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

III you can run the blockade, cap
tain, F" said he, land land these rifles
and the Maxims and the cartridges.
they'll II be grateful enough TO put mp q
statue 20 you. The revolution will end
in snap. The Spanish troops are half
of them fever ridden and all of them
discouraged. With these guns you are
carrying the patriots can shoot their
enemies over the edges of the island in
to the Caribbean sea. And there is no
reason why you should get stopped.
There are filibustering expeditions fitted
out every week from Key West and
Tampa and the other Florida ports, and
one or two have even started from New
York itself -
"But they haven t got through" sug-
gested Captain Kettle.
"Not all of them," Mr.. Carnforth
admitted "But, then, you see, they
sailed in schOoners, and you have got
steam. Besides, they started from the
States, where the newspapers knew all
about them, and so their arrival was
cabled on to Cuba ahead, and you have
the advantage of sailing from an Eng
lish port
81 don't see where the pull comes
in, - said Kettle gloomily. "There isn't
blessed country on the face of the
globe more interfering with her own
people than England. A Yankee can do
as he darn we'll pleases In the fllibuster-
ing line, but if a Britisher makes q
move that way the blessed law here
stretches out 90 hands and plucks him
back by the tail before he's half started.
No, Mr.. Carnforth, I'm not sweet on
the chances. I'm a poor man. and this
means lot to me. That's why I'm anx-
ious. You're rich. You only stand to
lose the cost of the consignment, and if
that gets oonfscated it won't mean
much 20 you"
Carnforth grinned. "You pay my
business qualities poor compliment,
captain You can bet your life had
money down in hard cash before stir
red foot in the matter. The weapons
and the ammunition were paid for at
30 per cent above list prices, 50 as to
cover the trouble of secrecy, and got q
charter for the yacht to bring the stuff
ont here which would astonish you If
| you saw the figures No. I'm clear Of
the matter from this moment, captain,
but I'll not deny that / shall take an
interest IN yonr future adventures with
the cargo. Help yourself to cigarette I"
"Then IL seems to me, said Kettle
acidly, "that you'll look at me Just rs
q hare set ON 70 run for your amusO-
menk"
The yacht owner laughed lyon pat
It brutality" he said, "but that's about
the size Of it. And, il you want further
truths. here's one: shouldn't pRrticu-
larly mind IL you were caught"
Flows that?'
because, my dear skipper, IL the
Spanish captured this consignment the
patriots would want another, and
should get the order, whereas IL you
land the stuff safely, il will see them
through to the end Of the war, and my
chance Of making further profit will be
at an end"
"You have a very clear way Of put.
ting it. 2" said Captain Kettle.
Haven't II Which will you take
green chartreuse or yellow?"
"And, Mr.. Gedge, can You tell me,
sir. how he stands over this business?''
"Oh, You bet, Gedge knows when tc
come in out of the wet He's got the
old Sultan underwritten by the insur
ance and by the Cnban agents up e
double her value. and nothing would
suit his books better than for Spanish
cruiser to drop upon you"
Captain Kettle got up, reached fol
his cap and swung it aggressively on t.
one side of his head.
Every we'll, he said. That's you,
side of the question. Now hear mine
That cargo's going through, and thos'
rebels or patriots or whatever they ar
shall have their guns if half the Span
ish navy was there to try and stop me
Yen and Mr.. Gedge have started abou
this business the wrong way. Treat nj
on the square, and I'm a man a chile
might handle, but I'd not be driven b,
the queen of England-no, not with tn
emperor of Germany to help her. -
"Oh, look here, captainl" said earn
forth. Don't get your back up"
"I'n not trade with you, replies
Kettle.
"You re fool to your own interests
''I know it, said the sailor grimly
"I've known it all my life. If I'd nc
been that, I'd not have found myself i
such shady company as there is her
now"
Look here, you ruffian If you insul
me I'll kick you out of this cabin an
over the side into your own boat.
"All right, said Kettle. "Start in.
Carnforth half rose from his seat an
measured Captain Kettle with his eye
Apparently the scrutiny impressed him
for he sank back to his seat again wit
an embarrassed laugh. You're an ue
ly little devil, he said.
: ''I'm all that, F" said Kettle.
"And I'm not going to play at roug
and tumble with you here. We've nei
: Their of us anything to gain by it, an
{ I've a lot to lose. believe you'll ru
that cargo through now that you're pu
! on your mettle, but guess there'Il b
trouble for somebody before it's deal
3 out to the patriot troops. Cad, I'd lik
to be somewhere on hand to watch 20
o do itl''
y | l. 4