third stood as if paralyzed. Already the
pirates were graphing the ship and pre-
pairing to pour on board.
AT this perilous moment a desperate
resolve inspired A-sung. Since he had
caused this disaster he would at least dc
what he could to atone for it was his
thought He drew deep breath, and
as the captain and Prescott reached the
deck they saw A-sung dash forward
through the fumes of the burning ''fire
pots" seize joss stick from the main.
mast and touch off the long eighteen
FOUNDER. There was stunning report
The pirate boat was wrapped in smoke,
from which came fearful bowls, screams
groans. The gun happened to be
trained exactly upon the crowded deck
of the pirate, and being double shotted
with canister the effect Of the discharge
was terrible.
By this time the rest Of the crew were
on deck, and the carronade and the gun
ON the forecastle were fred into the
other pirate beats that were trying to
get alongside, and the sailors gave them
a volley Of musketry. Prescott at the
head of some of the most resolute men
threw the blazing fire pots" overheard,
extinguished the flames, and then, re-
loading the eighteen FOUNDER, poured
another blast into the first boat, which
was trying to get off, badly crippled.
Poor A-sung was picked up limp and
senseless from the deck, where he had
fallen suffocated after so bravely firing
the gun. That one shot began the dis
astrous repulse of the pirates. 1t was
some time before he was revived, and
when he regained consciousness the bat
tie was over.
When Capt. Denville heard the whole
story, he highly praised A-sung for his
prompt and courageous action, but also
warned him against being deceived by
shrewd rascals, no matter how fine their
dress or how pleasing their manners.
The men who had been stupefied by
the drugged cigars soon recovered, but
the second mate never forgaye the boy
who had caused his discontinue
A-sung told the captain of the impor-
tant service the slave girl had rendered,
and expressed his fears for her fate if the
pirates should suspect that she had be-
trayed them. So the next day Capt.
Denvllle, A-sung ana party OF armed
sailors went to the fishing hamlet.
Denville reached the howell first and
burst in the door. They had evidently
arrived just in time. The little slave
girl was lodging about the small room,
pursued by the big Chinese rufian,
who was slashing at her with a heavy
scimitar.
The villain had been wounded in the
attack on the ship. His jaw was bound
up with dirty bandage, and he could
barely limp about. This had enabled the
child to escape his deadly blows, but as
Denville entered he had penned her in a
corner.
The captain drew. his pistol, and COM
PEELED the pirate to drop his sword. He
then sternly announced his intention of
taking the slave girl away, and that lit
tie as the ruffian deserved it he would
pay reasonable price for her.
The pirate, scowling furiously from
the bench where he had sunk, did not
object to this, but coolly mentioned
most exorbitant price. Denville, with
out wasting words, placed one-tenth of
the amount on the bench, and told the
girl that she now belonged to him.
He then addressed the pirate again,
and threatened him with the severest
punishment if he ever followed or per-
secuted the girl. After this the party
left the village, taking with them the
little slave, who exhibited joy that was
really pathetic.
The girl, whose name was LIE Won,
was given her freedom and placed in the
family of A-sung's father, where she
would be kindly treated-Capt. Denville
engaging to pay for her maintenance
until she was married.
A-sung remained on board the Harle-
quin a year, during which time he made
voyage to India. Then he returned to
his native village and resumed his stud
les Of the Confucian classics-that road
to honor and fame in the Flowery Land.