The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-08-10

wanted, but you gently limited At
force, and were allowed to stay. Fin
ally the rest Of our crowd comes back.
and It's force on the other side. and
now you've got to co. II you've the
sense Of oysters. you'll 90 peacefully.
There isn't enough for all Of US. At
any rate. we don't intend to share"
'Look here" said Carnforth hotly.
"This is all nonsense. We've got as
much right here as you"
"Rightl" said the pearler. fright
had better not enter into the question.
We're all blooming lot Of poachers II
1t comes 10 that. You know that. Mr..
Martin, or Carnforth, or whatever you
choose to call yourself for the time be-
Ing. You came here under a purser's
name, your yacht is guyed out like
Mediterranean funny fisher, and I
guess you look upon the thing much as
you did bagging knockers and brass
doorplates in the old days at Cam
bridge. Half the fun's in lodging the
bobby.
Snow, we're here on business. Yes,
Carnforth, solid business all the way.
We're all Of MS poor men, and we've
been all Of us what we call 'on the
beach for more years than we like to
count, and we want to wriggle out Of
the curse Of poverty once and for all.
"You're taking the wrong sort Of
tone. said Carnforth. "I'm not used
to being hectored at like this
II can believe it" said the pearler
dryly. "You are a successful man."
"And let me tell you this You've
got the upper hand for the present. l
admit. You may even force Us ont Of
the lagoon But what then? l guess the
account would not be closed, and when
man chooses to make me his enemy I
always Gee that be gets payment in full
sooner or later"
"All right" said the man with the
eyeglass. "Pay away. Don t mind ua -
"a hint at one of the Japanese ports
as to what was going on would upset
your little game.
"Not being FOOLS" said the pearler
coolly. "of course we've thought Of
that. We've"-
A hail came down the saloon sky
light outside from the deck above
"scoot, boys, scootl The Philistiues be
upon usl''
whats that2" shouted the man
with the eyeglass.
"Well, it's one Of those blasted Jap
gunboats, If you want to know. Hurry,
and we shall just get off. Well leave
these fools to pay the BILL"
"Humphl' said the pearler. SWELL
this settles the matter another way. /
must 20, and, I suppose, you'll try to
hook it too Ia ia, skipperl You're
good eort. like you. By by, Carnforthl
Cant recommend the Jap jails Hope
you get caught, and that'll square up
for your giving me bad time at Cam
bridge"
He followed the others out on deck,
and moment later their whaleboat
was pulling hard for where the luggers
rode lazily at their anchors Carnforth
and Kettle went after him, and the en-.
gineers and the yachts crew, who had
been held down in the forcastle at
rifles muzzle, came on deck also.
1t did not require any pressing to
get the engine room staff to their work.
The boilers were cold, but never were
fires lit quicker. Paraffin. wood, small
coal, grease, anything that would burn
was coaxed into the furnace DOORS
The cold gauges began to culver; but,
as every man on board well knew, no
human means could get working
steam pressure under half an hour.
On deck the crew had run the boats
up to davits, had hove short by hand
and then stood like men on the drop,
waiting their fate The luggers had
mastheaded their yards and were beat.
ing down the lagoon against spank
ing breeze. One after the other they
tumbled out through the passage and
swung on the outer swell, and then,
with their Tugs goose winged, fled like
some scared sea fowl out over the blue,
sun scorched waters
But, though the yacht had canvas,
Kettle knew that she could not beat to
and SO dare not break his
anchor out of the ground till the en-
gineers had given her steam. There
was nothing for it but to wait with
what patience they could
The Japanese gunboat had been
sighted far enough off, and, as she was
coming up from the farther side of the
ring of reefs she had to circle round
them before she could gain the only en-
trance Moreover, her utmost paper
pace was eight knots, and she happened
to be foul and SO her advance was
slow. But still to the watching men it
seemed that she raced up like west
ern ocean greyhound.
Then the chief engineer called up to
The bridge through the voice tube that
be could give her enough steam for
steerage way in another minute
"Foredeck, there!' cried Kettle.
Break out that anchor By handr
And the men labored with tue hand
gear, go as to save the precious steam
Then thought flushed across Captain
Kettles brain, and he quickly gave it
% Carnforth. ats only q beggarly
nance. sir. but W d better try it, I
eyes, said Carnforth.
"lf only we hadn't painted out those
James, we might have done it more
afely. As it is, we must risk it, OFF
With You below, sir, and get into some
ecent clothes. You'd give the whole
how away if you staid up on the
ridge here in those filthy rags. You
nay be yacht owner, sir, but, by
ames, you look far more like an out
work coal trimmer.
Carnforth ran down the ladder, and
Iettle gave crisp orders to the hands
n deck, who disappeared also, and
resently came back dressed as spruce
achstmen-in white trousers, white
rill Jumpers and straw hats, and by
hat time the yacht was underway and
slowly to the pass.
The gunboat was coming in with her
rev at quarters, officers with swords
n and everything cleared for action.
NE Japanese flag ran up to her peak.