The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-04-09
VOYAGE OF THE
PWO WAY
CHAPTER XIII
(COncluJed)

After he had heard our story, the
captain of the Chang Chuen sent a
couple of boats off to the Pulo Way,
and a thorough examination was
| made of her. Her papers were
brought off, and many other things
of value, including the gold which
Macshiel and his companions had
| risked so much to gain. But an
examination of the vessel showed
her position to be so precarious
that the first gale would send her
to the bottom.
Ethel. now looking another girl
in some clothes which lady pas
senger kindly lent her, stood with
Frank and | in the stern of the
Chang Chuen as the ship steamed
away to the southwark. We did not
outline Of the Pulo Way grow less
and less until at last nothing but
her little sticks of masts were
visible. | was curious, but l didn't
half like leaving her there by her.
self in the dread loneliness of the
sea. 1t was foolish fancy, per-
haps, but | know it was one that
| was shared by my companions. Aft
er all, bad as she was, she had
been a good friend to us. True, we
had suffered much, but we had also
loved much. Sorrow. danger and
ever-threatening death had been
ours; but on board of her we three
| strangers had met and learned to
| love each other, and that love was
worth the price we had paid for it.
And so we gazed at the poor old
PulO Way until she sank down into
the sea; and long after she had
vanished we watched the spot, just
as one watches the vacant chair of
the dead
well, Ethel" said Frank, that
is the last Of the Pulo Way. Are
you glad?'
To my surprise, and yet not to
my surprise, she answered mo"
"Oh, the contradiction of wom-
AM" he laughed. But saw by his
eyes that he understood her, just
as | did. Certes. but at that mo-
ment we all loved the wretched old
tub.
| That night, an hour or so after
dinner, as | leant against the miz-
zen stays watching the phosphor-
escent water bubble, and thinking
in a vague, dreamy way of the
past, | suddenly became aware of
two persons on the other side of
the rigging. They spoke in low,
earnest voice; but presently l
heard the man say, 81 could not
speak before; | dared not. But
now that you are free, now that
you are once more your own
mistress?"
What her reply was | could not
catch; but the man answered, My
dearest, oh, my dearest!" Needless
to say that man was Hayling. The
girl was-would it be very difficult
to guess?
When he Joined me, an hour
later, he told me of his good for
tune as we walked up and down
the deck together, and | was glad
of the night; but in all sincerity
wrung him warmly by the hand
and wished him Godspeed on his
side. | knew how it would be, how
it must be; and I loved them both
with all my heart.
Well, in due time We reached
Sydney, and there the big Au-
stralian married his Lady of the
Sea, and a grand, proud pair they
looked as they walked down the
church together. AS was natural
he who admired them most was
he who loved them most. But
Ethel, being a woman Of property
was almost Immediately called by
cable to England, and away they
went together, she and her big hus
band, and with them went happi
ness Swinging like the sun.
took the first ship back tc
Hong Kong, where l had long since
been given up as dead. Messrs
Latheson, to show their apprecia
ton of Divine protection, raised my
salary 500 a month; but my friends
the Haylings want me to go t.
London, where they are people o
some condition. They hint at the
management of certain bank II
the city; and their appeals usual.
end in this fashion, For the sake
Of auld lang syne, and the love WI
bore each other, and the battles W.
fought together on board the Pull