The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-10
THE LOOZZWG Oh THE
LYCHEE. 1..-~.<.
BY John Arthur Barry.
In Two Parts.-Part Two.
Copyright, 1905.

at hand. Having finished transhipping the sill
maindeck, the prates rather to my SURPRISE dragged
along the two yet and threw them
heavily the junk. at last, somewhere
other, suddenly appeared Jimmy Fumblng about ap-
parenty to that my bonds secure heard zip
touch of keen knife Then came an imperative CALL
he fled swiftly into the shadows by the junk great
sails Just as the steward and the Malay walked up
The a cloud but they carried lantern
by whose light they viewed all over soon discovering
the the eoe te whist e MALAY e
and more tightly than Then the steward taking
thick silk handkerchief from around my throat proceed
to be done to instant death, said never word.
Good night, DOCTOR, remarked the Malay. "Per-
much: According my. calculations the Lychee will
blow in about couple of hours And anyhow, you'll
with you. Good Bye" A few minutes later I saw the
dark sails of the junk swaying to the wind like the
wings of great night bird as she gded past the
Lychees stern, leaving alone and helpless with the
dead Save the ripple of the little against the
bows, and the grind of chains the twisted rudder
and wheel alternately port and starboard the ship
silent. In vain 1 strained my gaze down to the
mandee amongst the dark hoows and crannies of the
cargo. I could nothing. For while sat there,
swathed in ropes, helpless any mummy staring
the moonlit Then all at once, caught sight of
bered the Malays last Words and my thoughts fed to
the engineroom, and in fancy the big Scotsman ~
Ing there dead and the fires roaring eIeey under the
there was no outlet but general burstup About an
other hour and the explosion would take place! And
whilst the cold sweat burst from every pore strained
and heaved at my bonds until they cut deep into
flesh and choking. Alas they never slack
the vessels rail Before leaving the pirates had up
tho trysai1 and jib and these filled the starboard
tack the steamer drifting rapidly seaward from
low dark line under the that knew must be
the coast between Hong-kong and Swallow
All my soul seemed in my ears; and to the sound of
louder creak amongst the shrier note of the
wind in the rigging my nerves leapt and thrilled
pectan of the last dread moment From where sat- the
glass skylght Of the engineroom all agter in the
a
dreadful intensity, until at last the CLEAN of the glass
seemed to burn them like an incandescent fire.
made raise my head, and sent of life and hope
pusng thru every artery body in response to the
regular thump thump of steamer s screw Twisting
head around, I both her lights coming right down
upon the Ly-chee and distant mile AS she ap
preached I could distinctly make her out to be long,
low, doubefunnelled boat, going thru the water at
great Suddenly oG H. lost sd the LIGHT She
passing Thump! thump thump! hammers beating on my
hea and the stream of sparks from her tunnels flying
my brain. Impotently realized the full misery
of thing, and painted forth hoarse noises
audible, Perhaps yard Impotently writhed and
struggled but fainter and fainter the hump
of the And despair utter and complete settled
into my soul.
Sitting there scarcely conscious and with my eyes
shut, suddenly felt that strong strange light was
beating their lids. Looking up saw that the whole
ship and the sea round about it were enveloPed in a
white glare that seemed to dart into and rest
every part of the Ly-chee In my first surprise mag
this perhaps but blaze preparatory to the
explosion had been long expecting "a notion in
stantly dismissed heard almost alongside now, the
loud humping of screw, and steamer, not two
hundred yards away playing the Ly-chee with her
searchght Then as if thoroughly to bear into me the
could give them signal And during few minutes
of agonzed suspense know shall be per-
pass thru again. heard the sweetest music the
world then me, the swift cheep thru their blocks
of boats davit falls Then it seemed but second
two until hearty, wholesome English faces were looking
into mne ready hands cutting away at my bonds and
removing the gag, whilst there to if
very far distance the expressions Of
wonder execration and pity. They told afterwards
that before swooned as did directly they assisted
to my feet muttered the word, stBoilersl''
When I came to myself again it sunrise, and
was lying mattress spread the after sky1ight
of H. NJ gunboat Psyche, my wrists and ankles swathed
bandage and the taste of strong brandy in mouth
1sThe Internal villans'' exclaimed the captain,
to his officers told story, brokeny, and with