The Florence daily tribune., 1898-04-19
The Beautiful White Devil
Continued From Third PageJ

rope WAS thrown to us, and when it had
been made fast my guide signed TO me
to Chamber aboard. I did SO, and the
next moment was on the junk's deck
assisting him to place beside me.
Two or three men were grouped about
amidships watching us, and one-the
owner or skipper of the boat, i pre-
sumed-entered upon u long winded
conversation with my conductor. AS
they talked heard the sampan push
off and disappear astern. Then our crew
fell to work. The great sails were
hoisted, hand went aft to the tiller
and within five minutes we were wad
ding down the straits at pace that
might possibly have been four knots an
hour. All this time my companion had
not addressed me once. His whole at
tention seemed to be concentrated upon
the work going on around him. He
treated me with the contemptuous in
difference generally shown by China
men toward barbarian Englishmen,
and that l was wise enough not TO re-
sent.
By this time it was nearly 2 O'Clock.
The wind was every moment freshening
and brisk sea rising. The old tub be-
gan to pitch unpleasantly, and found
repeated occasion to thank my stars
that was good sailor. Sharp dashes
of spray broke over her decks at every
| plunge, soaking us to the skin and add
| ing considerably to the unpleasantness
of our position. Still, however, my
companion did not speak, but / noticed
that he watched the men about him
with what struck me as increased atten-
ton.
Seeing that / had had no sleep at all
that night it may not be matter of
much surprise that presently began to
nod. Slowing myself away in shell
tered corner, was in the act of indulg
ing in nap when felt a body fall
heavily against me. 1t was my compan-
ion who had dropped asleep sitting up
and had been dislodged by sudden roll
of the ship. He fell clean across me, his
face against my ear. Next moment l
knew that the catastrophe was inten-
tional.
Keep your eyes open, " he whispered
as he lay. ''There is treaohery aboard.
We shall have trouble before long,
After that you may be sure l thought
no more of sleep. Pulling myself to-
gether slipped my hand into the pock-
ct that had contained my revolver, only
to find, to my horror and astonishment,
that 1t was gone. My pocket had been
picked since 1 had come aboard the junk.
My CONSERVATION may be better imag-
ined than described, and as soon as l
could find occasion let my companion
know of my misfortune.
II gave your fair warning" he re-
piled calmly. Now we shall probably
both lose our lives. However, what
can't be cured must be endured, so pre-
tend to be asleep and don't move what
ever happens until You hear from me.
That little pockmarked devil harangu-
ing the Others for'ard is Kwong Fung,
the most notorious pirate along the
whole length Of the coast, and if we fall
into his hands-well, there will not be
two doubts as to what our fate will be. "
He tumbled over on to his side with
a grunt, while / shut my eyes and pre-
tended to be asleep. 1t was growing
,old, the wind was rising, and with it
the sea. Already the stars in the east
were paling perceptibly, and in another
nour at most day would be born.
1 could not take my eyes off the
group seated frog fashion on the deck
Tor ard. Their very backs held an awful
fascination for me.
But as it soon turned out, my inter
st in them was almost my undoing,
for had / nos been 30 intent upon
watching what was before me l should
perhaps have heard the rustling of a
human body outside the bulwarks
against which had seated myself. In
that case should have detected the fig
ure that had crawled quietly over and
was now stealing along the deck toward
where 1 lay. In his hand he carried a
thin cord at the end of which was
moose just capable of encircling my
head.
Suddenly felt something touch my
throat. l lifted my head, and at the
same instant the truth dawned upon
me. was being strangled. How long
q time elapsed between the cord g touch
ing my neck and my losing conscious
ness / could not say, but brief as was
the interval can reoollect seeing my
companion half raise himself. Then
came a flash, a loud report, sudden
singing In my ears, and l remember no
more.
When I recovered my wits again, my
companion was bending over me.
Thank Cod" he said piously. "I
began to think tho brute had done for
you. Now pull yourself together as fast
as you can, for there's going to be seri-
Gus trouble
ITO be coutinucd)
NOTICE.