Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-12-26
CHAPTER Xxx.
Sankala to the Wheel.

had much to tell them that was OF in
terest to their mission.
She had heard all OF the plans Of the
southsders and had watched for the
approach of the boat that she might
intercept it and inform the officers of
the treache,y OF the pilot and the pur-
poses OF the law breaking gillnetters.
She had heard them, long before
midnight, agree to postpone the attack
upon the south-iders until daylight on
account of The delay OF some of their
reinforcemcnts 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 norihside 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 lie 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-
achs 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 island in order to avoid an
encounter with the fishermen who were
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 II 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 healing 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 a very mean
man," said Sankala. "He 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 ba, 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
us straight to our DEATH" said the cap.
tain.
1--WE will 60 to him and demonstrate,
said the sheriff.
."And compel him at the muzze of a
gun to turn the course OF the vessel"
replied the captain OF the militia.
The officers climbed the narrow stair.
way again and approached the pilot
house. Jarvi disrcgardcd their coming
in sulenncss. lie 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 smokcstatk wle,c she availed her
self OF it's warmth and at the same time
could listen to tire interview with the
pilot.
"You have brought US past the fish.
ermen and are taking us toward tie
ocean," said Captain Budlons.
The pilot ignored him in the accus-
toned manner of steamboat men.
"Wc want an explanation, D." demand.
ed Budlong.
Eyes, and we want it at once" spoke
the sheriff, who was a 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 so much about
it," retorted the pilot scornfully.
"We understand nothing about
steamboating, but we do know that
YOU are going in the wrong direction"
replied the sheriff.
"Well, if you know nothing about
running boat you had better 20
down stairs" said Jarvi.
"We will do nothing OF the kind"
said BudIong who was also spirited
fellow. 81, as commander of the forces
ioi which this vessel was chartered, de-
mand that you turn back and proceed
to the head OF the island'
81 can't do it," replied Jarvi.
"Why' asked the captain.
81 am in the south channel and will
now be compelled to round the west
point of the island and return on the
north side," said the pilot.
"Why did you come go far out OF the
way" asked the sheriff.
"Swept into the ola south channel
by accident and couldn't get OUT" re.
piled Jarvi, doggedly.
The boat continued to head for the