Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-07-02

They had reason for their dnrietp.
would have c6serfulIy Helped b7mi but,
on the other hand, he could not avoid
seeing that it was to his own interests
that the crew should get their way and
keep the steamer out of dangerous wa
ters And 50 when finally he decided to
stand by Doninterfsrent he prided him
self a good deal on his forbearance and
said so TO Kettle in as many words.
That worthy mariner quite agreed with
him. Its the very best thing you
could do, sir" be answered. at would
have annoyed me terribly to have had
20 shoot you out OF E,ksohief's way, be-
cause you We been kind enough to say
you like my poetry and because I've
come to see, sir, you're gentleman.
They came to this arrangement on
che morning Of the day they opened out
the secluded bay in the southern Cuban
shore where the contraband Of war was
90 be run. Kettle calculated his where
abouts with niceness, and after the mid
dny observation lay the steamer to for
a couple Of hours and himself supervis-
ed his engineers, while they gave a good
overhaul 20 the machinery. Then he
gave her steam again and made his
landfall four hours after the sun set.
They saw the coast first as a black
line running across the dim gray of the
night IL rose as they neared it and
showed a crest fringed with trees and a
foot stepped in white mist, from out Of
which came the faint below of surf.
Captain Kettle, after q cast or two,
picked mp his marks and steamed in
confidently, with his side lights devised
and three red lanterns in triangle at
his foremost head. He was feeling
pleasantly surprised with the easiness
Of il all
But when the steamer had got we'll
into the blight of the bay and all the
glasses ON the bridge were peering at
the shore in search of answering lights
blaze Of radiance suddenly fiickered
on to her from astern and was as sud
denly collapsed, leaving them for q mo-
ment blinded by its dazzle. 1t was a
long trunoheon OF light which spouted
from a glowing center away between
the heads of the bay, and they watched
it sweep away from them over the sur
face of the water and then sweep back
again. Finally, after little more dali
lance. it settled ON the steamer and lit
her and the ring of water on which she
swan like chip in a lantern picture.
Carnforth swore aloud, and Captain
Kettle lit fresh cigar. Those of the
mongrel Grew who were on deck went
below to pack their bags.
"Well, SIR" said Kettle cheerfully,
,srl,
boat, with searchlight, all complete. -
He screwed Up his eyes and gazed astern
meditatively. "She's got the heels on
Us, too, by about five knots, 1 should
say. just look at the flames coming out
of her tunnels. Aren' they just giving
her ginger down in the stokehole.
Shooting will begin directly, and the
other blackguards ashore have apparent
ly forgotten all about us There isn't a
light anywhere.
"What are you going to do?' asked
Carnforth.
Follow out Mr.. Gedge's instruc-
tions, sir, and put this cargo on the
beach. Whether the old Sultan goes
there, too, remains to be seen.
THAT gunboat will cut you off in q
quarter Of an hour if you keep on this
course.
with chat extra five knots she car
do as she likes with us, so shan't shift
my helm. 1t would only look suspi.
oious."
Good LordI" said Carnforth. Gas
if our being here at all isn't suspicion
itselfl''
But Kettle did not answer. He had,
to use his own expression, "got his wits
working under forced draft" and be
could not afford time for idle speoula.
ton and chatter. It was the want Of
the answering signal ashore that upset
him. Had that showed against the black
background Of hills he would have
known what to do.
Meanwhile the Spanish warship wa.
closing up with him hand over fist, and
decision was necessary. Anyway the
choice was poor one. If ne surrender
ed, he would be searched, and with that
| damning cargo of rifles and machine
guns and ammunition under his hatch
es it was not at all improbable that hi.
oaptors might string him up out Of
hand. They would have right on their
side for doing so. The insurrectionists
were not recognized belligerents He
would stand as a filibuster confessed,
and as such would be due to suffer IN.
der that rough and ready martial Law
which cannot spare time to feed and jail
prisoners. On the other hand, If he re.
fused to heave to the result would be
equally simple. The warship would
sink him with her guns inside a dozer
minutes and, reckless daredevil though
he might be, Kettle knew quite vel
; there was no chance Of avoiding this