The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-11-12
CHAPTER XVIII
(Continued.)

where she daren't 60"
The leadsman was set to work
again, and the dhow steered in
close, perilously close, to the white
line of surf She was rounding the
western end of the island now, run
ming with three-quarter wind, but
the steamer was cutting down her
lead with great strides.
The ships We're only a quarter OF
mile apart they were less than
that; and now Elliott could see the
volumes of black smoke rolling
furiously across the clearing sky
and now he made out, vaguely but
certainly, the dark bulk of the pur-
suer. She was following them, run,
ming recklessly into the shoaling
water.
Suddenly a dozen lanterns blazed
up on board the steamer. Shee was
scarcely 200 yards astern. and she
seemed to loom like mountain
above the dhow.
Two shadowy figures stood on
her bridge, with tense excitement
in every line of the pose as they
clutched the iron railing. In the
wheel house the faint outline OF
another man showed, grasping the
spokes, illumined by the dim glow
the pinnacle lamp. They heard
the crash Of the seas on her iron
side as she tore ahead; and start
lingly, a brilliant light was flashed
on the dhow from a strong refec-
tor. and gigantic voice beloved
at them through megaphone.
"Ahoy! Alloy! the dhow!" it
roared. "Henninger, Henninger
heave to instantly, or, by God, we
will run you down."
1t was Cartons voice that shout
ed, and Henninger in answer
heaved up his Mauser. Fire at the
wheel house.' he cried, and all of
his party caught the chance
Crack! Cr-rack!' the rifles splut
tered.
Elliott thought he heard a sharp
cry. A couple of wild shots flashed
in reply from the towering deck
The binding light went out, and in
the glow of the wheel house Elliott
saw the steersman fall, reeling
aside, still clinging to the spokes
The steamer sheered violently to
starboard. A man leaped from the
bridge to the wheel, but it was too
late; she was running too fast, and
was already too close to the reefs
A wild yell rang over the sea
drowned by mighty crash and rat
tie. The steamer had plunged
bows on, sheer upon the rocks, and
lay there under a shower of whiten.
ing spray.
Elliott had shouted, to-, in UNI
comfortable excitement, but when
he realized the wreck he turned
quickly to Henninger. 1--WE must
stand by them" he cried, "They
may go to pieces"
The Englishman was leaning on
the rail and looking coolly at the
second victim of the reef.
Bring her round, Abdullah,' he
ordered at last. We'll see what
kind of a mess they're in, anyhow.
The dhow went about, stood tC
the south, and came back on the
other tack to the island.
"Hello-the steamer" hailed
Henninger. do you want any
help"
The hurrying lanterns stood still
for a moment and presently Sc
vier's voice replied, angrily, mo!
But in a few second he cried
again, Stand by till daylight, will
you? We don't know how badly
she's smashed"
The worse the better" Hennin
ger commented. eve ought to rur
straight for Cape Town and LEI
them fry in their own fix"
Good gracious, you wouldn't de
that ?" exclaimed Hawke and Hen
ninger rather grudgingly assented
Daylight revealed the steamer ly
ing with her nose pushed severa
feet upon the rough barrier, ant
her stern afioat.
"She seems to lie easy enough,
said Henninger, examining he
through the glasses. 81 fancy sh'
happened to hit soft spot, ant
they'll very likely be able to fioa
her off at high tide. 1t was almos
low water when she struck, WASH
it ?"
Men were hurrying about the
decks. looking over the side, ant
they already had a boatswain'
chair slung almost to the surface o.
the water, from which man was
examining the position of the bow
AS the dhow approached a white
signal was waved from the bridge
and the megaphone roared hoarsely
again.
I'VE want to talk to you. Viii
you let me come aboard your"
That's SEWER" said Elliott.
Yes, if you come alone" Hen
ninger shouted back, and in few
minutes a boat was got overheard
from the steamer. with red
capped seaman at the oars, and ;
man in white clothing in the stern
This was indeed Sewer, blu
scarcely recognizable as the smootl
and well-dressed southerner as h,
climbed with difficulty over tn,
dhow's rail. His white duck gar
ments weer torn, blackened, we
and muddy His face was CRIME,
| with powder, unshaven and red
dened with the sun, and his RICH