Gunnison news-champion., 1906-05-11

~ ANN now ~aNfNtAA ANNtrN AlN-f NHrnNha Ne
sight Of the captains pailid face and
The cries % fear rising un every side
from crew and passed. cngers showed that
+ there coHld be no mistake. kwan Dab
sas indeed upon thom.
Sho Mai knew what il was to face
/ Heath amid the shrieking Of tempest
and Ia the darkness of night and storm;
out 10 feel that destruction was ad-
gancing over this fair sea and in this
glorious sunlight was far more terrible.
And life itself bad now new delight
which love had lent it. She turned to
ward Ii XIII and looked into his face.
1t vas pale and the lips were tightly
irswn, but it was The face Of brave
man, and as she gazed upon him thus
sho Mails heart knew the ultimate con
ISOLATION that love is stronger than fear
and more subtle than death.
To one so full of yigor as Ii Xii in
action at such time was impossible
He turned to the captain.
Why do you not summon your men
" defend the ship" he began. but broke
of in disgust, for the man whom he ad-
dressed stood wringing his hands in
which were half prayers, half curses
Then Ii khi, stepping forward, endeav-
ored to make his voice heard over the
tumult. He shouted words Of encour-
agement, but no one needed him. The
few men among the passengers and
crew whose courage was equal to this
emergency were powerless amid the
frantic cowardice OF the others, who
rushed first one way and then another.
some aimlessly under the blind inf u
ence OF panic, others vainly seeking
hiding places or striving to get into the
boats " hlch were being lowered.
Despair seized upon Ii Xii and his
heart was like lead in his breast as he
returned to Sho Mai's side.
"All is in vain," he said; "they are all
mad with fear. All! sho Mai. | could
die a thousand times and feel no pang
like this, that am powerless to protect
you; but alone, without a single man
to stand by my side and strike one
blow" He ground his teeth with rage.
"COwardsl' he shrieked, shaking his
clenched hand at the struggling crowd
of sailors, you deserve the death that
awaits youi"
His voice was lost in the tumult.
We must join in their flight since no
one VIII make stand, said Sho Mai,
and she led the way to one of the boats
hundred frantic men surged toward
the rail as the boat was lowered, and
some in their impatience sprang into the
sea Ii khi, putting forth all his great
strength, forced way for himself and
Sho Mai to the rail, whence with q ire
mendous effort he lowered her into the
boat.
He was about to follow her when
those who had the oars pushed OF, and
in moment an expanse Of water sep
arated the lovers. In despair he flung
himself from the ships side. and swan
after the boat which bore Sho Mai, but
he could not overtake II. The weeping
girl saw him grasp the rail of another
boat ss it passed him and climb on
board, though those who were in it tried
TO push him of again into the sea. The
two boats took different courses despite
the efforts OF the lovers, and in few
minutes were far apart.
The sailors rowed with all their
might away from their ship, upon
which the pirate was now rapidly bear
tng down. The terrible black flag with
is white crescent futtered from the
mast, and the decks were swarminr
with armed men. She soon ran up
alongside the little merchantman, and
the pirates poured out upon her decks.
The shrieks which came across the
water showed the fate OF those v ho had
not escaped in the boess.
Presently the pirate vessel cast OF
her fastenings and was seen to drift
gradually away from the prize. The
wedre-shapcd sails. which had eeen
lowered but few minutes before. went
up with rattl!ng sound which could be
heard long distance across the water
and the Prov VS. turned in pursuit OF
the fugitives. 1t was not a long chase.
Tor when the wind filed out the
wrinkles Of the huttering canvas. the
junk, clumsy As she looked, made rapid
headway. She came directly for the