The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-09-21
The Coral
Bead
A Story Of the
China Sea
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.


When one is yachting in the China
sea he admittedly runs risk Of ad-
venture with the pirates that infest its
more solitary tracks. John Anson's
pleasure craft, the Linda, had been
overtaken by a typhoon shortly after
she rode out of the Formosa strait.
1t had happened suddenly, ofacourse,
after a sitting hot day, when the sea
lay calm and unwrinkled, yet full OF
iridescent color as a polished abalone
pearl. There was a low murmur aloft
that had increased to a screaming fury
Of sound by the time things were made
snug aboard the yacht. Then the
whirlwtnd of inky clouds whistled
down upon them driving them relent-
lessly eastward. battling for hours
against the monster element.
There were no women aboard, mere
~ the host and his two guests, Ellis
and Lyman, the captain and crew OF
eight men and the chance for saving
their lives was perhaps one in thou
sand.
The sturdy Linda had fought to keep
her course south, but the force Of the
storm veered her head ever toward the
coast. They had suffered the worst of
the typhoon and were still battling
with the tail of 1t when out Of the
twilight mists Of spray there rocked
beside them a large Chinese junk, her
30 Unit
yellow faces and murder in every
weaponed hand.
Instantly the men on the Linda were
alert 1t did not need Captain Lees
shout Of "Pirates!' to arm them with
pistols. They even succeeded in rip
ping the canvas from the brass cannon
and swung 1t about. trained on the
Junk The storm drove the junk
crashingly against the yacht. While
score of pirates grappled with hooks
there was rush aboard the Linda,
retreat under the onslaught Of the
crew. Arson remembered being grasp
ed about the waist and hurled into
space
When he recovered consciousness he
was In some foul smelling place,
knocking about with every onward
plunge of some vessel.
A groan aroused him to action.
With every muscle quivering In agony
he moved slightly and touched a foot
the foot OF white man, he judged,
for 1t was clad In canvas shoe with
a rubber sole.
"Who is it?" he asked sharply. "This
Is Anson."
The voice of Ellis came punctuated
by groan.
Here l am, Arson. For Gods sake
what has happenedT
"Blest II 1 know" grunted Arson.
feeling in his pockets for a matchbox.
His search was rewarded. and present
ly there fared a light that revealed
small and filthy room with a strongly
barred door. 1t was destitute of fur
niture. and there were but three OBJ
jects within 1t. Arson, Ellis and their
friend Lyman. who even now was
struggling to a sitting posture. II be-
lieve my ankle is sprained," he said.
I'm pretty well bumped up, but my
bones seem to be whole" remarked
Arson from his dark corner.
Same here" put in Ellis. 81 move
we massage Lyman's ankle into some
shape again-perhaps 1t isn't sprain
we all need to be in the best of con-
dition If we have to put up a fight"
Good for you." said Arson heartily,
and then he and Ellis CROPPED their
way across the floor to Lyman's cor
ner and soon were vigorously kneading
and rubbing his injured ankle.
wonder what happened to the Lin
da." remarked Ellis after awhile, vote
ing the thoughts Of his silent compan-
ions. Doesn't seem as If she could
have ridden out that gale. does it.
,Jack?"
1--WE given her up" said Arson
quietly. II hate to think what has
happened to Lee and his men-they
were a fine lot Of chaps"
Perhaps they are aboard the junk
as well as ourselves" suggested Ly-
man. Lets give yell-a good
American howl that will raise any
white man aboard"
But their concerted shouts could not
ride above the din Of waves pounding
against the round sides of the junk.
The clumsy craft bobbed and rolled
like barrel in the sea, and 1t was
only by bracing themselves against the
bulkheads that they could maintain
stationary position.
What keeps the blame thing from
filing and going down" asked Ellis
Rfter awhile. Seems as If any one of
those waves could fill her up. and we
be caught like rats in trap"
The three sat up and endeavored to
pierce the gray gloom Of the place.
Got any weaponsY asked Arson
suddenly.
my revolver, as usual" said Ellis.
Same here" from Lyman.
1--WE got a knife All, here they
Gomez
AS by one accord the three Ameri-
cans drew together in a corner of the
room and awaited the opening of the
door, through which there now pierced
dancing light In a moment there
passed in three Chinese sailors, rough
and ugly looking customers. who hus-
tied their captives out of their prison
cell into the hold of the junk and
from thence by rude ladders to the