Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-30

lays and third at e companionway.
was suggestion that steamers were
approaching, that we might overpow-
er the three pirates, close the compan-
ionway and signal for assistance.
Coyne, who was desperate, understood
and showed by looks and pantomime
that he was eager for the attempt.
Realizing that we would need Jacob
son. 1 went down into the engine
room, where he was without guard,
and told him Of our plan. also
agreed with him that he should come
up as near as possible to the deck
without being seen and be ready to
shut and bolt the companionway doors
while Coyne and I were overpowering
two OF the Malays. Just how we were
to do this must depend upon circum-
stances. Coyne was a powerful fell
low. was reduced by Illness, and ia
cobson was small, but wiry.
By this time the coming ships were
to be made out as a feet OF war YES
sells. Had we been up with the times
we would have recognized them as the
feet Of Admiral Dewey, which had
I'LL u lucy
were still good distance from us; but.
fearing some Of the pirate crew would
see them and steam out of their path,
we dared not put of our attempt. Re
Stunning my place on deck, by signs,
chiefly looks, / conveyed to Coyne that
he was to tackle the man sitting on
the deck and try to throw him over
board, while folded the one asleep in
his hammock till Coyne could come
and dispose OF him. Jacobson was to
dash out of hiding and close the doors.
Coyne and both walked toward the
two pirates. He suddenly picked up
his man and without much Of a strug-
gle got him over the gunwale. I had
barely bound my captive in his ham,
mock when Coyne came, and, loosen
ing the hammock at each end, we car
ried the man in it to the side of the
ship and dropped him over. While we
were doing this Jacobson, who had
been on the, watch, made a dash at the
companionway doors, closed and fas-
tened them. This left the three Of US
on deck with one enemy. Seeing that
he was too late he ran forward, chased
by Coyne and jacobson, who caught
him and served him as his two COM
panions had been served.
Within a couple OF minutes we had
secured possession Of the ship. Coyne
was about to run for the signal flags
when stopped him.
"It has often occurred to me-" said,
"that IL we were taken we three would
be hanged for piracy with the others.
We have the ship safe enough. Sup
pose we let these vessels pass. We
may save our necks by doing So"
Since was the only skilled man Of
the three the others agreed to follow
my suggestion. The pirates were con-
fined within the forward part of the
ship, having no access TO the other
parts. while we had free descent to the
engine room.
shrink from giving the last part of
the story, which was inspired partly
by vengeance and partly with the
knowledge that dead men tell no tales.
We let the feet pass us without much
interest in IT, we being engrossed by
our own affairs. Then we scraped to-
gether all the -cumbustibIes we could
find and made them ready TO be fired.
A boat was lowered, and, applying a
match to our kindling, we went down
the side and into the boat. AS we pull
ed for land we saw the flames shoot up
from the Mary Blame and heard the
shrieks of the men who had forced our
companions to walk the plank.
Reaching the shore, we separated,
each bound by an oath to say nothing
about our experience.