The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-11-08
CHAPTER XVII
Battle on the Lagoon.


Henninger, fiercely. "Who was on
the lookout?'
1t appeared that everyone aboard
the dhow had been too deeply in
terested in the salvage operations,
and that nobody had been on the
lookout at all. The strange vessel
lay absolutely motionless and per-
haps a mile away.
We'd better clear out. She's a
Britisher-as like as not gun
boat" Hawke muttered nervously.
Clear out!" snOrted Henninger
Shed overtake us in a hour, with
her engines. She's got no guns.
that / can see. Ten to one It's our
friends from Zanzibar" He con-
tinued to gaze through the binocu-
lars.
BY Jove. she's getting ready to
lower a boat he exclaimed, after
a minute or two. AVIAN, please
bring up those rifles and open a
case of ammunition. Bring up
case of revolver cartridges, too.
Elliott. tell the skipper to get those
anchors up and bring her around"
The strange steamer was in
deed lowering a boat which was
full of men, and as it left her side
half a dozen dull flashes, as Of
blued steel, glimmered in the sun.
Sullivan darted below and came up
with his arms fuh Of Mausers,
which he stacked against the after.
rail.
The Arabs were set to work at
the capstan, and the forward
anchor was broken cut, but the
Hedge attached to the reef was al.
lowed to remain for the present.
Without it, the dnoW would have
drifted upon the island, fer the
bright morning was turning
cloudy, with a rising breeze from
the southeast.
The Arabs were clustered at the
bow, talking violently among
themselves, and gesticulating at
the mysterious steamer. Hen
ringer watched them with an air
of suspicion and proceeded to load
his revolver and put a handful of
cartridges in his pocket. Every
one followed his example, anu
Margaret produced her own pistol,
which she had not shown since the
night of her coming aboard.
"Oh, is there going to be
fight" she breathed in tremu-
lous voice, which her bright eyes
attributed to excitement rather
than to fright.
mo. At least, I hope not said
Henninger. IF there should be,
you'll go below and stay there,
Miss Laurie. You understand?
Look" she cried. in answer
They're waving a white flag"
The boat, which had almost
reached the barrier reef, had
stopped, and a strip of white cloth
was being fiourished from her
stern.
That settles it," Elliott re-
marked st must be Carlton and
Sewers gang. They want to talk
to u.s.
We'll talk to them, but they
mustn't come alongside us" re-
spoHded Henninger. We'll go
ashore to meet them. Elliott, will
you come with me? The rest of
you had better stand by with the
rifles while the peace conference is
going on
Elliott and Henninger according
w descended into the dhow's shore
boat. which swung by it's painter,
carrying no weapons but their re-
volvers. Elliott took the oars, and
while he rowed Henninger stood up
and fouished his handkerchief.
The other boat resumed its course
at this signal, but was obliged to
sheer westward for a quarter of a
mile to find an entrance through
the ring of reefs. Elliott and Hen
ringer had been ashore for 10 min
utes when the steamers party land
ed at point a hundred yards east
ward upon the beach.
The strangers disembarked, nine
of them, and seemed to consult to-
gether for few moments. Two
were in Arab dress, but the rest
appeared to be white emen of the
lowest order, the white riffraff that
gathers in the East African ports,
a genuinely piratical crew, and ev-
cry man carried his rifle. Finally,
two men came forward with the
flag of truce.
That's Sewer, all right" said FL
lott, land Carlton with him"
SO it proved, and the ALBANIAN
saluted them with a suave flourish
and without any symptom of sur
prise.
Good mo'n'in', Elliott" he said.
"Ah. | always knew you knew
where this place was. We never
ought to have let you go, but we
were all ratified that night, as
you'll remember. ! hope you en-
joyed your trip to San Francisco?
Every much, thanks" said III.
liott. Have you been to lbo isl
and?"
Eyes, we've been to Ibo island
Your slippery old sky pilot played
us a neat trick on that deal. Only
for that, we'd have been here two
weeks ago. Have you--all fished
up the stuff?'
Yes, we've got 1t all aboard,
said Elliott, forgetting the two
cases in the stern on the wreck.
But we've no time for chat,
Ionptnnar hrnLa in sMv nama',