The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-08-27
OF q couple OF big trading junks that
were hanging fast to US, one onseach

We're hanging fast to US, one onseach
:side. -; s.
We were lying at anchor off the
coast, and knew in an instant how.
!. our CT pture ha lstak en- place, for I had
narrowly escafsd the: same trap be-
fore, but had, sonieh pW,.. forgotten it.
You see, our enemies, instead Of con-
tinuing tile stern ohasesM their heavy:
ti-nlungs, had nasferred theilsmen to
trading junks, .Ieisurel ;sai lied after us.
and passed ahead when we cleared the
river, without exciting MY mates sus-
picion. This done, their course was
easy. They had simply waited until
the flood tide made us anchor, had
moved right ahead, and, connecting
themselves together by a strong rope,
had dropped silently down with the
current until the rope caught across
our cable, when, of course, the strong
tide instantly sheered them alogside.
When reached the top step of the
companion ladder the glare Of the Ian
terms and torches carried by the
swarning hoarders showed me my two
mates in despers tie hand-to-hand en-
counter with the enemy They were
fighting furiously and endeavoring to
cut their way aft. AS looked, tall
figure crept up behind Hawkins and
raised his sword to- cut the mate down.
Immediately I recognized the malic-
ious and vengeful countenance. It was
that of the Chinaman whom Tom had
helped over the side. His uniform
showed him to be an officer high in
command I raised my revolver and
fired, but my shot went wide of the
mark, and the blow fell, bearing poor
Tom, fearfully wounded, to the deck,
where the mandarin stood over him
and drove his sword into the poor fell
lows heart. 49,. -
The Frenchman, Joe, fought like a
tiger. I saw four Cinnamon fall be-
fore his whirling cutlass, but the odds
were too great, and he, too, fell, and
was quickly dispatched.
Six or eight of my crew lay dead
upon the deck, but A-choong and the
remainder Of the men were not to be
seen. supposed that they had been
killed and thrown overheard.
Presently the ugly mandarin with a
number Of his followers came running
aft to where I stood. lifted my, re-
yolver, determined to shoot the wretch,
come what might, when Se-she
snatched the weapon from my hand
and hastily concealed it under her loose
jacket. .-,.
DO not Fight now" she whispered, cit
is too late! Our Only chance is to sub
NIT quietly and I'll en- watch our oppor-
tunity to escape. Perhaps they, will
| not kill US at once!'
The scoundrels rushed upon us, and
a few minutes lates we were lying in
| the cabin, bound hand and foot. We
no oh ~ l.. 60
expecting every moment to be slaugh-
tered, but it seemed that our hideous
captor had cthe: plans.
Over us stood the mandarin and
| three of his officers.
"Sar?'' '(cuD said one of the latter
significantly saving the air sideways
| with his hand.
"No! replied the mandarin. 'We
! will take them alive to his excellency
Yeh. The foreign devil we shall be
! able to pass off as an officer and so Oh
, tain the reward, as we'll as having the
qualification Of seeing him treated tc
ling chy ii. e., the horrible torture OF
cutting into ten thousand pieces). AS
for the woman, she has brought dis
grace upon our nation, and will be
! made an example off, %s
A moment later they went on deck
Scarcely had they vanished up the
companion way when a slight tap
came against the bulkhead across the
cabin, and heard the voice Of my
| father-in-law.
| Hi, Captain" said he, 'me no have
die. Twelve piece men have makee
hide down foreside. 'Spose by M by
some mandarin man makee 60 ashore
! 'spose you makee fight, can catchee
| lorcha back again.
"All right, A-choong," I said. "Keep
close where you are. I think likely
some Of them will go ashore with the