The Press., 1901-02-21


In him again he offered TO put $1,000
into our next venture and draw out
only fair per cent This seemed like
fair thing, and it was accepted. He
handed over the money with prompt
ness, and we sailed away. but when
our captain had had time to turn the
matter over In his mind he began to
wonder and theorize. Old Chez Wing
Su would never have put In his money
without some stronger motive than
per cent profit. Few Chinese ever
trust a European snflling's worth,
and a man Of his class must have
handed over his little fortune to throw
dust in our eyes. A good deal OF time
was given to the puzzle. but just what
his scheme was could not be satisfac-
torily solved. We could only watch
and wait and be prepared for whatever
might happen.
On our return we always made port
at night. When we had displayed an
agreed signal. sampans came Off to MS
and unloaded and took away the cargo,
and an agent was at hand to pay for
it. Chez Wing-Sus agent was also
there to collect his blackmail. There
would be 80 Cinnamon aboard Of us
when discharging cargo; but, though
they were villainous lot, we felt no
fear of them and did not keep the crew
even under arms. We were within q
days sail Of port on our return when
the captain was struck by an idea.
Chez Wing-Su knew that our cargo
would be a heavy one. Suppose he
should have planned to cut the clipper
out In harbor? All he had to do was
to put men enough aboard, and when
he had exterminated the crew and tax
en- possession who was to betray him?
He had men who could sail the craft,
and by giving her a new coat of paint.
a new name and making some changes
in her rig she could not be recognized.
Even if she were, what would her own
ers dare do about 1t? To have set up
claim would have been to convict them
selves of smuggling. AS for wiping
out a score Of Europeans, he would
consider that as a sort of duty under
any circumstances.
Before we made harbor everything
was prepared and every man instruct
ed. In response to our signal dozen
sampans appeared. and the first man
on our decks was the rascally old
Chez Wing-Su. He was ELUSIVE, good
natured and slick as grease. He said
there was cause for haste in unloading,
as the custom officials had suddenly
become active, and he was permitted
to order about SO men on board to
break out cargo. AS soon as our an
Choir was down all but two or three of
our crew disappeared, and the captain
and agents sat down to a luncheon in
the cabin. Not a box had yet gone
over the rail when the Chinese on deck
broke loose. In 30 seconds every man
but the captain was sailing into them.
They were armed with knives only,
while we had cutlasses. No firearms
were used. The fellows made a good
stand for about five minutes, and then
we began driving them. No quarter was
given. When the last living yellow
devil went overheard, there were 30
dead ones on our decks. OF course, the
row was heard in the cabin. At the
first sound Captain Walters laid his
revolver on the table before him and
said to Chee-Wing-Su:
There seems to be some skylarking
going on above. but we will not in
terfere with 1t"
IF my men are creating any trouble,
I must go up and stop it." replied the
old pirate.
your men are all right, and you will
remain right here"
They heard the sounds Of battle and
knew that the Cinnamon were being
driven overheard, but the captain talk
ed about the voyage and the profits
and pretended ignorance Of the real
state of affairs. When the fight had
ended. the anchor was lifted and the
clipper sailed away out of the harbor.
Chez Wing-Su played the hypocrite at
first. Then he clustered and threaten
ed, and at the end he broke down and
became disgustingly abject. The agent
on board with him was in the plot
He refused to give it away at first,
but when he knew that death was the
alternative he talked fast enough. The
game was to seize the clipper and
cargo and murder us all, and If we had
not been on our guard it would have
been carried out to the letter.
We made a run for another port
Chez Wing-Su made big offer for his
life, and as a matter Of law we had no
right to punish him. l must tell you,
however, that law or no law, he was
hung by the neck to the yardarm,
while the agent was landed on an un-
inhabited island. 1t was a high hand
ed thing to do, you will say, and yet
the governor Of Shanghai, who could
have been bribed any time for $40 and
who hadn't an honest hair in his head,
came out in proclamation and public
ly thanked Providence for removing
bad man from earth. A few months
later he somehow got knowledge as to
who owned the clipper. and he seemed
inclined to raise a fuss. but with my
own hands / carried him $3.50, and he
laughed and grinned and rubbed his
hands together and let the affair drop
there and then.