The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-02-02

"Whew" he exclaimed with half
closed eyes. cts like the story of
Samson and the dead lion-the sweet
coming forth from the strong
The schooner seemed to swim in
bath of perfumed air. The membrane
of the nostrils fairly pringled with the
sensation. Moran unleashed the ham,
mock and, going down upon one knee,
examined the lump attentively.
1T didn't seem possible" Wilbur
heard her saying to herself, 'but there
can't be any mistake. It's the stuff,
right enough. I've heard of such
things, but this-but this''- She rose
to her feet, tossing back her hair.
"Well," said Wilbur, "what do you
call it,"
'The thing to do now,'' returned Mo-
ran, lis to get clear of here as quietly
and as quickly as we can and take this
stuff with US. I can't stop to explain
now, but it's big-it's big. Mate, it's
big as the Bank of England'
'"Those beachcombers are right on to
the game, I'm afraid" said Wilbur.
Look, they're watching us. This stuff
would smell across the ocean,
''Rot the beachcombers! There's a
bit of wind, thank heaven, and we can
do four knots to their one, just let us
get clear once"
Moran dragged the hammock back
into the cabin and, returning to the
deck, helped Wilbur to cut away the
last tricing tackle. The schooner right
ed slowly to an even keel. Meanwhile
the junk had set it's one lug sail and
its crew had run out the sweeps.
HOang took the steering sweep and
worked the junk to a position right
across the Bertha's bows some fifty
feet ahead.
They're watching us, right enough"
said Wilbur.
"Up your mains'lv' ordered Moran.
The pair set the fore and main sails
with great difficulty. Moran took the
wheel, and Wilbur went forward to
cast off the line by which the schooner
had been tied up to one of the whales
dukes.
"Cut it!' cried the girl. Don't stop
to cast off,"
There was a hail from the beach
combers, the port sweeps dipped and
the junk bore up nearer.
Hurry" shouted Moran. "Don't
mind them! Are we clear for'ard-
what's the trouble? Something's hold
ing her." The schooner listed slowly
to starboard and settled by the head.
''All clearv' cried Wilbur.
"There's something wrong!" exclaim-
ed Moran. 'She's settling for'ard."
HOang hailed the schooner a second
time.
''We're still settling," called Wilbur
from the bows. "What's the matter?"
matter that she's taking water"
answered Moran wrathfully. "She's
started something below, what with all
that lifting and dancing and tricing
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 ambergris," said
IL. NJ,
of course-the swinev'
"Ambergris?''
'The stuff we found in the whale.
That's ambergris."
'Well?"
"Well!'' shouted Moran, exasperated.
"Do you know that we have found
lump that will weigh close to $50
pounds, and do you know that amber
girls is selling in San Francisco at $40
an ounce? Do you know that we have
picked up nearly $15OOOO right out
here in the ocean and are in a fair way
to lose it all?"
''Can we run for it?''
'Run for it in a boat that's taking
water like a sack! Our dory's gone.
Suppose we got clear Of the junk and
the Bertha sank? Then what? If we
only had our crew aboard; if we only
were ten to their dozen-if we were
only six-by Jupiter I'd fight them for
itv'
The two enormous red eyes of the
junk doomed alongside and stared over
into the Bertha's waist. Hoang and
seven of the coolies swarmed aboard
What now? shouted Moran, COM
ing forward to meet them, her scowl
knotting her flashing eyes together.
"Is this ship yours or mine? We've
done your dirty work for you I want
m Ne n