The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-09-21

deck.
The three drew n deep breath and
looked around. The junk lay at an
Choir in a wide creek that debouched
upon a yellow stream. The natural
formation of rocks that formed the
shore at this point had been cleyerly
contrived by artificial means to form
d strong place of defense. A little
party of richly dressed men were en-
tering one of the low arched entrances
that appeared to pierce the solid rock.
BY kicks and threats their captors
made the Americans understand that
they were to go ashore, and soon they
had landed and were being ushered
through the same low entrance they
had observed.
AS each bowed his head and entered
there was little doubt In his mind that
he would ever emerge from that noun
tain Of rock If he did 1t would not
be alive, II n Chinese pirate lives up
to his ugly reputation.
A series of winding passages led
through the rock and finally terminal
ed in a small room followed out OF
the granite. Here were rich hangings
and a silken carpet. One OF the Chi
nese disappeared through a curtained
doorway and presently returned to
confer with his companions.
Then the three Americans were
pushed through the doorway to find
themselves In a large grotto, curtained
and carpeted and richly furnished
with bronzes and porcelains. embroid-
cries and rare carvings.
In large high backed chair. carved
into the rude sembance Of a throne,
sat large and very fat Chinese. His
little black eyes seemed to sink into
the flesh of his face and become mere
points of black Jet. His chin rolled on
his satin covered breast, and his huge
fat hands were clumsily clasped about
his capacious waist. On his big head
there was perched a black velvet skull
cap.
The Americans were CARRIED as they
had been seized, and their stormcoats
covered them from neck to heel. Now
their coats were stripped off. and un-
der the direction of the leader the
prisoners were searched thoroughly.
Yellow claws relieved them of watch
es, money and jewels and gingerly APP
propriated their weapons. After that
they crowded about the three and en-
deavored to make them understand
something they were trying to explain
Ellis, who was In q Shanghai bank
ing house, knew some scraps of the
language, and, although this southern
dialect was strange to him, he man
aged to convey the meaning to his
companions that the leader Of the
band was prepared to offer them
chance for life.
He's got a necklace there. See that
string of ivory beads? Well. It's al
white save one, and that's a ball OF
pink coral He says the one that car
get 1t of the chain without disturbing
the other beads may go free. The 9th
ers get-you know"
Lets see the chain" said Arson
and Ellis made known the request
which was Immediately granted. The
leader took from his neck a large
chain of polished ivory beads the size
of small pea. The chain was rich
creamy yellow save for the one beao
of an exquisite rose tinted coral. IL
was strung on fine woven copper wire
and the joining Of the wire was moi
discernible.
How about the gunsY whispered
Lyman excitedly. Al believe l car
split 1t Off first pop!
Then it's your chance" said the
others generously, for you know we
wouldn't stand a show anyway"
'Tf it's my chance" said Lyman
coolly, then I'll figure to get the LOT
of us off. Ask him If 1 can have @
try with my revolver at solving his
problem"
The leader nodded with an amused
smile, and Arson and Ellis held the
necklace suspended between them. III
the excitement of the moment they
did not notice that they were In line
with the leader of the pirates, and II
was not until Lyman's shot rang echo
Ing through the rocky caverns. FOL
lowed by the Asiatic's hideous yell as
he Topped from his chair, that they
realized Lyman's bullet had taken eff
feet In the leaders body. For brie1
instant there was intense silence; Their
Lyman flashed around on the cowardly
crew with uplifted weapon. and 1t only
needed one or two deadly shots to senc
them scattering out of the chamber.
TITS our only chance; let's be of.
muttered Ellis, grabbing his owl
weapon from the floor and rescuin@
their fallen watches where they haC
been dropped.
/ They painted down a long and mar
row passageway that at its greatest
width would not have admitted the
corpulence Of the pirate leader. Al
at once rush of cold air smote theil
heated faces. They rounded shoulder
/ of jutting rock and came out upon 8
small natural stone jetty that put forth
into the Yellow river. They were quite
! out of sight of the creek and the junk
1t concealed.
There q welcome sight met theil
eyes. Steaming up the stream came
the Linda, line of fresh white and
red faces against the rail. A sup
pressed cheer went up as the three mer
were sighted and boat was lowered.
IL uaa not unttl the Linda had nut