The San Francisco call., 1905-08-13

stroke at your perili''
The boat still kept on \
about a foot over their heads. Let
them feel the wind
Our rifles rang out and the boat
Immediately held water. The gorilla
rose to his feet.
But why is this. amigo?2 he called
reprcachfully. Il do not understand.
We have but come to bid adios to our
kind hosts.
Then for what purpose are the
weapons which l saw but moment
ago in the stern Of the boat?'' Boles re-
phed.
The face of the gorilla underwent a
change. His brows came down and his
lips curled I'D with an expression OF
malignant ferocity.
''Ah-Dios.-pigs of Englishmen. you
have stolen our cargo, first having
poisoned us with your vile decoetion'
They're not the only ones 1 said to
myself.
The senior is surely in error" an
swered Boles politely TT rs true that
We have taken on few bales of very
poor hernp-but for all Of it We have
paid good price and received a re-
cetpt. AS we were slowing the last Of
1t learned with deep regret that our
schooner had been mistaken for yours,
ard 1t IS probable that the mistake has
would you have? Business is business,
and a man must look after his own
interests-is 1t not SOP"
Yes" replied the Spaniard, "and for
that reason / win inform the senor
that unless he delivers over the cargo.
to US. We viii come and take 1t By
force" He smiled, and his yellow
teeth cleaned through his bristIing
mustache.
What does he say?" demanded
Knapp impatiently. What's an ants
jawing about. anyway? Why don't
you ask EN- what they're going to do
about it?''
that we've got to give up the hemp"
Knapp sccwled- How do you say
go to hell IN SPANISH" he asked.
Shut up!" I answered; II want to
hear what Boles says"
Brown, get our boat over and tow
US out bit to clear that schooner
quick! Knapp, you keep those scoun-
drels covered. and If one OF them
reaches for gun nail him.
jumped to my feet, and running orr
ward, hustled our Japs to the boat
falls. which consisted simply OF a
couple OF light tackles and a fig hook,
rigged from both mast heads. Boles
was harangutng the Spanlards with
honey words. and they seemed little
Then suddenly I saw the gorilla snatch
rifle from the thwart and throw 1t to
his shoulder. Two reports came stimuli
taneouSly. Boles staggered a 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. started aft to get my rifle.
when BOles hailed me-
Stand by to cut that bow-line whenv
/ give the word-then get aft here as
quick as you can to repeI bcarders,
Now stand by TO slack your jib-sheetl
Lego your jib-sheet." I cast it off
the pin and let II run The brig was
not a cables length away and coming
along with fresh puff OF the breeze in
her topsailS. A knot Of men were gath
cred in her eyes.
Cut the bow-1inei-hard-a a-Iee.-
tumble aft herei Don't shoot-knock
'em overboardt"
The brig was almost on US as We
1uffed. and If they had guessed cur de-
sign they could have easily jammed
their helm down and fDuled US, but as
she was still paying OFF. and being a
clumsy craft, we swung across their
bows before they knew it, They tried
to swing in after US, but IL was too
late. Her starboard run struck our
port quarter giancing blow. and as
1t did so, four of the men 1eaped down
on our deck The first, a Spaniard,
fired a pistol almost in BoIes' face as
he jumped. but at the same moment
the bowsprit of the brig fouled the
main topping-lift. though Boles had let
the mainsheet run The rope snapped
but the strain suddenly tautened the
mainsheet. which flew up, knocking our
captain over backward into the lee
had seized the man in both of his. great
hands and hurled him back against the
next, a half-bFeed, knocking both men
off their feet. / had brought the caps-
tan brake aft with me, and slipping
past Knapp, drove the butt of 1t into
the next mans face.
By that time Boles had climbed to
his feet. and jumping across the deck.
grabbed the wheel and clawed the
spokes toward him as fast as he could
work his arms At the same time
Knapp had gripped the Filipino ~
came last by the waist and swung him
up over his head. The man screamed
like a rabbit. thinking. no doubt, that
he was about to be dashed lifeless on
tie deck. but the next moment q
mighty heave sent him flying over the
rail into the bay. e
was standing over the other three.
swearing in Spanish at the top OF nv
lungs and brandishing my capstafl
brake. One OF them, lying almost
under the wheel, started to get TO his
feet, but when he was almost I'D, BoIes
let drive with his fist and stretched
him out again.
The brig was astern Of Us, drifting
aimlessly. "A boat had Eut or from
the schooner and had picked up the
capSized party, who. from the male
dictions that came up to US against Ia
wind. were far from showing the grafi-
tude that they should lave felt
could make out the gorilla nursing one
arm in the stern. Knapp afterward
told me that he had shot him through
the shoulder.
Knapp looked all around him. then.
threw back his head and laughed
"If that Iubber hadn't upset that
outfit we might have been in bad
shape said he.
Yes" I answered. wed not only
have had them to look after. but the
chap that went after them from the
schooner. What f.
broke off, horror-stricken- and