The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-10
THE PEARL PQACHERS.
b. oUTCLIrFE HYNE.

Il ~ "
Uarnrorsn looked az vne little man
slyly. Here was a very different Cap
tain Kettle from the fellow who had
been mending the white drill coat hall
dozen hours before He was rubbing
his hands. his eye was bright, hts whole
frame had stiffened. He was wbistling
a jaunty tune and was staring ksenly
out at the phosphorescent blaze of the
breakers. a. though he could see what
was behind them and was planning to
overcome all obstacles. An hour before
Martin Carnforth had been cursing the
tedium of his expedition. A little chill
went through him now. Before many
more hours were past he had a strong
notion he would be scared at its liveli.
ness. He had seen Captain Kettle
methods before when things went con-
trary to his plans and Wishes
Slowly the night dragged through,
and by degrees the blackness thinned.
The eastern waters grew gray, and the
sky above them changed to dull sulphur
yellow. Then q coal Of crimson fire
burned ont on the horizon and grew
quickly to great half dish OF scarlet,
and then the rest Of the sun was shot
up. as an orange pip is slipped from
the fingers, and it was brilliant, star
ing, tropical day.
For full an hour the yacht had been
under weigh at half steam, with lead
going, circling round the noisy reefs.
The place was alive with the shout Of
breakers and the scream Of sea fowl.
Inside, beyond the hedge Of spouting
waters, were three small turtle backs
Of sand and lugger at anchor.
The water outside was clear as bottle
green glass and of enormous depth.
The only entrance to the lagoon was q
narrow canal between the reefs, shown
up wildly by the gap in the ring Of
Dreaming surf 1t was not likely that
any one from the lugger would lend
hand for pilotage--or be trusted il they
offered So Kettle steamed the yacht to
some half mile off the entrance, called
away the whaleboat and went off in
her himself, with a crew and couple
of leadsmen. to survey the channel He
did 1t with all deliberation, returned,
took his perch on the fore crosstrees,
where he could see the coral floor
through the clear water beneath, and
conned the yacht in himself. earn
forth leaned over the bridge end and
watched.
The coral floor, with its wondrous
growths, came up toward him out Of
the deep water. The yacht rolled into
the pass on the backs Of the great ocean
swells, and the reef ends on either side
doomed like salute Of heavy guns.
The white froth of the surges spewed
up against her sides, and the spindrift
battered in showers upon her deck
planks. The stencil Of the place grew
stronger every minute
Then she shot through into mirror
Of STILL smooth water. slowed to half
speed, and, with hand lead going dill
gently, steamed up to an anchorage in
IS fathoms off one Of the sandy islets
A white whaleboat put off from the
lugger, rowed by three Kanakas, and
by the time the yachts cable was Bit
ted man from her had stepped up the
accommodation ladder and was looking
about him on deck.
He was biggish man in striped
pyjamas, barefooted, roughly bearded
and wearing crumpled pith helmet
we'll down on the back of his head. His
face was burned to fine dark mahog-
any color by the sun, and dangling
over his chest at the end of piece of
fine sinnet was gold trimmed eyeglass,
which glittered like diamond when
1t caught the sun. He touched his he'll
met to Kettle "You' We brought fine !
day with you. captain. said he.
"Rather warm" said Kettle. II
have not looked at the glass this morn
ing. l hope it's going to keep steady"
The visitor glanced round and sized
up the yacht and its resources. "Oh,
should say it's likely to for the pres
emit You've nice little boat here and
likely looking lot of men. You II be
having ten Of crew all told, captain,
chr"
"Thirteen.' said Kettle.
"Humphl It's an unlucky number.
Well captain, If were you wouldn't
stay here too long. The weather's bit
uncertain. You know, in these seas.
"We want some pearls and shell be-
fore we Co."
II might have guessed that. Well.
it's nuisance from our point of view.
because we thought we'd the lagoon to
ourselves and intended to skim it clean
ourselves, if the Japs don't interrupt
But take tip, captain, and don't be
too greedy. If you stay too long, the
glass may fall suddenly. and
take care, My lad, snapped Ket.
tie. "I'm man that accepts threats
from no man living"
"Oh, all right" said the stranger
carelessly. "But who have we here2"
And he stuck the gla to his eye and
whistlsd.
Captain Kettle made formal intro.
duction. my owner, cir, Mr.. Martin
of New York"
"Humph" said the visitor. "You
used to be Carnforth up at Cambridge,
didn't your NJ Carnforth, l remem.
Der, and M. might possibly stand for
Martin" l.
Captain Kettle smiled grimly. and
Carnforth swore
"Bit of a surprise to find you pearl
poaching, Carnforth. I see your name
in the Australian papers now and again
and got notion you were something
big at home. Had bust upY'
"No," said Carnforth. "I'm all
right there Come below and have a
drink and talk. By the way. it's
awfully rude Of me. l haven't tumbled
yet to who you are.
"Never mind my name,' said the 1
visitor coolly. II don't suppose you d {
remember me. was reading man up
there and you weren't. You did your
best to torment my life ont I took
big degree and made a fzzie of after
life. You got plowed and became
commercial success. So, You SEQ, we've I
little enough in common. and, besides,
I was here first, and resent your COM {
ing /
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