The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1912-03-08
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| When one is yachting in the China
sea he admittedly runs risk of adj
venture with the pirates that infcst its
more solitary tracks. John Anson's
| pleasure craft, the Linda, had been
overtaken by typhoon shortly afte.
she rode out of the Tormosa strait.
| 1t had happened suddenly, of course,
after a sitting hot day, when the sea
lay calm and unwrinkled, vet full OF
iridescent color as polished abalone
pearl. There was low mllrmur aloft
that had increased to a screaming fury
Of sound by the time things were made
snug aboard the yacht Then the
whirlwind of inky clouds whstled
down upon them driving them relent.
lessly coastward, battling for hours
against the monster element.
There We're no women aboard, mere.
ly the host and his two guests, Ellis
and Lyman, the captain and crew of
their lives was perhaps one in thou.
sand.
The sturdy Linda had fought to keel
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 mists Of spray there rocked
beside them large Chinese junk, he1
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 "Pirates!" to arm them with
pistols. They even succeeded in rip
ping the canvas from the brass cannon
and swung 1t about, trained on the
funk. The storm drove the junk
crashingly against the yacht. While a
score of pirates grappled with hooks
there was 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.
A groan aroused him to action
With every muscle quivering in agony
he moved slightly and touched a foot
the foot of white man, he Judged
for it was clad in a canvas shoe with
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" gruntcd Arson,
feeling in his pockets for matchbox.
His search was rewarded, and present
ly there flared light that revealed Il
small and filthy room with strongly
barred door. 1t was destitute of fur
niture. and there were but three OBJ
jects within it, Arson, Ellis and their
friend Lyman, who even now was
struggling to sitting posture. II be-
lieve my ankle is sprained" he said.
I'm pretty we'll bumped up, but my
bones seem to be WHOLE remarked
Arson from his dark corner.
Same here" put in Ellis. 81 move
we massage Lyman's ankle into some
shape again-perhaps it isn't a 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 to the Lin
da," remarked Ellis after awhile, vote
Ing the thoughts of his silent compan-
ions. Doesn't seem as If she could
have ridden out that gale. does it,
Jack"
ave given her up" said Arson
quietly. II hate to think what has
happened to Lee and his men-thcy
were fine lot Of chaps"
"Pertaps they are aboard the junk
as we'll ms ourselves" suggested Ly-
man. Lets give 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 bobbed and rolled
like a barrel in the sea, and it was
only by bracing themselves against the
bulkheads that they could maintain a
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 fill her up, and W
be caught like rats in trap"
The three sat up and endeavored to
pierce the gray gloom Of the place.
"Got any wcapons:' asked Arson
suddenly.
my revolver. as usual" said Ellis.
Same here" from Lyman.
1--WE got a knife. All, here they
Gomez