The Saint Paul globe., 1905-04-16

stern lay the schooner of our rivals
and astern of her. not a cables length
away. there lay a newcomer Her boat
lay alongside the schooner. but 70 one
was In sight. l looked aIoft. then on
all sides. Not breath of air was stir
ring.
The plot thickens," said 1. turning
to Boles.
We'll, rather. There are four white
men on that new chap. and I don't
know how many natives. The worst
of 1T is that we We're taking on the last
or that hemp when the brig came in.
Otherwise we might slip out before
they got wind of what was up"
What's to be 1>ne?" 1 asked
ITS rather hard to say. but I
shouldn't wonder if Knapp had the
right idea"
1 looked around, and there sat Knapp
on the edge of the hatch cleaning a
rife.
A noise astern of us caught our ears.
We looked back and saw four men
come UP the aftercompanion of the
schooner. Boles leveled his glass
There are our friends of yesterday,
he remarked, ''and they act as if they
were vexed about something
My ear was caught by a little flap
ping noise aloft. Looking up saw the
mainsail gently stirred. outside a dark
blue streak appeared on the horizon.
A pun or air caught my cheek.
Hooray!1 L exclaimed, there comes
the breeze!"
Yes said Knapp, "and here come
the greaSers."
Boles waved his hand aloft. and the
next moment we heard the iron rings
OF the jib scraphg along the forestay
Slowly the schooner began to pay off.
But the boat was now close alongside.
ana coming on as if they meant to
board us. In the stern sat our gorilla
like friend and his evil looking mate
The sight of them sent little shivers
through me and down my spine, but
think that it was excitement rather
than fear.
Boles hailed the boat and waved them
back with his hand.
go back, my friends" he shouted,
we cannot receive you, as we are go
ing out. Adios."
Stop. senors!" called Boles again. Il
say we cannot receive you. Another
stroke at your PERIL"
The boat still kept on.
Shoot high, boys" said BOleS, about
foot over their heads. Let them feel
the wipd."
Our rifles rang out and the boat i'm
mediately held water. The gorilla rose
to his feet.
But why is this. amigo" he called
reproachfully. Il do not understand
We have but come to bid adios TO our
kind hosts"
Then for what purpose are the
weapons which saw but a moment
ago in the stern of the boat?" Boles re-
piled.
The face of the gorilla underwent a
change. His brows came down. and his
lips curled up with an expression of
malignant ferocity.
"Ah-Dios!-pigso of Englishmen, you
have stolen our cargo. first having
poisoned us with your vile decoction"
They're not the only ones" l said to
myself
The senior is surely in error" an
swered Boles politely. 1T is true that
we have taken on a few bales of very
poor hemp-but for all of 1t we have
paid a good price and received re-
ceipt. AS We were slowing the last OF
it 1 learned with deep regret that our
schooner had been mistaken for yours.
and it is probable that the mistake has
not yet been discovered. But what
would you have? Business is business.
ard man must look after his own in
terests-is ii not so?"
Yes" replied the Spaniard. "and for
that reason will inform the senior that
unless he delivers over the cargo to us
we Will come and take it by force" He
smiled and his yellow teeth cleaned
through his bristling mustache.
What does he say?" demanded
Knapp impatiently. What's all this
jawing about. anyway? Why don't you
ask 'em what they're going to do about
it,"
Hes just told us said 1. He says
that We've got to give up the hemp"
Knapp scowled. How do you say
go to hell in Spanish" he asked.
Shut up" 1 answered; Il want to
hear what Boles says"
Brown, get our boat over and tow
US out a bit to clear that schooner
quick! Knapp, you keep those scoun-
drels covered. and If one OF them
reaches for a guD nail HIM"
jumped TO my feet and. running
forward, hustled our Japs TO the boat
falls, which consisted simply of a
couple of light tackles and jig hook
rugged from both mast heads. Boles
was haranguing the SpaDiards with
honeyed words, and they seemed a lit
tie undecided as to what course to pur-
sue. Then suddenly | saw the gorilla
snatch a rife from the thwart and
throw il to his shoulder. Two reports
came simultaneously. Boles staggered
little against the wheel. but the
Spaniard fell with a crash across the
gunwale of the boat, which promptly
capsized, throwing all hands into the
bay.
Hurry up with that boat" sang out
Boles. 1 started aft to get my rife,
when BOles hailed me.
Stand by TO cut that bow line when
L give the word-then get aft here as
quick as you can to repel boardersi
Now stand by to slack your jib sheet.
-Leggo your jib Sheet" 1 cast it off