The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-05-30
SAVED BY FIRE AND OIL.
How the Ship Valentine Repealed
a Fleet Of Marauders.
on Upon IA Waters-To QueIl, Not the
Fury OK the Waves, But the Ferocity
OF savsges-rhe Mates In
genious Scheme.
-TcoPYR1aHr. 1sg6.1

FA
Il don't like the look of things said
the first mate Of the Valentine. The re-
mark was addressed to the captain " no
stood beside the senior officer on the
bridge.
The valentine" an iron steamer, ST
1000 tons, had, that afternoon, frac-
tured her propeller shaft. TWAS in the
Malay Archipelago. Steaming too close
TO n of the numerous islands, the
screw had encountered a spur of an
outlying coral reef. The shock was Sc
we're, and the shaft had been unable to
stand the strain. The examination
made by the first engineer showed that
IL would take a good many hours to re-
pair the damage. Meantime, the only
thing to be done was to lay to. Shell
tered by a long line of islands, which
showed, some close at hand, some dim
1y in the distance, the vessel found com
Portable anchorage.
1t was not this which troubled the
first mate. Many years of experience in
these seas had taught him that among
these islands a crippled vessel, unless
heavily armored, was like a sheep amid
a pack of wolves. More than one ugly
story was current of the fate which had
befallen trading ships SO placed at the
mercy of the islanders; nor was Capt.
James unaware of the danger. How
ever, he put a bold face on it.
Il know what you mean, Mr.. Jack
son." he said. But there's no use of
borrowing trouble. We shall get of by
tomorrow noon, I hope; and we may
not have been Observed With that he
turned on his heel and went below. But
the first mate shook his head doubt
fully. He felt certain that they had
been seen, though he could not have
brought forward the least evidence to
back. up his opinion. And his forebod-
ings were not unfounded.
The work Of repairing the broken
shaft went ahead steadily, but slowly.
On deck a double watch was stationed.
Arms even laid in readiness along the
shelter of the bulwarks. The officers,
in turn, walked the bridge all night.
But it was as clear as a bell overhead,
and absolute quiet prevailed until the
gray hour of dawn.
Then the first mate, who was leaning
with his arms bent on the rail Of the
bridge, suddenly heard a whisper just
below him. It was the boatswain's
mate. Darby, forward, says he thinks
he ees something coming out of the
shadow of the island off the first quar-
ter he said in low tones.
The first mate turned and glanced
searchingly in the direction indicated.
For a moment he could see nothing but
the dull glitter of the water, rising and
falling with the swell. A half mist was
rising from the oceans surface. But
presently, on this background of gray,
he detected two, three and finally four
spots of darker color. What they were
his experience instantly told him,
though his eyes did not.
Call the men up, Clarke he ordered,
IN a resolute voice; sand send a message
70 the captain. Divide along the port
and starboard quarters. Send the en-
and his men aft. See that themen
are all ready. They'll close in on us on
the chains on either bow. But fire not
a shot until you hear the word from the
Then give it to them. If we
drive them off this time, we may be
L