The Red Cloud chief., 1899-06-02
CHAPTER XXIv.-(Continued.)

huu DNtu " Dt u IttNdIu Vi lUt tlu5-
ter Of uninhabited Islands of which we
spoke. and was now without hopes of
reaching them; but to the westward
were to be seen on the horizon the re-
fracted heads and trunks of ~cocoanut
trees, and in that direction It was re-
solved that they should tow the raft.
The breakfast had been served out.
and the men had taken to the oars,
when they discovered a proa full Of
men sweeping after them from one Of
the islands to windward. That 1t was
a pirate vessel there could be no doubt;
but Philip and Krantz considered that
their force was more than sufficient to
repel them, should an attack be made.
This was pointed out to them; arms
were distributed to all in the boats, as
well as to those on the raft; and that
the seamen might not be fatigued, they
were ordered to lie on their oars, and
await the coming up of the vessel.
AS o as the pirate was within
range, having reconnoitered her an
tagonists, she ceased pulling, and COM
menced firing from a small piece of
cannon which was mounted on her
bows. The grape and langridge which
she poured upon them wounded sew
eral Of the men, although Philip had
ordered them to lie down fiat on the
raft and in the boats. The pirate ad-
vanced nearer, and her fire became
more destructive, without any oppor-
tunity Of returning 1t by the Utrecht's
people. At last 1t was proposed, as
the only chance of escape, that the
boats should attack the pirate. This
was agreed to by Philip; more men
were sent in the boats; Krantz took
the command; the raft was cast off,
and the boats pulled away. But scarce
ly had they cleared the raft, when, as
by n sudden thought, they turned
round, and pulled away in the oppo-
site direction. 'Krantz's' voice was
heard by Philip, and his sword was
seen to fash through the air; a mo-
ment afterward he plunged into the
sea, and swan to the raft. 1t ap-
peared that the people in the boats,
anxious to preserve the money which
they had possession OF, had agreed
among themselves to pull away and
leave the raft to its fate. The pro-
posal for attacking the pirate had
been suggested with that view, and
as soon as they were clear of the raft,
they put their intentions into execu-
tion. In vain had Krantz expostulated
and threatened; they would have
taken his life; and when he found that
his efforts were Of no avail. he leaped
from the boat. Then we are lost, I
fear" said Philip, addressing the pilot,
who stood near to him.
"Lost-but not lost by the pirates
mo harm there! He, he!"
The remark of Schriften was correct.
The pirates, imagining that in taking
to their boats the people had carried
with them everything that was valu-
able, instead of firing at the raft, i'm
mediately gave chase to the boats.
The sweeps were now out, and the proa
few over the smooth water like a sea-
bird, passed the raft, and was at first
evidently gaining on the boats; but
their speed 500 s%lackened, and as the
day passed, the boats and then the pi-
rate vessel disappeared in the south
ward; the distance between them be-
ing apparently much the same as at
the commencement Of the chase.
The raft being now at the mercy Of
the wind and waves, Philip and Krantz
collected the carpenters tools which
had been brought from the ship, and
selecting two spars from the raft, they
made every preparation for stepping
a mast and setting sail by the next
morning.
The morning dawned, and the first
objects that met their view were the
boats pulling back toward the raft,
followed closely by the pirate. The
men had pulled the whole night. and
were worn out with fatigue. It was
presumed that a consultation had been
held, in which It was agreed that they
should make a sweep, so as to return
to obtain provisions and water, which
they had not on board at the time of
their desertion. But 1t was fated other
wise; gradually the men dropped their
oars, exhausted. into the bottom of
the boat. and the pirate vessel follow
ed them with renewed ardor. The
ooats were captured one by one; the
bd0t found was more than the pirates
anticipated, and It hardly need be said
that not n was spared. All this took
place within three miles Of the raft,
and Philip anticipated that the next
movement of the vessel would be to-
ward them, but he was mistaken. Sat
isfed with their booty. and imagining
that there could be no more on the
raft, the pirate pulled away to the east
ward. toward the islands from among
which she had first made her appear
ance. Thus were those who expected
to escape, and who had deserted their
csoapaniops, deservedly punished;
while those who anticipated every dis
aster from this desertion discovered
that It was the cause OF their being
saved.
The remaining peoDle on board the