The San Francisco call., 1897-11-21
CHAPTER Iv-copyrignteo 1897.


Yacht California, owned by Harry CStend anu
having on board Bin ME and Ned of an tranclsco
Shorty" of San Jose, Tom OF Fresno, biiiy VI
Oakland and sam of Los Angeles is on ner way
to New Guinea 10 bring out of captivity German
sailor. who is, unwillingly, king over cannloaiS
in the country back of the SIX ku Noun tains In the
heart OF New Guinea On the voyage from san
Francisco and before New Guinea had been
sighted, the California fell in with dlsmasteu
hulk. on which were black men who had peen
stolen from their native land and who had thrown
overheard during gale the white men who were
taking them away into slavery. The chlef OF
these black men. rather than 10 be with white
men. leaped overheard after he had been Iescaed
from the hulk by Harry Ostend. He disappeared
in the sea while a ornado ragged
THE California drifted far from its
i course before the tornado was over.
While the yacht labored in the sea Mr.
Ostend discovered that she was leaking.
The pumps kept her from gaining much
water, but she was leaking enough to
make it advisable to make repairs as soon
as possible. The waves going down In
forty-eight hours and the spy-glass reveal
ing a sandy beach on the mainland, Mr..
Ostend decided to take the California TO
the beach, there to haul her up. if he
could find a passage through coral reefs
over which the ocean constantly boiled.
We'll" exclaimed Mr.. Lane, with some
astonishment 81 can see the old hulk
that we cut adrift from going through
break in reef"
All the glasses were leveled at dark
looking object and II was made out to be
a hulk. 1t had once more come upon the
scene to figure in the adventures Of the
people on the California.
When the helm was put down and the
California was headed for the opening in
the reef, murmur was heard among the
sailors.
ut will bring US bad luck" That was
the general verdict.
But when the California had passed the
reef and had entered little sheltered bay
inside of the reef the sailors were on the
point OF mutiny because the yacht went
on, for there on a bit of wreckage, was the
chief who had Ieaped overheard, and who
had strangely enough been foated
through the gale to this place. Then the
sailors were sure of bad luck.
The old chief seemed not to have sui
fered by the gale. He was ashore before
the boat sent out by Mr.. Ostend to find a
safe passage had struck keel upon the
beach. Mr.. Ostend. always quick witted,
had the old man taken prisoner. AS he was
from the interior of New Guinea he might
have informa ton that would be of value
and which might be coaxed from him by
good treatment
Some days were consumed in cutting
down trees of which to make ways for
beaching the yacht, during which the
boys made short trips along the shore but
thew were commanded not to venture out
of sight.
Mr.. Ostend's kindness won so upon the
natives that they became quite friendly,
all except the chief, who still suspected
some trick. The white men who had
stolen himself and his comrades away had
been fair spoken, he reasoned, and all
white people were alike.
The other natives had lost faith in their
chief, since it had been upon his advice
they had gone upon the slave vessel from
which they had been rescued by Mr..
Ostend.
One day John Latour learned from one
of the natives that he knew all about the
German whom the party had come to New
Guinea to rescue. By skillfnl questioning
MI Latour also found out that there was
deep and wide river two or three days
sail from this place which could bs navi-
gated for distance of many miles and
led in the direction. OF the Skull Noun
tains on the other side of which was the
country inhabited by the Afarklse. There
was the German King.
More than this the natives offered to go
with the white men part of the way and
help them if they were attacked by the
hostile natives along the banks of the
river. which the natives called the Mar
wise. or 1.-The great crocodile from the
great number of such reptiles along its
course.
Three days before the date set for sail
ing for the Marwise River the old chief
was missing. When he did not come
back on the second day Mr.. Ostend con-