The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-12-25

less night, and the departing boat was
lost in the shrouding darkness almost
as soon as II left the yacht side. Only
the dip and ereak of the oars marked
lis progress toward the beach.
Carlton called Sullivan, the mate, to
the wheel, and went forward with his
night glass. Gillette sat in the cock
pit, h.s eyes upon the twinkling lights
Of the town, his nostrils Initiated by the
soft smells Of the tropic night. The
thin, high squeaking Of Chinese fiddle
came family from ashore; the dull roar
of the surf upon the reef echoed among
the tall, cloud-eapped hills above the
town, waking them momentarily from
their browsing. On board the yacht ali
was still.
Presently there was movement for
ward, and Gillette heard the click of
the lantern doors as the starboard and
port lights were, each in turn, extin-
guished. Carlton came aft.
. Let her fail off slowly, Sullivan"
he said. You, Bob, give me hand
with the sheets
As the, bow swung around, the jibs
were fattened down without the flap
ping of leech. Slowly the yacht be-
gan to drift off shore.
- We done it now,' said Carlton
softly, as they made all taut. We re
outlaws-pariahs of the sea. We have
sailed away from port without lights.
We have deserted our crew. We're
liable to arrest and imprisonment
.'What s it all about, Jack Gillette
whispered "Isn't it time to tell a
fellow what you're up to-"
Patience, old man. replied Carl
ton. II 90 below in few mo-
bents, and III make. a clean breast
Of it, lie drew out his watch and
held it close to the pinnacle lamp.
Seyen-thirty, and we We got to be in
side Pearl Harbor and have our cargo
landed at daylight. It's full ninety
miles, but We'll have to do it. Hope
the wind will hoid.''
For some time they seemed to make
little Roadway, and Carlton fretted at
the delay. But the lights of Lahaina
were dropping slowly astern, and pres
emily they drifted clear Of the land and
began to catch the channel breeze. By
eight 0 'clock they had picked up the
trades and were soon booming along with
the lee rail awash and everything draw
ing.
Give her all she II stand, Sullivan, y
Carlton said to the mate. we must
make time across the channel, for Wen
lose some of this wind when we get
under the lee of Molokai. Mr.. Gillette
and ] are going below. Keep sharp
eye all round, and if you see light,
call me on deck. -
Down in the cabin, Carlton unlocked
the big owners stateroom, whose
door had never been opened during all
the voyage. By the light of the lantern
Gillette saw that the whole room was
filed with neatly piled bales covered
with coco mating and bound with rat
tan withes.
"That stuff in there is worth thirty
five dollars a pound in Honolulu to-
day. Carlton resumed. cit cost my
friend Brown mere pittance in Hong
kong, and if we land it in Honolulu,
and get our price for it, he stands to
win close to one hundred thousand dol
lars, of which I get an even half''
Whew,' gasped Gillette, and he
sat down heavily on cabin lounge and
mopped his forehead.
isn't it," said Carlton. "But it's a
dangerous game. Maybe wen pull it
off-maybe we II all land in a kanaka
jail Much depends on my old friend
Yee Tan. He's been coming out OF
Pearl Harbor at daylight every morn
ing for the past week in a rice sloop
bound for Honolulu. We ought to meet
him just off the old salt-works. We II
miss stays as we go about in the chan
mel and collide with him accidentally
Two minutes quick work with those
big shoulders of yours and we II float
clear, minus our cargo. Then we II an
Choir off the peninsula and run up tc
Honolulu by train. The rest is merely
vulgar counting of cash and figuring
of profits.
sit sounds as easy as taking presents
from a Christmas tree,'' said Gillette
ssThe plan is good enough, because
it's a new DODGE replied Carlton
&. But it may fail. zee Tan is closely
watched by the revenue officers, ant
he may miss us. To be sure, we have
other strings to our bow, but l count
chiefly on Yee Tan"
From a long locker under one of the
hunks he brought foTtn slender ifoI
rod, with a grapnel at one end They
went on deck, and Carlton leaned ovel
the lee rail as though fishing for some
thing. Presently he rose with the enc
of a light steel chain in his fingers
This he made fast at the rail, and {
few feet aft he fshed M another. Gil
lette followed him curiously. until h
had brought up from somewhere unde
the keel of the yacht a dozen or NOR
of the chains
"What in the deuce are those for?'
Gillette inquired at length, unable II
restrain his curiosity.
'You Il see soon enough
Have we been trailing them all tn
way from the coast
''All the way It's cut down on
speed q hit, but it had to be done. "
don t know when we II need them
The breeze held all night, and at
quarter to four they were off damon
Head light. Carlton kept well out t
sea, for he knew the sharp eyes o
Diamond-Head - Charlie. the lookout
who signaled inbound vessels and tele
phoned their coming to Honolulu. H
also knew that there might be other
looking for the arrival of the SvInt
and those others he had particular res