The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-12-24
CHAPTER Xxx.
SankaIa to the Wheel.

CAPTAIN Budlong and the sheriff held
a conference with Sankala. The girl
had much to tell them that was OF In
terest to their mission.
She had heard all Of the plans OF the
southsiders and had watched for the
approach of the boat that she might
intercept il and inform the officers OF
the treachery of the pilot and the pur-
poses of the law breaking glllnetters.
She had heard them, long before
midnight, agree to postpone the attack
upon the souh-iders until daylight on
account of the delay of some OF their
reinforcements and had also heard
them state that Gabe Jarvi, the pilot
on the boat to bring the soldiers, would
keep away from them until they had
finished with the northside fishermen.
1t had been agreed by Gabe that he
would run about the river until day
light, pretending to be hunting for the
fishermen, when in fact he would be
studiously avoiding them. In the
rankness of his treachery he had pom
ised to take the boat as near the bar as
he dared to approach where the sea
was rough and ould upset the stom-
ache of the citizen soldiers.
Sankala had escaped from the old
shack while the men were out on the
beach arranging for the attack and had
watched for the coming Of the boat.
She knew that it would 60 on the south
side of the leland in order to avoid al
encounter with the fishermen who We're
lined up on the north side, and when
she saw the light of the vessel far up
the river she launched boat which
was some distance from the plotting
fishermen and struck out to intercept
the big craft that she light inform the
officers. She had been successful, as
the reader knows, but dilemma now
confronted the officers that was difficult
to solve.
Neither of the officers knew anything
about the river and none of the men
had the slightest idea about naviga
ton. Sankala told them that the boat
was heading straight for the ocean and
that they had passed all of the fisher
men, who were lined up at the head of
the island for the early morning attack.
"This fellow Jarvi is very mean
man." said Sankala. she Is now
under bond for the murder of his aged
father and is said to be the most brutal
OF the ignorant Finlanders on the south
side of the river. do not believe he
would stop at even running this boat
out over the ban where it would surely
perish"
"What shall we do?'' inquired
Captain Budlone of the sheriff.
"Arrest him and put him in irons,"
replied the county official.
"But who would take care of the
boat?" inquired the captain.
The two men went out on deck. San
kala followed them. They could see
the breakers now leaping high in the
air far away to the front of the vessel,
and knew that this was where the river
met the waves OF the ocean.
"The scoundrel seems to be carrying
as straight to our DEATH" said the cap
tain.
"We will 90 to him and demonstrate, !"
said the sheriff.
"And compel him at the muzzie of a
gun to turn the course of the vessel, T"
replied the captain of the militia.
The officers climbed the narrow stair.
way again and approached the pilot
house. Jarvi disregarded their coming
in sullenness. He held on to the wheel
and kept the nose OF the vessel point
ing toward the breakers. Sankala had
followed the officers and stood behind
the smokestaok where she availed her.
self of it's warmth and at the same time
could listen to the interview with the
pilot.
"You have brought us past the fish.
ermen and are taking us toward the
ocean," said Captain Budlong.
The pilot ignored him in the accus-
toned manner of steamboat men.
"We want an explanation" demand.
ed Budlong.
"Yes, and we want it at once" spoke
the sheriff, who was man of personal
courage and accustomed to the nature
of the rough men at the mouth of the
river.
81 am running this boat" replied
Jarvi.
"But you are running her in the
wrong direction" said the captain.
"You had better run her yourself
then, since you know 60 much abou,
it," retorted the pilot scornfully.
"We understand nothing abou,
steamboating, but we do know tina,
you are going in the wrong direction
replied the sheriff.
"Well, if you know nothing abou,
running boat you had better e
down stairs" said Jarvi.
"We will do nothing of the kind
said Budlong who was also spirited
fellow. 81, as commander of the forces
fol- which this vessel was chartered, de
mand that you turn back and proceed
to the head of the island"
II can't do it," replied Jarvi.
"Why" asked the captain.
81 am in the south channel and viii
now be compelled to round the ives
point of the island and return on tn
north side," said the pilot.
UWhv did vou come an for o,,f ~ III