The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-17
KIDNAPPED!

! / 49,
old at the time, and was living with m.
parents IN San Francisco.
my chief delight m those days wa
the study OF navigation, Of which / neve
grew tired. Ny father, who was mas
ter of that science, being retired Sc;
captain, took great pains TO crafty my
desire for knowledge IN that direction
and in order to afford mo chance II
pursue my stuoies he made arrange
ments to send me on voyage to Hons
Kong on the Jeanette.
The Jeanette was commanded by
Capt. Guy Wentworth, an old friend Of
nv father, and as he had always beer
kind to me anticipated most pleasant
voyage.
Il was provided with set of naviga
tors instruments, including costly
through the voyage.
I'm addition to the ships crew there
were on board the Jeanette about TWEEN
ty Cinnamon, who had made large sums
of money in the gold fields, and were
returning to their native land to enjoy
their wealth. Their money, which was
nearly all in gold dust and nuggets, was
stored on board the ship.
Among the sailors on board the Jean
nette was man by the name of Jack
Peters. He could not have been less
than so years of age, tall, raw boned,
with complexion as brown as an au-
tumn leaf. From the very first he
seemed to take a great liking to me, and
! seemed greatly interested IN my progress
in learning navigation. At every oppor-
tunity he would engage me in converse
ton, yet l could not make up my mind
to like him.
There was something about the man
that caused me to distrust him, in spite
of his evident disposition to make me
| his friend.
1--WE had been st sea nearly five weeks
when one night, just as l was preparing
to turn in, Peters came to my room and
asked me to go with him. Joe Braddon,
he said, who was taking his turn at the
wheel, wanted to speak to me.
81 thought it an odd request, as had
but slight acquaintance with Braddon,
but followed him, little dreaming of
the startling events that We're soon to
take place.
1.-THE night was intensely dark, and a
heavy mist hung over the sea. l had
not taken a dozen steps after leaving
my room when l was suddenly seized
from behind by strong arms and borne
to the deck. was about to make an
outcry, when a hand was placed over
my mouth and harsh voice warned me
that if l made the least alarm would
be knocked on the head and thrown into
the sea.
"This induced me to remain quiet
while my hands were securely tied be-
hind my back. Then some one took me
from the deck, and slipping over the rail
descended into boat that had been
lowered alongside the vessel. 1 was
thrust down in the bottom of the boat
and commanded to keep quiet upon peril
of my life.
$50 astonished and bewildered had l
been at the sudden assault that it was
some time before could realize what
was taking place. sat there like one
stupefed, huddled down, while dozen
of the sailors descended from the ship
and took their places in the boat, and
the ship swept on her course and was
soon lost to sight in the gloom.
"'What does this mean? l cried, as
soon as l dared speak. why have l
been taken from the ship?
"'We'n let you know all soon enough
replied the voice of Peters. We've got
use fer We, an if We DO the right thing
We'll treat ye all fair
"'An' if he DON'T said one of the
sailors in threatening tone.
" Wen feed him ter the sharks, fin
ished Peters in calm voice.
"Some of the men now hoisted the sail
and the boat was turned to the north
west. My hands were then unbound, and
I was free to move about the boat as |
pleased, but l was cautioned to make no
noise in case we We're pursued by the
ship. For nearly an hour we continued
our course in silence, then Peters said:
=" L reckon thar amt no use in dis
guisip' matters, now that we've got the
boy in our power. The fact is he con-
tinued, addressing me, we've jist re-
heved the Jeanette Nv little Nv her
gold-about 100000, reckon-and we
want yen ter help us git away with it.
The gold all belonged to them heather
Cinnamon, an it didn't look like the fair
thing for them to take it ont of the coun-
try where they made it, an we decided
to bring part Nv it back-kind NV an ex-
port duty, you see. Now, if you'll help
US to git to Formoss we'll do the fair
thing by you, an you'll git your part Of
the gold
al don't want any of it. replied in
dignantly. 4 will not be party to
your robbing scheme, but 1 suppose 1
can't help myself about assisting you to
get ashore, since ! am with you, but
don't think that l would not give you
all over to the authorities if l could
"'Oh, We'll risk that laughed Peters.
Only you pilot Us TO Formoss and We'll
do the rest. Well see that you don't lose
nothing, and besides we know you've
been wantin' a chance 10 try your skill
at navigatin', and we amt in favor Nv
keepin' a boy back when he wants to
learn.
This speech brought hearty laugh
from the sailors.
81 now began TO understand the situa-
ton in which L was placed. That the
men would have no mercy on me if
failed to do their bidding well knew,
yet felt it my duty TO make some at
tempt TO thwsrt their plans. But l must
have time to think, and to gain this it
was necessary for me to appear as passive