Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-10-31

-1AI
He Ran the Fellow TO the Buiwarks.
least, to sudden and tragic termina-
nation.
was ut Hong Kong taking on board
my lorcha, the most profitable cargo OF
the season, when the news reached us
that the notorious Commissioner Yeh
had arrived upon the scene of action
and begun his work by Offering a re-
ward OF So for every white mans head,
so for every prisoner, and $50 for
every barbarian officer captured and
brought before him. Following close
upon this cheerful information came
rumors Of piratieal craft swarming the
creeks and channels of the Canton
river from the city to the sea; and OF
the capture Of several traders and the
inhuman butchery of their crews.
In spite of these startling reports,
however, | determined to make the
"trip for watch the Marie was even
then half laden. 1t would add several
fascinating figures TO my bank ac-
count, and for such an end Yankee is
willing to run considerable risk. More
over, I knew and loved my beautiful
steed. / felt that she could show a
lively pair Of heels TO the fastest war
junk afioat, and as for the smaller
craft, she carried guns enough to blow
them clean out Of the water.
Ny chief mate was an American, a
sturdy young fellow, Tom Hawkins,
who had been In my service a consld-
cradle time. My second mate was a
tall. powerful Frenchman, whom we
called Joe" Then there were six
Manila men, and twenty-five Canton
csc, officered by my father-in-law, A.
Choong: Se-she, my pretty little Chi
nese Wife, was also on board, for al
though she tried hard to dissuade me
from this perilous voyage, she would
not consent to stay behind. And II
was exceedingly lucky for me that she
wouldn't.
The Marie mounted two pivot guns.
a long eighteen-pounder amidships and
carronade Of the same callber In the
bow. In each of her broadside bat.
teries were three nine-pounders, and
besides these she carried a goodly sup
ply Of small arms and also a number
OF those terrible suffocating hand
grenades common to Chinese naval
warfare.
Everything being in readiness. we
weighed anchor and started up the
river: 1t was a delightful morning,
ana se-she and l sat ON deck drinking
IN the sort, sweet air and enjoying the
sweet air and enjoying the beautiful
sunshine that danced and fIickered
upon the rippling water. Along about
4 o'clock we passed the Boca Tigris.
and two hours later reached the
mouth of the channel which had been
advised to take. AS the darkness was
approaching, however, dared not en-
yer the narrow stream, so determined
70 anchor where was until the next
morning.
Scarcely had our sails been dropped
when boat came alongside and there
scrambled up to our deck a yellow
skinned, bony, squirting and altogether
Misunderstanding Chinaman, who made
his way aft and inquired whether or
not we wanted a pilot.
Chi loh! (be offD you ugly sinner"
answered roughly, for the fellows
countenance almost turned my stom-
ach.
The intruder did not bulge, however.
but gabbled away, offering to supply
any need we might have, from that of
fruit and vegetables to that of gang
OF coolies to work the cargo on our
reaching port. As he talked I noticed
that his horribly squirting eyes roamed
around, as though taking a survey of
our vessel and her armament.
Look here, Hawkins" said I, satis-
fled that our ugly visitor was q SOY,
this fellow is no more a pilot than
am. Give him lift over the side"
Tom was only too glad Of the chance.
Selling the Chinaman's pigtail close
up with one hand, and the ample
bosom Of his inexpressibles with the
other, he ran the fellow to the bull
warks, and, amid the laughter of the
crew, pitched him unceremoniously
into his boat.
Never shall forget the frightful ex-
preston Of malice On the Chinamap,s
countenance as he looked up at us
from his position below. He shook his
fist at Tom, and chuckled to himself
with fiendish sort Of glce, as though
revealing by anticipation in some awful
revenge. Presently he seized his oar
and sculled hastily up the channel.
Leaving strict watch on deck, re-
tired to the cabin and Joined nv wife /.
az the supper table, where we INDUCED I
IN a hearty laugh over what had han /
pened.
was just finishing a good e,par !
when the face of Joe, the Frencbman .
appeared suddenly in the skyIight.
"Captainl Captainw he yelled ex-
citedly, come up TO dc deckl Vite, ;
Quick! quick. De Chinois--de manda. 1
Fins are coming"