The Saint Paul globe., 1905-04-16

u1 u11nfETTER chuck your duds lhto
TX your kit and come along with
~ u.s." said Knapp.
go with you where?" 1
asked in surprise.
Knapp has anticipated me as usual"
said the doctor. It's like this, Mr..
Brown We've got tight little schoon-
er that We picked up at quite bar
gain. and we've just finished fitting out
for trading cruise around the Philip
pine archipelago. l have done a good
deal of that sort of thing, and under
stand the business, and we are both
old sailormen.
Knapp nodded. YES" he said. "and
of you want to take little share in the
venture, just to give you an interest in
the game, why we're perfectly agree
able-but do just as you please about
that"
l looked from one to the other in
much perplexity and doubt.
Gentlemen" said l. ''this is a very
generous proposition, but it is so unex-
pected that 1 don't just know how to
regard it"
Well drawled Knapp, "let's put it
on business basis, then you can tell
better how you stand. Boles and
have got this schooner and we're going
10 run over to Manila and get our
trading stuff, and then take cruise
around the open ports of the southern
islands in the group, on the lookout for
cargo of hemp, which is way up just
now = tobacco, coffee, copra, curios,
pearls, silks, pino, or any darn thing
we can lay hands on at a reasonable
bargain. Some of the time We'll both
want to go ashore, and as we don't
want to leave the vessel with only the
natives aboard we want another white
man to take charge when we're away.
Or perhaps we might want him to at
tend to something ashore. Afoat you
can take your trick or Dot-just as you
choose. And, as 1 said. if you want to
take little share in the thing, why go
ahead. The rest of the time you can
paint and sketch, and potter around to
your hearts content"
1T sounds very attractive" said l.
DO you mind if l think it over and let
you know tomorrow"
Not a bit; rather you would, in fact
We expect to clear in three days"
Very WELL" said L. then I'll leave
you now. and meet you here in the
morning"
All right-and mind you make your
plans to come said Knapp. Good
by!"
[ left them in rather a dazed condi-
ton, and went back to my studio. At
first l had no idea whatever of accept
ing the proposition; first, because
knew nothing of the men, but chiefly
because l am of an esthetic rather
than adventurous disposition, and the
thought of crossing the China sea and
cruising for an indefinite period in un-
known waters, and amid hostile and
savage people, was rather terrifying.
The next morning all of my misgiv-
iBgs returned, and lot of new ones
besides. By the time that I reached
the hotel I had finally made up my
mind to call the thing off. Boles met
me on the Veranda.
Good morning." he said cheerily.
We'll, [ see you have decided to go
with u.s.
'Eh-yes," said 1: 1--WE decided to
co. and-theB felt much better. AL
though / had known these two men but
a day, l instinctively gave them my
confidence.
Knapp came in shortly, and when he
learned that / had made up my mind
to go, held out his hand, but 1 had
learned better than TO put my own into
that jaw trap, so we went in and had d
drink instead. OF course | had no de-
sire to take any share in the enter
prise, as l have as much money as l am
ever likely to need, but | stocked our
lockers well up with the best bottled
hardware there was to be had in Yo-
kohama.
The fourth day out we sighted some
of the Loo Choo islands, and from that
time on sighted some land almost every
day. Five days later the coast of Lu-
Zon loomed up early in the morning on
our port bow. From there on we had
variable winds, and not until four days
later did We sight Merivalles noun
tain, which lies at the entrance to Ma
Mia bay, and which, for some reason
or other. Boles cursed heartily. Knapp
and [ We're glad to see it, We ran past
Corregidor and up to the city, dropping
our anchor behind the breakwater, and
Boles Immediately went in with his
papers to report to the captain of the
port.
Everything was all right, so the next
day we had our trading stuff towed out
to us in casco, and also stocked up
our commiSSary again, so that by even
ing We were ready for sea. l very
much wanted to spend a few days in
the place, both on account Of it's his
toric interest, and also to make a few
sketches, but, of course, all delay was
matter of dollars and cents to Knapp
and BoleS. The latter was ashore un-
til after dark, and when he came off
saw that he had heard something of
interest.
Come below" he said to Knapp and
me. Il have just got wind of good
thing"