Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-16

"Now, then, we take the gold from
the steamer, hold her until night time
then slip away in the dark without any
one on board knowing which way WE
go. We will run without lights during
the night and in the daytime will avoid
any vessel that heaves in sight. We
head straight for the rendezvous, fine
the schooner, tumble the stuff on board
scuttle the yacht and sail away for the
South seas. changing the name of the
schooner which is now the Goodman
Friday, into some other, altering her
rig as much as possible to prevent any
chance of any one recognizing her, then
Ho! for the South Sea island and the
million peri"
''Who else is in this mess?" Pass, the
cautious, asked.
Seventeen, counting us three. And
all of 'em to the good: Tide Water
Sam, Brick Top Mac, the Watch
Charm: Erie Basin Rollo, Mighty
Minded Mike, Dignified Dick, Spinnak-
ers, Tiddlebat Davis, Gripping Irons,
Submarine SMITH
Pass, who was visibly impressed with
the array of piratical talent, looked
furtively at Jake. Jake caught his eye
and nodded.
I'm camel" said Pass, slowly.
ME, tool" said Jake.
The westward sloping sun of May 20
glistened on, the white like spars and
yellow funnel of rakish looking yacht,
lazily drifting over that part of the
eastward steamship 5lane which washes
about the forty-second parallel. The
air was so still that it was impercep-
tible, even to the moistened finger, and
the smoke from the funnel went up
ward in straight line, while under
foot the sleeping sea seemed like
lake Of glass; All the yachts crew had
clustered about the starboard rail, and
all were staring to the westward, where
a blur of smoke was just visible above
the horizon.
"That's her." Pass announced from
the bridge, as he lowered the binoculars
which he had kept in steady strain.
The blur grew into a rolling plume
and four yellow tunnels and black
hull came swiftly into view. set off
by a hill of white tumbling about the
bow. Pass, narrowly watching the ap-
proach of the racer, sent a signal clang-
ing into the engine room and the mo-
tionless yacht, gathering headway,
swung to a course parallel with that
of the speeding liner. Van Moon
shouted orders down the decks, masks
were drawn over faces-to the improve
ment of most of them-and under the
direction of Blue Jacket the six-pound-
er, mounted on a swivel amidships of
the forecastle, was unmasked of it's
tarpaulin and it's lean length of steel
swung around so as to point fair over
side.
Nearer and nearer drew the rushing
liner, the sunlight twinkling along her
brass work and glistening sides and
the foam piling high about her bows.
She was almost abeam when Van Moon
shouted to Blue Jacket. On the instant
there was sharp report and a ring of
smoke. The liner paid no more heed
than does an express train to a fire.
cracker flung at it by small boy from
behind a hedge. But Blue Jacket knew
his business. Hardly had the smoke of
the blank cartridge cleard away be-
fore the six-pounder blazed again. This
time 1t carried shell, and the missile
tossed an inverted cataract so high in
front of the steamship that none could
overlook 1t.
What the -" gasped the watch
officer OF the liner as he reached for
the annunciator and sent the signal
stop" to the engine room, "what the
blazes is all this ?''
The captain. yellow bearded viking,
hearing the engines stop, came bound
ing to the bridge. but before he could
ask any questions he saw a yacht with
smoking gun grinning oversize come
siding near, black flag Haunting from
!
foremast and decks crowded with men
wearing masks.
The viking grasped the rail and was
about to explode in German when q
megaphone gaped from the bridge OF
the yacht and the voice OF Van Moor
was lifted up from the lesser OF this
larger craft. The message was short
and to the point.
you've got twenty millions in your
strong box" 1t said. I'VE want it,"
"You damn pirates. you can go -
Easy captain" expostulated Var
Moon, discarding the megaphone as III,
two vessels scraped sides. "We hay.
you in our power and we are not har.
for our health. We've put our neeks II
q halter. SO don't forget that we near
what we say. And what we say is fol