The times., 1900-12-30
CHAPTER ii.
CIGARS AND OPIUM

Towards midnight the wind freshenet
very considerably, and. putting a reef in
main and foresail. and slowing our gaf
topsail, we raced along like a little
steamer. passing Newcastle Nobbys al
breakfast time next morning. Then the
wind drew more ahead raising n ehoppy
sea, and II was well on in the afternoon
before we covered the next sixty miles
and, rounding the Cape. saw in small
cove the German brig, her nose iammed
between two rocks, bowsprit snapped
short off, her foretopmast lying In a heap
of wreckage over the forecastle, the main
one hanging and swinging up and down
the lower mast, while from halfway Ut
| the gait halliards the black. red, and
| white flag of Germany streamed foriornly.
Evidently the Putzig was humping to he
| swell; and although her stern had Slowed
end on. and rose apparently pretty ary.
from amidships right for'ard the short
seas broke clean over the vessel.
"Umph!" said Mowbray, doubtfully. III
! this breeze freshens much more my
| tener'n go all to pieces before mornilg.
! Still, there's no sea to speak CT l think
we'd better run close in, drop our anchor.
and then out dinghy and see what S
/ for very risky investment"
! Leaving the Ruby sheltered under the
lee of the headland, with Jim the fisher
| man to look out for her, We three got into
| the dinghy and pulled for the brig. To
! our surprise, as we came round her
| heavy. square stern we saw that Q boat
| lay alongside.
"Confounded beach-combers looting /
| expect" exclaimed Mowbray. ansrily.
! I'll soon stop their capers. But, by Jin-
! go, look at her bows, Why, she must be
half full of water for'ard,''
/ And indeed We could see on her port
bow big hole where it met the jagged
! rock, whose forks seemed alone to sup
| port the hull. And down this, at every
| jerking heave she gave, tons of water
/ poured. Wonderfully strong she must
! have been to stand such knocking about
/ as she was gettingi To look at hsr.
| almost on even keel. with her squat
/ broad body rolling and heaving painfully
/ to the short swell that came washing up
! from seaward, reminded me irresistibly
: of big. fat rat caught by the nose in a
| trap and making desperate. but fruitless
! efforts to free itself. Watching our
| chance. Mowbray and myself jumped inlo
| her old-fashioned chains and gained The
/ deck, leaving Paxton to tend the boat, a
! very necessary precaution. judging from
the fashion the enc already there had
been served by the sheering hull.
Some farmers. ] suppose. remarked
Nov bray, pointing to the crushed gunwaIe
of the boat. Who else would be so care
less?"
But on board was no sign of life. Her
short poop was all taken up by a sort of
rounded structure, evidently made to give
height to her cabin below Around it ran
railing; its sides were pierced by bulls
eyes; aft. in sort of well, stood wheel
and pinnacle, and fronting these was an
open pair of double doors with steps lead
ing down.
That's handsome pinnacle ST. I'D"
remarked Mowbray. Worth a fiyer. |
should say. However, we've no time to
bother about unshipping it. Hang me II 1
don't think the seas getting up morel
Once the rocks let go their hold. and
she'll sink like stone. Let's make be-
low. There might be something there
that'll pay US for shifting.
The little cabin was well lit. the steps
broad enough 10 allow OF our descend .ng
two abreast. Thus the sight awaiting US
met cur eyes at the same time. and
caused US both to start back together.
and together swear in alright at the hor-
ror of ii.
At cur feet almost and lying on their
I backs in great pool of blood. lay the
bodies of two men, half naked. One still
graspeG long sheath knife; near the
other lay similar weapon. The light
from the companion fell full on theiR up
turned faces, horribly contorted with pain
and passion. whilst the staring, filmy
eyes and fallen jaws lent additional re-
pulsiveBess to features naturally the re-
verse of comely.
That's the skipper said Now
bray, pointing to a very stout man,
with long, fair beard and nous
taches. and whose clothes, nearly
torn away from the upper portion of his
body. disclosed many gaping, savage stabs
against the white fish. And that's the
mate (the Frenchman I told you on" he
continued. indicating the other body-that
OF tall, thin, very dark man, clean
shaven.
And there was blood everywhere. Blood
and cigars-thousands of them-together
with scores Of small. square. fiat tins
And as the evening sun streamed over
our heads into the place we could see
more plainly where these came from In
the side OF one OF the berfhs Two of
which gave on to the main apartment, q
sliding panel had been opened-a cunning
ly enough constructed hiding place of
about the length Of an old-fashioned eight
day clock case. This had been tightly
packed with cigars over a bottom tier OF
tins. Strips OF bamboo, thickly cased in
Elm anu Itdtill.S top TO DOLEOfn OF
the locker, had been used TO keep the pile
in position These in the struggle had
been pulled out. and now lay strewn about
the cabin, making streaks Of brilliant color
in the sunshine that lit up the death hole
Hundreds and hundreds OF poundg'
worth Of cigars and opium" remarked
MOwbray. at last. ''That's what brought
the pair back again. Then they quarreled
and fought la mort. Bus what an awful
mess." Picking his WY very carefully, he
stepped inside
The table was Uttered with cigars, most
of them wrapped in bright tin-foIl, and all
fine and large.
"Psrtegas - not Manilas," remarked
Mowbray, as, taking one up and stripping
ii OF no less than three coverings he put
II to his nose, ''aud Of the very finest
brand. too! These fellows were connois-
seurs, indeed. And the oplum-there must
be forty or fifty pounds weight of il. A
haul. II YOU like. my boy
I had gingeriy followed Mowbray. and
was now standing alongside the table. Tho
Pnizig. In one of her lurctes, had caused a
small, tin cylinder 10 roll against my hand
from among the litter. Almost uncou-.
sciously / held the thing and stopped II
from returning across the table. Mowbray
was busy at the secret locker among tho
cigBrs and opium tins still remaining there.
WELL" said he. presently. II suppose
We might as well be getting some at least