The San Francisco call., 1898-01-02
CHAPTER x.

CHAPTER x.
 Hardly had the California dropped anchor when Harry Ostend called the SIX brave California boys and told them of his plans. Tom was too badly hurt to take part in any adventures The other five were impatient to do some thing to distinguish themselves
 l am going to send out two boats, with muffied oars," said MT. Ostend, and each boat will have six men in it. Sam will command one and Shorty will command the other. Binnie and Ned will serve as lookouts and general guides in the respective boats'
 And where are we going?" broke out Sam, impatiently.
 Don't be impatient" said MT. Os- tend, " and you shall know. You will row quietly across the lagoon. Shortys boat will be beached about one mile south and Sams about one mile north or the savages' campfires, without noise. Along these two miles of beach are scattered the war canoes of the saVages. The lookouts only will land The crews will remain in the boats, ready to take the lookouts on board and to row away upon a minutes mo- tlce. The lookouts will be given oil and gunpowder and fuses. They will connect the canoes by the fuses and oil them well. When all is ready the fuses will be lighted and the oil and gunpowder will do the rest"
 But" said Binnie, "the flash when we light the fuses will startle the sav- ages and the light of the burning ca noes will enable them to see, us and they will swim out by the hundreds af- ter us"
 Yes" assented Harry Ostend, "that is just what will happen. Here is where the captains of the two boats will come in. As soon as they see the flash of the fuses they will set afioat these queer little boats. They have sails. The wind will take them di- rectly toward the savages, and by the time the savages reach the beach the little boats will be at the beach with their cargoes.'
 'Cargoes?"
 "Yes. They are loaded with dyna- mite. They are my invention. The cap tainS will light these fuses and when the lookouts are on board will row away as fast as possible. They will have time to get beyond the danger line by quick work: but there must be no bungling. Clear away the boats, MT. Detor."
 Here was an adventure calling for daring and coolness. The boys sprung to their places in the boats. Simultan- eously Sam and Shorty gave the word of command to their crews. Eight oars dipped quietly in the dark and heaving waters. Sam and Shorty held the tiller lines firmly and the boats re-entered the lagoon and began their dangerous voyage. The crews were ordered not to speak under any cir constance. They sped forward, slack ening their speed only when they neared the farther beach. Both boats were easily beached. Binnie and Ned leaped lightly ashore. The boats were backed off and held in readiness to take the brave lads on board.
 The war canoes were placed about as MT. Ostend had thought. Some few, which were apart from the others, were speedily ruined with sharp au- gers, with which holes were bored in the bottoms. The others the lookouts smeared with oil and powder. But.
 
 opposite directions, they found that upon the largest two canoes the camp fires of the savages cast their light.
 So far all had gone well. But Bin nie and Ned had now to roll along the beach in the shadows of the big ca noes, which belonged to the great chiefs of the natives. Ned, with ready auger, had bored his last canoe.
 Suddenly from the darkness rose a tall dusky figure directly in front of Binnie It was the chief who had been taken from the hulk at sea by Mir Ostend Binnie was as quick as the savage. With ready slow match he leaped to his fuse before the chief could interfere. Along the fuse the fire ran until it looked like ribbon of fire. At the same instant quick -witted Ned lighted his fuse and plunged into the water.
 A series of flashes followed and the canoes burst into flames. Sam and Shorty, seeing the yelling savages rushing toward the beach, launched the little dynamite boats. A little later the air was rent with a series