Evening star., 1899-04-08

ready for hurried lowering. But nowhere
did they see those NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. mast
trucks They did not sight SO much as
scrap of floating wreckage.
There seemed. however, good many
dhow coasters dodging about in and
among the reefs, and from these Kettle
presently drew deduction.
Look here he said to Tazzuchi one
morning, what prevents those gentry
ashore from having found the wreck al
ready? 1 guess they aren't out here taking
weekend trippers for sixpenny yachting
No" said Tazzuchi, "and they aren't
fishing
Well, I give you the tip for what It's
worth" said Kettle, and that afternoon the
steamer was run up alongside dhow,
which tried desperately to escape. Her cap
tain was dragged on board and at that
juncture Capt. Kettle took upon himself to
go below. He knew what would probably
take place, and though ne disapproVed Of
such methods strongly, he felt he could not
interfere.
But presently came a noise of believing
from the deck above, and then that was
followed by shrin screams as the upper
gamut of agony was reached. Kettle was
prepared for rough handling. but at in
formation gained by absolute torture he
dl ew the line. 1t was clear that these cruel
beggars of Italians were going too far.
BY James, ne muttered to himself,
owners or no OWL ers. can't stand this -
and started hurriedly to go back to the
deck. But before he reached the head or
the cornpanionWay tie cries of pain ceased,
and so he stood where ne was on the stair
and waited. The engines rumbled and the
steamer once more gathered way. A olamor
or barbaric voices reached him. which grad
ually died into quietude. It was clear they
were leaving the dhow behind.
Capt. Kettle drew long breath. They
would stick at little, these Dagos, in getting
the salvage of the Grecian. and 1t seemed
preposterous to suppose that once they
grfpped specie in their own fingers that
they would ever give it up for the paltry
pay which had been offered by Bird, Bird
& Co. Their own poverty was aching.
Still the poverty of these Italians was no
concern of his. They were paid servants of
the owners, and 1t was his duty to see that t
they earned their hire. He took 1t that he
was one against the whole ships company,
but the odds did Tot daunt him. On the
contrary. his old fighting spirit, which had
been of late hustled into the background by
SNUG commercial prosperity, came back to
him. And besides, he had always at his
call that exquisite pride Of race which has
so many times given victory to the Anglo
Saxon over the Latin.
By sort of Instinct he buttoned up his
trim white drill coat and stepped out on
deck. There would be no scufle vet
| awhile. With the specie still snugly stored
on the sea floor, the dirty, untidy Italians
were still all affability. Indeed. soon as he
appeared, Tazzuchi himself stepped down
| off the upper bridge to give him the news
How do you think those crafty imps
have managed it?' he cried, with a gesture.
| Why, they dived down and cut off her
masts below water level. The funnel was
| out Of sight already. They Just thought
they were going to have the sklmming of
/ that wreck themselves. No wonder we
| couldn't pick her up
| Cute beggars," said Kettle.
| I've bagged a pilot If he takes us there
straight he gets backsheeSh. 1 think" said
| capt Tazzuchi, With a wide smile, that
he'll take US there the quickest road"
shouldn't wonder said Kettle But
/ don't be surprised if his friends come round
/ and make things ugly"
| Let them come. We were ready for this
sort OF entertainment when we sailed. II
there Is any trouble we shall shoot and if
we begin that game we shall Just imagine
| they are Abyssinians and shoot to kill"
| Under the black captive's guidance the
| salvage steamer soon put a term to her
! search. For two more hours she threaded
| her way among surf which broke over un-
| seen reefs, and swung round the capes Of a
! rocky archipelago, and then the pilot gave
his word, and the engines were stopped
ana rusty cable roared out TIL an anchor
| had got hold of the ground. A boat was
| lowered away with air pump already STEP
ped amidships, and the boats crew with
eager hands, assisted the diver to make his
/ toilet.
Your chaps seem keen enough" said
Kettle, as he watched the trail Of air bub-
| bfes, which showed the mans progress or
the sea floor below.
They have each got stake in the ven.
| ture.'
| II bet they have" was Kettles grin
| comment to himself
The kidnapped skipper Of the dhow, Il
seemed. had done his pdlotage with a fine
accuracy. The salvage steamer had beer
| anchored in good position, and between
| them two divers In two boats found the
4 Grectan's wreck in half an hour.
They came up to the air for a quarter o.
| an hours spell and made their announce.
ment, and thsa tha copper helmets wers