The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-13

v
brig and starts to tow II toward his head
quarters. The imprisoned Americans be-
GIN to think that all is up with them.
PART III.
We peeped out at daybreah to find that
we wore approaching an island-one of
the group Of three hundred scattered
along the shore of the China sea. We
could make out about twenty pirates on
the main deck, and knew that at least
half that number were aft The junk
bad cast us of, and the bark was work.
ing slowly past tho island to make
m anchorage to the west of 1t. Captain
Raynor was for opening fire at once,
but we dissuaded him. If the pirates
had been anxious to murder us they
would have attacked long ago. and IL
seemed wiser to let them show their
band before there was any more blood
shed. BY and by the anchor went down,
tho sails were clewed up, and of q sud-
den every pirate deserted the ship. We
at frst regarded this as q rnse to draw
us out of hiding, but after half an hou,
had passed We carefully stole out on
deck.
: A beautiful green island lay on our
starb0ard side, only pistol shot away,
while there were about fifty huts scat
tered along the beach. We could sec
rvoman and children among tho men,
and tho junk was at anchor further
TO the west Of us. As to the man who
had bean aloft when the fight began,
we could sec nothing of him, nor were
sse afterwards able to ascertain his
fats. II is likely that after finding
tho pirates In possession he leaped
Overheard and was drowned. No no.
tics was taken Of Ms by those on the
junk on beach for full hour, and we
lad timn to go over the bark. The
pirates had robbed her forecastle Of all
cloGhing and bedding, emptied the
scuttlo-butt Of water and carried of
al the provisions they could lay hands
on. There was no way into the hold
TRAM tho forocastle or they would have
fSud and released our prisoners.
Whe1 wo had had bite to eat we went
de~m 10 givo them the same. They had
. Nhupsvd idea Of what had happened,
GnA Wong-Lee's brother boastingly
naiy
~ sfnll not be hero long, and I
W@ mako you pay we'll for the way
- hn~e been treated. You will all
b AsA4 before noonl"
A tho and of an hour boat with
whins Aag pulled on the shore, and o;
- three mnn In il we easily recognized
MUng-Lso. He came alongside and on
AoaxA sheltered by his hag, and he
naysarsd to be in great humor.
Nchptain," he began, after looking us
b~W, Il am q pirate, but am sick of
ladadi1g blood. We could have killed
you I'll last night, but had better
F1sn. Ihero n my junk with fifty men
nhoasA There arc over one hundred
q tho island. II there were forty OF
~ rs bark could not be taken out
q hare against us. don't want her,
end don't caro- to shed more blood,
but ! want the money and will haveit."
'Thsn you'll have 70 fight for 1t as
1ong - we have a man alive!" replied
Captain Rsynor.
F: ~You are not fooll" continued the
ufr2hB leader. "We can run the junk
6Own and board you, or do the same
with our boats. If you take shelter in
tho cabin one stink-pot sent through
xhs skyiight will drive you all out,
Lee mo get the money out of the bark
and you can be off at once"
mot o dollar of IL shall you have
whlls I can firc a gunl" was the cap
taln's answer, and desperate as was the
ou<aook wo gave him three cheers and
Dworo TO stand by him.
~Tn give you half an hour 70 think
& over" said Wong-Lee as DE made
ready 20 20, and he shook hands all
around as he went over the rail.
We would fight That was decided
Tho fact was, no one believed the pi'
rste's word. The idea was that he
meant TO put us TO death, surrender OF
10 surrender. II would be the break
ing ND of his island haunt 20 let us re
turn to Saigon and report. He wanted
the money and he wanted our lives, and
he wanted to get both by losing as few
men as possible. During the half-hour
allowed Us we barricaded the cabin sky
light and made the windows more Sc
cure, and we were ready for trouble
when wong-Lee came of and asked US
what we had decided on.
I'VE are going 20 fight" was the
prompt reply. and the pirate held up
his hand an signal and ten boats. each
holding seven men, pulled of from the
beach. We opened fire at once. and
twice we brought them 10 q standstill.
II we had had nine more men the gang
could never have reached us. believe
we killed or wounded twenty-five OF
aaem 10 the course of Eve min utes. Tbs