The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-03-31
M O r . N
OF the
Lady Lefty

up your mainsl" ordered Moran,
The pair set the fore and main sails
with great difficulty. Moran took the
wheel, and Wilhur went forward to
cast OFF the line y which the schooner
had been tied up TO one of the whales
flukes.
"Cut itr cried the girl. Don't stop
TO cast OIL"
There was hail from the beach
combcrs, the port sweeps dipped and
the junk bore up nearer,
Hurry" shouted Moran. Don't
mind them, Are we clear for'urd
what's the trouble? Something's hold
ing her" The schooner listed slowly
to starboard and settled by the head.
"All clear" cried Wilbur.
There's something wrong." exclaim-
cd Moran. shes settling foyard."
Hoans hailed the schooner a second
time.
Were still settling" called Wilbur
from the bows whats the matter"
Matter that she's taking water"
answered Moran wrathfully. shes
started something below, what with all
that lifting and dancing and triclng
up"
Wilbur ran back to the quarter deck.
"This is a bad fix he said to Moran.
"Those chaps are coming aboard again.
They're on to something, and. Of
course, at Just this moment she begins
to leak"
"They are after that ambcrgris,' said
Moran between her teeth. "6melt it,
of course the swine"
"Ambcrgris|
"rhe stuff we found in the whale.
That's amhcrgris."
"WellT"
"Wcll." shouted Moran, exasperatcd
"Do you know that we have found a
lump TINT will weigh close to 80
pounds, and do you know that amber
girls is selling in San Francisco at so
an ounce? DO you know that we have
picked up nearly $4,000 right out
here in the ocean and are in a fair way
to lose il ALP
Can we run for it,"
'Run for it in bont that's taking
water like sack. our dory's gone
Suppose we got clear of the Junk ana
the Bertha sank? Then what? If we
only had our crew aboard; if we only
were ten to their dozen IL we were
only siX-by Jupiter, Id fight them for
itw
The two enormous red eyes of the
junk loomed alongside ana stared over
into the Bertha's waist IIoang and
seven of the coolies swarmcd aboard.
"What nowT shouted Moran, com
ing forward TO meet them, her scoWl
knotting her flashing eyes together
as this ship yours or mine? We've
done your dirty work for YOU. / want
you clear of my deck" Wilbur stood
Mt her side, uncertain what To dc, but
ready for anything she should at
tempt.
81 tink you catchum something, smel.
lum pretty big" said IIoang, his ferret
glance twinkling about the schooner.
81 catchum nothing nothing but
plenty bad stink" said Moran. mo,
you don't" she exclaimed, putting her
self in Hoang's way as he made for the
cabin. The other beacheombers came
crowding up. Wilbur even thought he
saw one of them looSenlng his Ratchet
in his belt.
"This ships mine" cried Moran,
backing to the cabin door Wilbur fol-
lowed her, and the Cinnamon closed
down upon the pair
Its not much use, Moran" he nut.
tered. They'll rush us in a minute
But the ambergris is lnine-is mine"
she answered, never taking her eyes
from the confronting coolies.
9rWe findum vale" said Ioang
"You no find vale. Him blong to we
-eve'yt'ing in YIN w'ale blong to we,
savvyT
"No: you promised US a third Of ey-
erything you found"
Even in the confusion Of the moment
il occurred to Wilbur that it was quite