Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1911-10-06
The Coral
Bead
A Story Of the
China Sea
BY cLARIssA MAcKIE

Copyright by American Press AssS-
cIation. 1871.


When one is yachting In the China
sea he admittedly runs a 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, Of course,
after stifing hot day, when the sea
lay calm and unwrinkled. 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 the
whirlwind of inky clouds whistied
down upon them driving them reIent-
lessly coastward. 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 a 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 large chinese junk, her
rail lined with a dDable 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
crashingly against the yacht. While
score of pirates grappled with hooks
there was rush aboard the Linda, a
retreat under the onslaught Of the
crew. Anson remembered being grasp
ed about the waist and hurled into
space.
When he recovered consciousness he
was in some foul smelling place,
knocking abort with every onward
plunge Of some vessel.
A groan aroused him to action.
with every muscle quiverlng in agony
he moved slightly and touched foot
the foot of a white man. he judged.
for 1t was clad in canvas shoe with
a rubber sole.
who is it?" he asked sharply "Thls
Is Anson."
The voice of Ellis came punctuated
by groan.
Here am, Anson- For Gods sake
what has happenedT
''Blest IL know gruntcd Anson.
feeling in his pockets for u matchbox.
His search was rewarded. and present
ly there fiared light that revealed
small and filthy room with strongly
barred door, 1t was destitute Of fur
niture. and there were but three OBJ
jects within II. Anson. Ellis and their
friend Lyman. who even now was
struggling to a sitting posture. II be-
Iieve my ankle is sprained." he said.
I'm pretty well bumped up. but my
bones seem to be whole" remarked
Anson from his dark corner.
Same here" put In Ellis. 'I move
we massage Lyman's ankle into some
shape again-perhnps ii isn't snrain
we all need to be in the best of con
dition IL we have to put up fight
Good for you" said Arson heartily.
and then he and Ellis groped 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.r remarked Ellis after awhile. voic-
ing the thoughts Of his silent compan-
ions. Doesn't seem as If she could
have ridden out that gale. does 1t.
Iack!"
i've given her up" said Anson
quietly. 81 hate to think what has
happened to Lee and his men-they
were fine lot of chaps"
Perhaps they are aboard the junk
as well as ourselves" suggested Ly-
man. Lets give a yell-a good
American howl that viii 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
filling and going DOWN." asked Ellis
after awhile. Seems as If any one Of
those waves could I'LL her up, and we
be caught like rats in Il up"
The three sat up and endeavored to
pierce the gray gloom of the place.
SCOT any weapcnsi" asked Anson
suddenly.
MY revolver. as usual said Ellis.
Same here" from Lyman.
'Fve got knife. All. here they
Gomez
As by one accord the three Amerl-
cans drew together in a corner of the
room and awaited the opening of the
door. through which there now pierced
a dancing light. In n 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 and
from thence by rude ladders to the