The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-09-03

| done.
| Charles and Rodney came on deck, and
we break tasted on what was still left OF
our provisions-a scanty store, that stood
in immediate need of replenishing. Then
we held a council of war.
eff they are wise" said Rodney,
they'll settle down to besiege us. They
could starve us out of here in forty-eight
hours. I've an idea however, that they're
afraid to do that for fear of legal conse-
quences. | take it this is a purely per-
sonal fight"
| | had the same thoughts; some French
enemies of Duponceaus were trying to-
kidnap him, had been my conclusion.
Look :" Duponceau was standing, and
we followed his gaze and saw sail-boat
my salboat--round the cliff to the west
and lie to in the open sea. Not that
way" he said ''there'l be no more swim
ming done. They're going to guard US
| from the ocean,"
Then Rodney spoke up. perhaps
can get across the beach to the cottage
and bring some of the timed meats back"
"Unless they have confiscated my house
as we'll as my boat" l suggested. "How-
ever. it's worth a try. Charles stays on
guard, and l go with you"
So, a little later the two of us, having
| an eye that the men in the sail-bOat
| should not see us, lowered ourselves over
| the side, and waded waist-deep through
the water. We crawled up the rocks and
| lying low. peered through breaks at the
| beach, There was nothing but shining
sand between our position and the house.
10 cto1o ho kS
separating slightly, so that each might be
unba mpered by the other, advanced west
ward. l had an impression of what it
must be to march across a desert in the
face of an unseen foe. Only we did not
have the protection OF the desert. for there
were dunes above us on the right.
We had gone perhaps halfway when
the silence rang with a. shot. little
| furrow blew up in the sand before me-
and 1 saw a light cloud of smoge steal
away from the dunes. An instant's 81
lence. another report. and a furrow was
ploughed in the sand ten yards to the
rear. We were hemmed in by an unseen
ring.
| We faced to the dunes, standing stock
still Two more guns cracked, and the
bullets sped in the air, above our heads,
but not so far that we could not hear
longer
"Come out and show yourselves like
men ~ he cried, his voice high pitched and
straining An instants pause, and then
two men leaped forward.
Islp's pistol cracked. then another man
Joined the two, and as by instinct we
separated.
Then began a running fire while we
beat retreat. l kept close as / could
to the water, emptying my revolver in
such way as to retard the enemy with
out wounding them; for we suspected
that they were seeking to intimidate us,
without actually resorting to bloodshed,
and we. for our part, had no desire to
have any deaths on our hands. They
gained on us, for we retreated while they
advanced, and it was only by taking full
speed to my heels and making for the
rocks that won temporary respite. The
enemy stopped, and now we could pepper
them, shooting to right and left as fast
as we loaded.
| l glanced backward. and saw the sail
boat very close-much closer than 1
liked.
They're going to board the Ship!' I
cried, and splashed into the water. I
tumbled up the side and made for the
farther bulwark, calling to Duponceau
and Charles to stir themselves As | did
so two men came scra mbling over the
outer rocks and made for the Ship, while
a third held the sail-boat to the shore l
heard shouts, and saw Rodney cross be-
side me- He stood a moment unprotected
and that instant bullet took him in the
arm and 1 heard him give cry of pain
Its nothing-a scratch on the flesh, v
he muttered as he crouched.
The two men were climbing the sea.
ward side l waited, and as the first
reared above me l was on him and with
all the force in ny body hurled him back
so that he lost his hold and fell splashing
i The other was balancing. had one foot
over, had sprung, when Duponceau and
Charles seized him, and he went, leg.
swinging in a circle, beside his fellow il
the sea.
We crouched, for the man in the boat
was firing The two below scrambled
out of the waves and scurried back tt
the sail-boat. Then Rodney and Dupon
. ceau kept that side of the Ship, Will.
Charles and 1 watched the other. There
were a few more scattering shots, ther
. the enemy made off.
In time we left Charles on guard ant
went down to the cabin, while Dupon
ceau examined and bandaged Rodney.
arm. Rodney was right it was merely
desh-wound in his forearm, but, slight a,
it was, it seemed to turn him into oul
T hero. 1t was the first blood of the war
+ When the wound was attended to W,
went on deck. all of us aquiver with e1
! element, and there we four sat, each will
a pistol in his hand, and warm bloo<
beating in his veins.
[ Noon came, and we lunched on scraps
] and tried to make out on smoking man,
t pipefuls of tobacco. The sun slowl,
e crossed the western heavens and com
menced to drop. Suddenly discovere,
: that l was parched with thirst.
a Water, water everywhere, and not
drop to drink There's no use DISCUS
b ing it any longer; we'll be caught her
like rats in a trap" l said. "We'd bette
get away before we fall to eating horse
!, leather"