The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-08-21
By
Henry c.
Rowland
BACK TRACKS.

that l had encountered in my missionary work. made
them understand what wanted, aud that there
would be twice the amount of money paid them when
they returned Our patrons agent was to SEND Us
back scrap of paper bearing character of which
We held the duplicate to indicate that our message
had been received.
The following day the messengers returned. so
got everything readiness receive our cargo The
silk was to go down in the fore peak under some
extra sails and the opium under false flooring be-
meath cabin. had seen enough OF Cninese cndi-
acter not to trust il too far. l got my Colts
revolver and carefully oiled and loaded It, getting
McKim to do the same Then I armed the sailors
with heavy knives that had secured before leav-
ing Manila and cautioned them against turning their
backs the of the dhOw
| The night came down dark and murky, and blot
ted out shore line except where here and there
the shoulder of great oyerhanging hill lOomed
bacbly against the sOmbre sky The wafer was
dead and dismal Not ripple flicker of phos-
phorescence came from the sea. though now and
then felt the puff of chilly land breeze smelling
Of moist earth and TOtting seaweed L was leaning
on the rail trying cheer myself with reflective
pipe for my spirits were very low, and thinking OF
the altered conditions between my first and second
trips TO China-the first missionary, the second
as snuggler.
suddenly caught the faint ..chunB-a-chunk'' that
the great stern setIlling oar of a freight sampan
makes upon its thole pin. 1 called McF<im who came
up through the companonway buckling on his gun
We listened together, and presently heard the soft
pat pat" of naked feet as the coolies who were
scang the craft threw the weight first on one loot
and then on the other, Our crew were gathered to
/
presently enc of them crawled stealthiy aft
What is t?' / asked in a whisper
The man pointed his skinny arm into the dark
ness Following the direction there suddenly
solved itself from the gloom great square opacity
that stood out against the denser darkness behind
1t puzzled first, and then [ made 1t out TO be
the big black sail of the dhOw which had been hoist
/ ed to catch the ftfU pufs of the night breeze
Our anchor light burning dead yellow /
went below. and, lighting powerful lantern We had
got for the purpose. hoisted it ballard that
HI erv7r
stay the day before. The light hared suddenly on
the big sail of the dhow, that close aboard
patter of muf1ed orders in a cultural voice came
from her decks:
! Hello" said l. STAND by for line
.'E-ee-yah-aa--7 voice in answer
sent a heaving line uncoiling snalIiiy through
the darkness 1t fell athwart her decks and in a
moment had her mOOred bow and stern. Mcl<im
dropped our sea ladder and Immediately the crew Of
the dhow. swarming UP. I couldn't see any use
| for than the captain, so showed the rest OF
the mob back and hauled up the LADDER. light
whip had been rugged from the main topsail-ysrd
arm, and ordered our man it. and in
moment the bales and boxes came swinging over the
side. No attempt was made to examine them, as
simply TO receive what was sent and receipt
for the total number Of pieces.
The Chinaman who had come aboard carried
piece of paper in his hand which he sgnifed that he
wanted signed McT<im carried it below The Chi
naman stood beside the hatch waiting for him to
come up. I busy tallying in the bales, the last
! Of which Just coming aboard but something. /
don't know what. 1mpelled 10 watch that China
man out of the tail of my And as / watched the
bales with eye and the with the other I
his hand suddenly slide down to his belt and caught
the fash of the cargo ignJ on naked steel
] Look out. McKim." I shouted
! wild, eerie scream came in answer and a wave
OF dark, agile figures pouring suddenly over the
bow and stern. My gun out in a flash. and I
down the at the head of the cOIlpanionway.
who with another scream wilder than the first
lurched headlong into the scuppers. The next
ment McKim was on deck, and together We leaped
onto the deck house.
/ Up forward sailors were fighting for their
lives. and for moment they stayed tne rush from
that direction. giving time to reach under our
dinghy, which we carried dashed bottom side on
the deck house and to slip out the heavy leak lIIer
which was showed under the after thwart. il was
well that did so, for revolvers were quickly
emptied into the faces of the mob. aad me
ment were back to back fighting a blind and
hopeless fight against oyerpoweTing odds
! McKim had got hold of long iron capstan brake
that he had torn from the hands of one of the as
sailants and flashing about him like wildcat.
/ had thrown my empty revolver into mans face
and gripping the tiller with both hands was getting
in blow after blow opportunity offered parrying
occasional thrUsts best could. For what seemed
long time beat them back fast as they
/ leaped up at US, then suddenly something heavy
struck in the chest and went with a crash
and the next moment almost suhocated in
writing, gripping forms. and remember with dis
gust the abominable stencil of opium mingled with
4 nasty 1shy smell that was overpowering Ny arms
were wrenehed back until thought that my shoulder
blades would go, and turn after turn of thin back
Irvine was whipped around and cut deep into my
/ wrists.
Although repeatedly struck and cUffed [ did not
lose consciousness, and the most distinct impression
retained is that OF McKim, the clothes torn away
from the upper part OF his body great gaming cash
his from which the blood spattered over his
demoniaCal face, which working groteseuey in
the dim, Pickering light from the cargo lantern and
even at the time struck by the weird similarity
of his face to those about him.
So quick were his actions that they seemed IN
able to reach him with any weapon; then suddenly
some great object flew up from the crowd. There
was the scrunching noise of iron bone and the
next moment he gone,
Concluded next week.
Copyright by Mcclure, Phillips & Co.