The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-08-27

C-: sey- teN
--71.A4'-'E
least, to a sudden and tragic terminal
nation.
was 1T 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 SIS for every white mans head,
$50 for every iprsoner, and $50 for
every barbarian officer captured and
brought before him. Following close
upon this cheerful information came
rumors of piratical 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
fnhuman butchery Of their crews.
In Spite of these startling reports,
however, L determined TO make the
, trip for which the Marie was even
then half laden. 1t would add several
fascinating figures to my bank &C
count, and for such an end a Yankee is
willing to!run considerable risk. More
steed. / felt that she could show a
lively pair of heels to the fastest war
junk afoat, and as for the smaller
craft, she carried guns enough to blow
them clean out Of the water.
MY chief mate was an American,
sturdy young fellow, Tom Hawkins,
who hah1 been in my service consid-
cradle time. My second mate was a
tall, powerful Frenchman, whom we
called "sUoe." Then there were six
Manila men, and twenty-five Canton
csc, Differed by my father-in-law, A
Choong: >Se-she, my pretty little Chi
though she tried hard to dissuade me
from this perilous voyage, she would
not consent to stay behind. And it
was exceedingly lucky for me that she
wouldn't.
The Marie mounted two pivot guns,
long eighteen-pOunder amidships and
a carbonate of the same caliber in the
bow. In each of her broadside bat
teries were three nine-pounders, and
besides these she carried goodly sup
ply Of small arms and also a number.
of those terrible suffocating hand
grenades cannon to Chinese naval
warfare.
Everything being in readiness, we
weighed anchor and started up the
river. 1t Was a delightful morning,
and Se-she and 1 sat or deck drinking
in the soft, sweet air AID enjoying the
sweet air and enjoying the beautiful
sunshine that danced and f1ickered
upon the ripping water. Along about
o'clock We passed the Boca Tigris,
and two hours later reached the
mouth of the channel which I had been
advised to take. AS the darkness was
approaching, however, 1 dared not en-
ter the narrow stream, so determined
to anchor where l was until the next
morning
Scarcely had our sails been dropped
when a boat came alongside and there
scrambled up to our deck d yellow
skinned, bony, sQminting and altogether
villainous- looking Chinam man, who made
his way aft and inquired whether or
not we wanted a pilot.
"Chi lob! (be offD you ugly sinner
answered roughly, for the fellows
countenance almost turned my stom-
aeh
The intruder did not bulge, however,
ba1t gabbled away, offering to supply
fruit and vegetables to that of q 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, salts
fed that our ugly visitor was spy,
this fellow is no more pilot than I
am. Give him a 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
sother, 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 Chinaman's
countenance as he looked up at us
from his position below. He shook his
fist at Tom, and ehuckled to himself
: with fendish sort Of glce, as though
reveling 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 my wife
at the supper table, where we INDUCED
in a hearty laugh over what had hap
pened
was just finishing a good cigar
when the face OF Joe, the Frenchman,
appeared suddenly in the skylfght
captain! Captain!'' he yelled ex-
citedly, ''come ur to de deck! Vite!
Quick! quick. De Chino!s--le nlanda-
rims are coming