The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-11-16

more SOlllury lIuchS. JOnn Arson
pleasure craft, the Linda, had been
overtaken by a typhoon shortly after
she rode out of the Formosa strait.
1t had happened suddenly, of course,
after sitting hot day, when the sea
lay calm and unwrlnkled, yet full of
iridescent color as a polished abalone
pearl There was low murmur aloft
that had increased TO n screaming fury
of sound by the time things were made
snug aboard the yacht. Then tho
whlrlwind Of inky clouds whlstled
down upon them driving them relent-
lessly eastward, battling for hours
against the monster element.
There were no women aboard, mere
ly 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 n 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 it when out Of the
twilight mlsts of spray there rocked
beside them large Chinese junk, her
rail lined with double row OF ugly
yellow faces and murder in every
weaponed hand.
Instantly the men on the Linda were
alert. 1t did not need Captain Lees
shout Of "Piratesr 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
crashlngly against the yacht While n
score of pirates grappled with hooks
there was a 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
~
with every muscle quivering In agony
he moved slightly and touched foot
the foot of white man, he judged,
for il was clad in a canvas shoe with
a rubber sole.
"Who is it?' he asked sharply. "This
Is Arson"
The voice Of Ellis came punctuated
by groan.
Here l am, Arson. For Gods sake
what has happenedY
"Blest If l know" grunted Arson,
feeling in his pockets for n matchbox.
His search was rewarded, and present
ly there flared light that revealed n
small and filthy room with a strongly
barred door. 1t was destitute Of fur
nlture, and there were but three OBJ
jects within it, Arson. Ellis and their
friend Lyman, who even now was
struggling to a sitting posture. Il 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.
sunni Hul i'll AhN'N
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 Ia the Lin
da," remarked Ellis after awhile, voic-
ing the thoughts Of his silent compan-
ions. Doesn't seem MS If she could
have ridden out that gale, does it,
JackF"
"I've given her up" said Arson
quietly. 'T 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 n 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 bobbcd and rolled
like n barrel I'm the sea. and It was
only by bracing themselves against the
bulkheads that they could maintain Q
stationary position
"What keeps the blame thing from
filing and going DOWN." asked Ellis
after 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 e
pierce the gray gloom OF the place.
"Got any weapons" asked Ansor
suddenly.
"My revolver, as usual" said Ellis.
"Same here" from Lyman.
'I've got a knife. All, here they
conner
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
n dancing light. In moment there
passed In three Chinese sailors, rough
and ugly looking customers. who hus
tied their captlves out of their prison
cell into the hold of the junk ant
from thence by rude ladders 10 thu
daylight ana fresh afr OF the uppe