Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-08-31
CHAPTER XIV.
TIE Attack on the Yacht.

| CIlShiN tTOullI iiLC vi hNi 'iiN 'O''i'
ed at Bleecker Street subway train. !
At Fourteenth Street they caught the |
first uptown Van Cortlandt express !
of the morning, and they made good |
time to Two Hundred and Twenty !
fifth Street. There they left the |
train, and walked quickly along the
edge of a grassy bluff overlooking
the government cut that now con
meets the Harlem and Hudson rivers
by more direct route than the old
Spuyten Duyvil creek. A few hun
dred Yards bey ond the low fence that
separates the meadow from the street
they came upon a man standing close
behind n large tree. He was screened
from the little street and from the
bridge that spans 1t by thick under
brush When he sighted Britz he
lifted his hand warningly and beck
oned The three men went within
the shelter Of the bush.
Anything new, Gordon" inquired
Britt
Yes" said the other detective.
"They have gone aboard
Where's Hicks?"
Down there near the water, piping
them off"
Are they on deck?"
mo, IN the cabin; they seem pref
~ busy, too"
Gordon looked at the sky. 1t was
growing brighter every minute.
Stepping with most solicitous ten
derness on the grass, and avoiding
every leaf and twig that might give
81; uh oJrlo +1p four men
made their way slowly among the
bushes to the spot where Hicks, lying
ut full length with MS head only
little way above the ground, was
waiting and at the same time, watch
ing a naphtha yacht Of more than
ordinary size.
After Il whispered conference with
Hicks, Britt slipped BIZ hand irto
side pocket of his coat, and took -
something that glitterc1 in the sun
shine. At single word from Brit,
Gordon and Hicks wormed their way
along the bank until they were at the
bow of the yacht Britt, Fitch and
Manning stayed near the stern. SUD
denly the lieutenant fred shot over
the yacuc tnat ecL< 40 -letaliically
Ave of the attacking ai>y leaped
aboard the Yacht, their feet striking
the polished deck with 4 concerted
thud that must have made those with
IL the cabin think they were feeling
the first shock of E landslide.
The five men on the deck gave
those below little time for analysis Of
their sensations. Gordon and Hicks
yaced around the wheelhouse to tho
etarou.rd SIDE OF the craft, and
dashed down the companionway from
tina; direction, while Britt. Manning
md Fitch hurled themselves into the
port entrance TO the cabin, allghtns
on q richly carpeted floor "a dozen feet
below the deck. TWO shots followed
before the police party could seize
Prince Kananda and All, who, facing
On opposite directions. stood at bay in
the center of the cabin. Britt and
Gordon struck upward the revolvers
OF the Indians as the triggers were
pulled The bullets few high, harm
ing no one Behind Kanenda and All.
using a table as a breastwork, stood
two more Hindoos, both of them
strangers to Britt. They were un-
armed save for wicked-looking Malay
Arises they gripped nervously as they
crouched IN waiting for an attack.
Britz and Manning TANNED their pis-
tolls into the faces of the men with
the krises; but the Indians, undis-
mayed, made savage slashes at them
with their razor-edged long knives
Gordon and Fitch sprang upon the
kris-bearers, Hicks with a pistol 10
each hand standing off Kananda and
ALI Again and again tho Hindooe
slashed at their essai,ants, and that
they did not split at least one head
was due to the wary agility OF the
four who attacked them. Shots from
the detectives revolvers would have
brought them down at such shor
range, of course; but the policemen
seemed bent on capturing them alive
and Fitch was not a man to have re
course TO bloodshed until he could b,
certain 1t was Inevitable. Britt an
Manning waited their chance. Ate
futile swings at the Indians, the
closed with them, clubbing their re
vovers and bringing them down wit
crashing force on the gaudy turban
Of the Orientals. A few seconds c
that vicious pounding stunned tn
Hlndoos, and It was then but tn
work OF a moment to slip handcuff
on them K1randa and AL in III
meanwhile, had made no further a
Sempts to use their postcls, The
read death In Hicks eyes as he col
fronted them with his long, blu
cleaning barrels aimed straight
them. Their hesitation was fatal I
their hope of escape. For even a
All doubtless at a whisper or signt
from the Prince, swung himself abol
TO interpose himself between Ficl
and the petty potentates son, viii
Kananda turned for a dash to III
deck, Britt, Fitch and Manning. lea
ing Gordon In charge of the capture
Indians surrounded the other "
and disarmed them. Breathing hea
lily from the short but sharp struggl
the caDtors marched their prisone
to the far end Of the cabin and seat,
themselves between the Hiudoos ai
the doors. They were still on Il
alert to prevent an attempt to {
cape on the part Of Kanando or A
The other two Indians being han
hau