The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-03-13
CHAPTER VII
(Continued)

The men stood back by the bull
jwarks. where they formed an evil
looking group of cutthroats; Mac
shiel and the mate advanced.
Looking up at the flags, then at
the far-off ship, which every minute
doomed up clearer, the skipper said,
You see that ship"
yes" I replied.
Can you guess her manner"
'The Chung-Tong," said l, some
what definantly.
| Good" and his devilish little
face seemed to wrinkle with pleas
ure. Perhaps you can also guess
| where she comes FROM"
| Sydney"
| And what she earliest"
Fifty thousand pounds in gold"
| where she is bound fOr?"
"Hongkong."
| moi"
"Where. them"
| HE'LL"
l started, taken clean off my
| guard. The mans face suddenly
grew wrinkled and hideous. like a
monkeys, and he seemed passion
ately to spit the word out.
81 hope not" said l.
We'll" he replied, its pity, of
course; but before she goes we are
going to ask her to leave her gold
behind. 1t will be no use in the
port she's bound for"
| HM0lf tho rnafQ
"None whatever" said l, reply
ing to the captain. II think yours
is a perfectly reasonable request"
81 hope So" said he, with nasty
laugh. Are you with u.s."
First let me know your project"
| said l, hoping In a vague sort OF
way that the time gained might
prove beneficial.
1--WE intend to get hold Of that
fifty thousand. 1t ought to set us
up for life"
"How many of you?"
His brows went together, and he
scowled frightfully. l had spoken
rather loudly.
There is enough for ALL" said
he, in a low, meaning voice.
But suppose her captain refuses
to part?"
eve shall make him."
"How?"
1--WE have a gun forward, and our
third mate, Mr.. Gupp, was once a
gunner in the royal navy" ...
Then you will sink her unless
she surrenders?
Precisely"
Its a desperate enterprise, Cap
tain Macshiel."
He grinned hideously, while the
mate and the men began to show
signs of Impotence. Evidently
they thought enough had been said.
1t was time to act.
The captain, advancing a step
nearer, peered into my face.
will you join u.s."
But this is piracy"
Never mind what it is" said he.
will you join us?''
mo, will not"
"Then you understand that we
have no room for traitors aboard?"
The faces Of those before me
grew black and threatening, and |
really believed a rush was immi-
nent. l covered Macshiel with my
concealed pistol, and felt sure that
could put a bullet somewhere
| through his body. He saw the
| movement and, guessing what it
meant, stepped back, start of sur
| prise and annoyance twitching his
| cadaverous jaws. And, truly, at
that moment he was bound for
the same port as the Chung-Tong.
An angry look swept into his
eyes, and he said, with a horrid
grin:
What have you got your hands
in your pockets for?"
| "To keep them warm"
| Then up with them. I'm master
here"
CAPTAIN Macshiel." I said, 81
have no quarrel with you'll have
no wish to quarrel with any one.
| | candidly admit that | am not a
| fighting man, nor has fighting ever
come my way before; but, so help
me God, I'll do my best to injure
| the man who tries to injure me-.
Its as good as five thousand
pounds in your pocket. What do
you say?"
81 have said"
every well"; and this time he
| smiled very wickedly. We'll make
you one of us in spite of you. Now
lads" cried he, turning to the men,
ito quarters. In half an hour we
shall all be rich men," He waved
his hand and drove them forward.
| while | skunk away aft, prey to
the most distressing emotions.
The ship, long, low, one-funnel
boat with projecting bow, came
sweeping up grandly out of the
ocean. For some time now she had
seen us, and when she was near
enough to read our signal her helm
was put over and she bore straight
down upon us. Poor beggars!
Eager to help, how they would
have Stunned us had they only
known!
On she came, straight for us,
| like an animal ready to spring over
| nf (which for