The San Francisco call., 1905-08-13

usual, said the doctor. II nke lnls'
Mr.. Brown. We've got a tight little
schooner that we picked up at quite
a bargain, and we've just finished fit
ting out TO- a trading cruise around
the Philippine Archipelago.
Knapp hnodded. YES" he said,
and if you want to take q little share
in the venture, just to give you an
interest in the game, why we're per-
fectly able-but do just as you
please about that"
looked from one to the other in
much perplexity and doubt.
Gentlemen" said I, this is a very
generous proposition, but it is so un-
expected that don't just know how
10 regard it"
Well drawled Knapp, Tets put IT
on a business basis, then you can tell
better how you stand. Boles and
have got this schooner. and we're go
ing TO run over 10 Manila and get our
trading stuff, and then take a cruise
around the open ports Of the southern
islands Of the group, on the lookout
for a cargo of hemp, which is way up
Just now-tob bacco, coffee, copra,
curios, pearls. silks. pino or any darn
thing We can lay hands on at rea-
sonable bargain. Some of the time
we'll both want to go ashore, and as
we don't want to leave the vessel with
cnly the natives aboard we want an
other white man to take charge when
we're away. Or perhaps we might
want him to attend TO something
ashore.
DO you mind If I think 1t over and
let you know tomorrow"
Not a bit: rather you would, in
fact. We expect to clear IN three
days"
VERY we'll" said I; then I'll leave
you now, and meet you here In the
morning"
"AlI right-and mind you make your
plans TO come" said Knapp. Good
by!'
The next morning all Of my misgiv-
ings returned, and a lot of new ones
besides. By the time that I reached
the hotel I had finally made up my
mind 10 call the thing of. Boles met
me on the veranda.
Good morning." he said cheerily.
We'll, l see you have decided to go
with u.s.
''Eh-yes." said 1; I've decided to
80" and then ] felt much better. At
though I had known these two men
but A day. 1 instinctiyely gave them
my confidence.
Knapp came in shortly, and when he
learned that 1 had made UP my mind
TO go, held out his hand, but I had
learned better than to put my own into
that Jaw-trap, so We went in and had
a drink instead. OF course L had no
desire to take any share in the enter
prise, as L have as much money as 1
am ever likely to need. but 1 stocked
our lockers well up with the best bot
tied hardware there was to be had in
Yokohama.
The fourth day out we sighted some
OF the Loo Choo Islar|=. and from that
time on sighted some land almost every
day. Five days later the coast of
LuZon 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 MerivaIies
Mountain, which lies at the entrance
TO Manila Bay, and which, for some
reason or other, Boles cursed heartily.
Knapp and I were glad to see it. We
ran past Corregidor and up to the city,
dropping our anchor behind the break
water, and Boles Immediately went in
with his papers 10 report TO the captain
Of the port. He was ashore until
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 get wind of a good
thing"
We went down into the cabin, and
Boles hauled some charts out of his
locker and spread them on the table.
1 have just learned from a friend
Of mine ashore, who is in a good posi-
ton 70 know all about these things,
that there is a fine, fat cargo of hemp
waiting for the first conner at Mayon-
gong, little place in the south of
Samar-ah, here 1t is. 1t seems that
the port has not been opened yet, but
there viii be no difficulty in our get
ting the stuff If we can only manage
TO reach there before a certain little
brigantine that left here yesterday on
the same errand.
That seems to be our speciality. doc
to correct these fool regulations. Let's
have go at it. It'll be easy enough
70 pick UP a little more somewberes
else and change the figures on the
manifest
No." said Boles, I'VE can't do that
exactly, but I think I know how we
can arrange IL all right. Well, on the
jump. boys-we're cleared and can't
anord 70 waste any time. These little
coasting collins are slow as death and
nothing like as sure, but q days q big
start, and it's only a matter of 500
miles or so. Wen have our chin when
We get under way"
II was not until the sixth dav after
We left Manila that we entered San
Pedro Bay and drew near to olir des-
unation. ! was down in the cabin
shaving, because always like to keen
well ''policed," as Boles calls If. even
at sea- when a below of rage from
Knapp brought ME flying UP the com
panonway, under the impression that
some calamity had occurred. And an
parently it had.
We were rounding the point and
there. just off the village. lay schoon-
er very much like cur own!
1t was certainly dIscouraging. tn
have worked and worried as we had
won our race through dangerous and