The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-26


our cargo was opium, which we had
taken IN at Rangoon and intended to
work Oft at some of the northern ports
whore we had safe customers, but as
both our captain and craft were we'll
known to the trade, we had TO take cx-
ira precautions so as to avoid the pro-
,hibitivc people and keep clear of the
pirates as we'll, who infested these wa
tors.
Our ingenuity was taxed in order to
outwit the government party, and many
pretty devices were hit upon, to conceal
this dangerous portion of our cargo,
which need not cnumerlte or describe
just at present. Our captain, having
regular talent for mechanical con-
trivanccs, spent most of his spare time
lnvcnting covers for the precious drug;
indeed often wondered why hc wasted
his splendid gifts in this way when he
might have made n fortune ashore by
taking out patents for his Inventions
and serving II grateful government in
stead of cheating it, But as he said
himself, he had once tried to pass
through the circumlocution Offices in an
honest fashion, and preferred ever after
to devote his abilities to steering clear
OF thcm as the most profitable and the
:manlicY game.
The pirates were different ronsid-
Grafton. however, and kept ms all lively
and anxious about the wind: with "A fair
breeze we were pretty safe, for our YES
sci was good sailcr, and in a running
fight we could hold our own with our
dcck-guns and small arms, rs well MS
other proiectilcs to, keep OFF and swamp
The cut-throat borders, but when the
wind fell. then also did our spirits. for
small mercy would the savage hordcs
show to their captivcs once they got IA
footing on board Il ship.
We knew them of old. for many a
tusslc we had had with them in the
past SO that their Internal couri gc
and fcrocity were not Il matter of mere
surnisc on orr part: and we did not re-
q'lirc TO be kept to our duty of watch
ing, for each night we lay down with
our weapons ready. and little inclna-
tiln tor Sleep, with the expectation of
being called up to action at any mo-
Ticrt.
was acting as supcrcargo on board
and this had been my third voyage to
thcfo, our furthcst port OF call, and
having gone through one fight already
l could listen with the greater interest
TO the tales told by those on board of
more experience, for our men were most
ly veterans in the illicit traffic, and
could spin yarns CORY enough Ia color a
good-sizel city.
Shi-Hwang- devil mandarin. and
his gang-was the vague iinpcrsonation
% al the piraticai vices; whom we had
hcalt! about, but as yet no one on board
hal net.
Ills notorious name was IL common
enough theme and his qualities almost
supernatural in their vague atrocity, 81
that he WAS properly regarded as the
dreaded scourge of the sea We had
met natives at different places who had
seen him and had cGHie upon his traces
ashore-villagcs laid waste and the in
habitants massacrcd almost 10 a man,
after being tortured in the most diabol-
zeal way; but hitherto the ocean had
covered up his secrets. for it was said
that no one ever escaped his clutches
when afloat, and thus we could ONLY
guess at his plan of action.
We should know him when he came.
they all said, as we must know death;
a single experience not to he repeated
or spoken about afterward for his com,
ing was death and destruction.
This was the mythical parsonage who
occupied our thoughts morning, mon
and night, after we left Foochow and
bore up toward the Yellow sea, and
whom on this third voyage wa fated
TO meet.
We were two days sail from Nagasaki
and at the most critical part of our vow
age when what we had dreaded came to
pass. Hitherto we had been favored
with steady wind and an ocean per-
sectly clear of sails. which caused us