Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-04-24

answered cuuassss and boarding pikss
we're handsd out, and twenty-five men
c1aMDered down the SIDES and started to en-
terminate q junkfd Of Cinnamon.
Over faf1sn trunks and sozgy banks,
through moist and tangled underground.
they picked their way up the hui. and
when they opened the clearing. with The
1cnk resting straight on her fiat bottom
yeiis
But they came back. scaided by hot
water. bruised by stones flung from prfmt
tive catapuits, and choking from the fumes
OF gas bombs thrown at them; and hooked,
when their streaming eyes cleared, at an
array or snarp spear heads along each rail-
In the best Of their pixies and short cut
asses, and behind each Of them was Chi
naman. The fat man they had seen nod
Ding at the tiller stood on the high poop,
aBd seemed to be In command.
MEXICAN man no hah come top SIDE" he
b'long fore side"
"Y' do, hey. you yelIew-skinned vipers,"
cried Capt Swarth. at 'em again, boys.
Don't breathe till you get aboard"
Ine second charge was haH-hearfed and
futile; they did not breathe the democrat
izing fumes, but those heather were. un-
Questionably, fighters, and with several of
their number prodded by the spears they
Withdrew.
asked one. as he rubbed the blood from an
ugly scratch in hts check
powders wet, you blasted feol." reared
the inauriated captain; AL that's dry Is
use this, not on Cinnamon, but on white
men who're afraid Of Them
Then the captain and mate, both nursing
bloody knucktes, drew aside and conferred,
TO which conference they called the car
penter. They studied the junk and the
ground under foot. peered down the slope
through the trees to the shelving beach,
and discussed the shortcomings of the men,
ia 01h
himself
Well. II they can't fight, they can work.
And work they shall if the Cinnamon
agree"
With dingy handkerchief on the end of
stick. Capt. Swarth approached the junk.
The Cinnamon evidently understood q flag
Of truce. for they threw nothing at him,
and h:s called to the captain:
Chinanan no fight-no bobbery; Mclean
no boobery: savvay?'
"Chinaman b'long," answered the big
ntan.
Yes. that's right: Chinaman belong. But
We can't get away; neither can you. Now
s'pcse Mclean belong all same Chinaman-
savvay? The big captain nodded and
Capt Swarth went on.
Mclean ship all smash-one piecee wreck
ali gone-no belong. Savvay ?''-rnore mods
-Chtnaman got junk; no got mast-ne got
junk. Mclean takee junk down fore side
makee junk top side-one piecee good Junk
Mclean makee mast-makee sail. Then
chop-chop Chinaman go way fore side
takee Mclean fifty mile one piece island all
same this"
Mclean man no ffghtee-no kick up bob
blee?"
No. no. no bobbery-no trouble at ALL"
replied the wrsthfuf and Inundated Capt
Swarth. We'll slide your old tub down to
the beach. mt her out. launch her and navf-
gate her; all we want Is to get away-over
yonder." He waved his hand TO the west
ward.
The junk captain said something to his
followers, and while a babel of Chinese dis
putation troubled the air. Capt. Swarth sat
down and smoked Gt was fine cigar, from
the private stock Of a teaclipper's captain
mentally computing the weight Of the junk,
and the horsepower of his crew. The out
cry on the junk was stlenccd by the big
captains laying about him with a bamboo
pole. and Capt. Swarth. grinnfng from a
fellow-feeling, approached. The UNDER
standing arrived at was-that the China
men were to remain aboard their craft and
90 no work; that the white men could do
what they pleased except interfere with the
leace and comfort of the Cinnamon; and IL
trey succeeded in launching her they could
only ride in her as far as their island. when
trey were to depart. and allow the junk to
go on with the masts and sails as her own
To which compact Capt. Swarth and Capt.
Lee Kin shook hands over the rail.
Then Capt. Swarth climbed aboard exam
II ed the crazy windlass with which the
Chfnamen got their anchors. shook his
head looked at the strong partners
Strengthening pieces) in the deck, which
had received the shroudless masts smiled
and then asked about her cargo There
was very little Of tall clear of the mast
steps.
He returned to his men and told them
what they were to do. Another uproar fol-
lowed. They would see him in the lower
regions first. The cruise was ended and
with 1t ended Capt. Swarths authority
They would do what was possible to repair
their own craft and launch her; they would
fight the Cinnamon till the last man drop
ped. but they wouldn't work that Junk
down the hill for any nest of rat-eating
heather. To which Capt Swarth replied
that he had six bullets. each equal to a
man. and cutfass good for another Did
any one care to make one of the seven?
Capt Swarth was q good shot and a
good swordsman, and their Indignation
subsidized to muttering suIks. Then, after