Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-11-17

minutes later, short interview with
the lieutenant commanding her majes-
tvs gunboat Tickler.
''Oh, that ruffian Dixonp Lieutenant
Dawson said. why, we're getting
steam up now to 20 around and see what
he's about at the back OF the island!
What dye make of this Proddy bust
ness?'
Case of ransom, l take it'll This
Dixon's brought off something of the
kind before up Penang way. They've
nabbed old Proddy at his plantation by
this time, 1 expect, and, if they can,
they'll run him over to some den on the
Bornean coast and keep him till gov
ernment or the merchants come down
with something handsome The so called
Mrs. Proddy's father is about the big
gest scoundrel in Singapore, and fancy
he's in this job with Crocky. If so, the
negotiations would be made through
him-but. meantime, it's your own part
to burst up this pleasing little arrange
mentn'
Old Proddy-for all his stomach-de-
Tended himself like paladin and had
to be knocked OH the head with a boat
stretcher, so that he knew no more un-
til, peeping through a port at break OF
day, he saw misty shore slide slowly
past him, as before gentle air the
schooner stood eastward under every
stitch she could spread.
''That shore, Proddy, Esq, is Obin
island, from which little suckumstance
you II jedge that we're a-standin to the
eastward out of this here hell trap of a
strait of yours. An, as to what we're
a-takin you, Proddy, Esq. that you'll
find out before you re powerful deal
older!''
you'll have the Ticker after you
before you're much older!' snorted the
astounded Proddy.
Hardly thet, Proddy, Esq. You see
there won't be no muss made about you
before this evenin, and, as We'll catch
the monsoon strong again in the offin
your footy little smoke pot of a Ticker
will Jest hev the hull univarsal ocean
to overhaul for us by tomor- Great
Jeffersonn' and down went Crocky's
jaw, as, glancing through the port, a
slender trail of smoke led down his eye
to a little white hull just rounding
Franklin point.
III three seconds Crocky was on deck
rapid, resolute and cool. "Chased
sooner than we expected, lads! No get
away now with Proddy, Esq.-but,
without him, guess We'll fix it'll Get
the dingy over the side-smart, now
Well send his friends on little excur-
sion to rescoo him from a wat-tery
gre-aver'
Within three minutes the dingy was
adrift, with bit of canvas set for lard,
and Proddy-lest he should dowse it
lashed to ringbolt in the stern sheets.
The resourceful Crocky, bringing the
wind upon his port quarter, stood away
due north, between Obin and Tukang.
Aboard the gunboat there was no
hesitation. Reluctantly a course was
shaped for the little waif, scarce visible
now against the sunrise, as faster and
faster the freshening wind drove her out
to sea, so that by the time the drenched
and stiffened Proddy had been hoisted
aboard the Ticker the namesake of the
Alabama's captain was being warped
into winding offshoot of the Johore
river, wherein, with topmasts housed,
she lay snug till dark. Then, with the
ebb, she dropped down again to sea, and
sunrise found her we'll away into the
gulf of Siam.
Mrs. Proddy had her reward in two
installments. The first when before high
heaven the grateful Proddy confirmed
her wifely status; the second when, by
the orders of the secret society of which
her estimable parent was an ornament,
her cook, member also of the "hoey, "
mixed something with her morning cof-
fee that speedily made of Proddy the in
consolable widower he is to this day
Alexander Montgomery in Sydney Bull
letin.