Milford chronicle., 1905-03-17

''In the tool chest, isn't it?" Charlie
nodded, and Moran ordered it to b.
fetched.
IF we're to fight that crowd" sh,
said, speaking to herself and in a rapiC
voice, thick from excitement and pas
sion, we've got TO know where they'v,
hid the loot and what weapons they've
got. If they have a rife or shotgun
with them it's going to make a big diff
ference for US. The other fellow es
capped and has gone back to warn the
rest. It's fight now, and no mistake"
The Chinaman who had been sent
aboard the schooner returned, carrying
long, rather coarse grained file. No
ran took it from him.
''Now." she said, standing IN front
Of Hoang, IN give you one more
chance. Answer me. Did you bring of
the ambergris, you beast, when your
! junk sank? Where is it now? How
many men have you? What arms have
( you got? Have your men got a rife?
Charlie. put that all to him in your
lingo, so as to make sure that he un-
derstands. Tell him If he don't talk
I'm going to make him very sick"
Charlie put the questions in Chinese.
pausing after each one. Hoang held
his peace.
Il gave you fair warningr' shouted
Moran angrily, pointing at him with
the file. "Will you answerT
Him no tell nuttin'," observed Char
lie.
Fetch a cord here" commanded
Moran. The cord was brought. and.
despite Hoang's struggles and writh-
ings, the file was thrust endways into his
mouth and his jaws were bound tightly
together upon it by means of the cord
passed over his head and under his
chin. Some four inches of the file pro-
sruded from Ills lips Moran took this
end and drew it out between the beach
comber's teeth, then pushed it back
slowly.
The hideous rasp Of the operation
turned Wilbur's blood cold within him.
He looked away-out to sea, down the
beach-anywhere, so that he might
not see what was going forward. But
the persistent grind and scrape still
assaulted his ears. He turned about
sharply.
"I-I-TH go down the beach here a |
ways" he said quickly. Il can't stand |
IN keep watch to see if the beach
cOmbers come up"
A few minutes later he heard Char
lie hailing him.
"Chin-chin heap plenty nOw," said
he, with grin as Wilbur came up.
Hoang sat on the sand in the midst
Of the circle. The file and coil of rope
lay on the ground near by. The beach
comber was talking in q high keyed
singsong, but with lisp. He told them,
partly in pigeon English and partly in
which Charlie translated,
that their men were eight in number
and that they had intended to seize the
schooner that night, but that probably
his own capture had delayed their
plans. They had no rifle. A shotgun
had been on board, but had gone down
with the sinking of the junk. The am
Dergris had been cut into two Jumps
md would be found in couple Of old
lour sacks in the stern of the boat in
which he and his men had come ashore.
They were all armed with their little
latchets. He thought two of the men (
,arried knives as we'll There was
leither pistol nor revolver among them :
1T seems to me-" said Wilbur, that ]
we've got the long end" (
1--WE catchum boss. toor' said Char
lie, pointing to Hoang.
"And we are better armed" assent
d Moran. "We've got the cutting-in I
pades" /
And the revolver, if it will shoot
ny farther than it will kick" '
They'll give us all the fight we
rant" declared Moran.
"Oh, him Kai-gingh, him fight all
anne devil"
"Give the men brandy. Charlie" COM
landed Moran. "We'll rush that camp
ght away"
The demijohn of spirits was brought
own from the Bertha and passed
round, Wilbur and Moran drinking
ON the tin cup, the coolies from the
)ttle. Hoang was fettered and lock
in the Bertha's cabin.
Now, then, are we ready? cried
oran.
Il tink all light" answered Charlie.
The party set off down the beach.
be moon had long since gone down,
ID the dawn was whitening over the
stern horizon. Landward, ragged
ankets of morning mist lay close in
e hollows here and there. 1t was
still The stars were still
[. The surface of Magdalena bay
Is smooth as a sheet of gray silk.
twenty minutes passed. half an hour,
hour. The party tramped steadily
rward, Moran, Wilbur and Charlie
lding, the coolies close behind car
ing the cutting-in spades over their
oulders. Slowly and in silence they
lde the half circuit of the bay. The
rtha Millner was far behind them by
W, a vague gray mass in the early
'rning light.
Did you ever fight before?" Moran