The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-09-08

more than likely to keep on with his
fool soundings in the big proa until he
finally strikes the reef. II he does, I
may not have another opportunity to
get anything up; he'll watch the place
night and day. Just at present he's
badly scared. and isn't likely to do
much for a week or two. especially il
he sees NO necessity for immediate ac-
ton; so l might easily store all the
stuff in Tarofofo before he tackles the
shoal again. The chances are that it
would be safe in that assure. unless l
were spotted going there too often.
But suppose / managed to keep it all
right until your return, he would have
strong suspicious about the packages
when they were being shipped. OF
course, If we got the treasure as far as
Manila, he couldn't do much"
That's where you're very much mis-
taken. I'm more afraid of what he
could do in Manila than here in the
islands,"
why so2"
because our fat friend Padre Sebas-
tiano happens to be the bishop Of
Mindanao. The cura let that out the
other night when he had taken too
much rum and water. 1t would be an
easy matter for him to have me ar
rested upon some trumped-up charge
as soon as the steamer reached port,
and have all her cargo stored ashore
pending my examination. So. even if
they failed to mold me, there would be
time and opportunity for him to spirit
away anything he wanted"
THE dewitt Well, any way you look
at it, Dick, we've got to remove that
stuff inside of 30 days. # it can't be
done one way it must another. There's
money on that reef to buy a feet of
steamers. or to settle any indie BIT edness
we may incur. Can't you charter a
vessel in Manila?"
II was just thinking of that. Yes, 1
could, Of course. Yet it wouldn't be
safe to take anything but an English
or Dutch bottom. I'd want\to pick
my own crew and know pretty well
who were on board: couldn't do that
with one of the companies boats, and
there might happen to be nothing else
in port. There's one thing that might
be done, and-I guest would work."
whats that?"
Charter the Countess herself from
the government. for a month. You
know she connects with the Saigon,
Messageries boat, taking in Yloilo OH
the return trip. between the island
voyages; at least, that is the tempo.
rary arrangement. Now, between each
trip we usually lay up at Cavite for two
weeks; and Ramirez has twice tried to
charter her for a quick run to Hong
Kong in that time. The Countess
would easily make Guajan and Hong
Kong. out of Manila. in 16 days at the
outside. allowing day and half to
load at the island, if we needed it.
Then we could reach Saigon in five
days more. and turn her over to the
government in time to make the Mes
ageries connection all right"
what would it cost to charter her ?"
''Well, probably little more than
what the compania pays. She'll regis
ter over 1900 tons. gross, and can do
IA knots when she wants to; that's
pretty stiff travelling for compound
engines of this size. But the govern
ment don't care for more'n ten knots;
30 they Fay Ramirez & Co. $500 a
q
$4,000. easy enough"
"Any expenses besides thatY
"Of course there are. Coal bills. at
least $1,000 q month. if you keep SHOW
ing IA knots out of her. She'll burn
| over SO tons day at that speed. and
you can't get decent. free-burning coal
in Manila for less than eight dollars.
Then there are port charges. consups
fees. demurrage and numerous Incl
dentals, all of which fall upon the
charterer. The owner pays the sal
aries of officers and crew. repairs and
the special expenses of the ships"
$50 that we'd blow in the whole
twenty thousand on the mere use of
the steamer for q month";"
"H'm.well, at least eighteen. should
say. A 3,O00-ton yacht is pretty ex-
pensive luxury; and she'd be practi-
| cally nothing more than yacht for
our purpose. There's no cargo ut
Guajan worth handling"
Seems to me a steamer ought to be
a pretty good investment"
That depends a great deal upon the
| cargo and the time of year she's in
commission. Freights are SO low at
present that half Of them don't pay
expenses; still. the tramps that make
over IL knots are doing most Of the
business. and at something of .
profit"
"Dick. we've got to buy the Countess;
that's what we've got to do. How
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