The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-13

on the rail As the boats got alongside
we gave them a last volley and ran for
the cabin. The pirates tumbled aboard
with the determination to make short
work of us, but they soon found them
selves in a hornets nest our fire swept
all the forward decks, and those aft
could not get at us through the sky
light because of the planks. They were
aboard of til" bark about ten minutes
and then withdrew, and we tossed over
board four of their number who had
been killed. We had scarcely cleared
the decks when Wong Lee came along
side again. He was still in a pleasant
I mood, and had a smile for everyone as
he said:
You made a good fight, but don't
YOU see the situation? We can set fire
to the bark and burn you out. Give up
the money and you may be off in an
hour"
When Captain Raynor replied that a
pirates word was worth nothing, and
| that we might better be killed fighting,
| The fellow drew himself mp with great
dignity and said:
| "WongLee is a pirate but not liar'
| will remain aboard until the last box
| is out and you are ready to sail away.
You will have me as a hostage against
| attack"
l saw the twinkle in Captain Ray
| nor's eye, but there was no chance to
| let me into mis- plan. lie agreed to give
| up the money on those terms, and a
quarter of an hour later the first boxes
were being lowered into a boat. Not q
| native offered to come aboard of us,
| but when half the boxes were out / saw
| O lot of them swimming off to the
Junk from the shore. This satisfied me
| that a trick was being played. though
| Wong-Lee continued to look as inno-
| cent as a babe. When the last box
| was over the rail he said:
You are now al liberty to sail away.
| You are brave men, and / am sorry
to have killed any of the crew.
| wish you a speedy voyage to Saigon"
Don't be in a hurry to CO." re-
piled the captain, rs the pirate eX-
tended his hand for a shake. 81 have
| several persons aboard who will be
glad to see you.
Boys, rouse up those chaps from
below"
| Four men descended into the hold
while the other five of us kept guard
over Wong-Lee He was considerably
startled, and we saw him casting fur
tive glances toward the junk. When
the prisoners were on deck and he
recognized his brother among them
there was bit of a scene. He wanted
to signal for a boat to convey them
ashore, but Captain Raynor grimly
said:
"Mr. Wong-Lee, this is a cash deal
Is the life of your brother with the
rest Of these skunks thrown in, worth
1925, ,OOO?"
How do you mean?"
Il mean that when half OF the money
has been returned we will pass them
over into a boat. If you don't want
to deal that way Wen kill every mar
of the gang within five minutes!"
The pirate pondered for a moment
If the men were released they would
add to his numbers, If half the money
was returned it would only make a
little extra trouble, and ii would soor
be i'm his possession again, He tried
to look chagTined, but he simply looked
cunning, and we all knew how he wa,
figuring. He called a boat and ordered
twelve of the boxes returned, and while
they were coming over the rail | no
ticed that the junk was drifting slow,
ly down upon as.
"Well, am pleased, and now l viii
bid you good-by," said Wong-Lee az
the prisoners went over the side anC
he prepared TO follow.
"But we can't spare you just yet!'
replied the captain. "Your junk Il
drifting too near, BE kind enough t
signal her that II she comes foo