Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-06-13

1 SOW that us uul- -
form was that of a captain, but not of a naval
officer. He told me his name was Deverell, but
when l asked him the name of his shin he an.
swered evasively, and I had learned the WAYS
of the China sea too we'll to press the question.
AT Singapore, where we discharged our cargo,
our agents reported that Moy Sen was yowing
vengeance on us for the loot we had wrested
from MIN and the havoc We had spread among
his fleet. We worked our way back to the
rendezvous and, after consulting with Norton, I
took my Interpreter, All Fen, who was half
"Chinkie" and half Malay, from the Leckwith
and went to Hong Kong on the Surprise to see
just what was going on.
The Beautiful White Devil" a woman pirate,
whom | at first regarded as a purely fanciful
being, came into my life on this visit to Hong
Kong in the early day of 1876.
White waiting for All Fen's report | lounged
around the hotel. Soon l began to hear weird
stories of a woman pirate who, while never mo-
testing honest merchantmen, preyed merciless-
ly and successfully on the Chinese and Malay
pirates, just as Norton and | we're doing.
1t occurred to me at once that If such a wom-
an really did exist 1t might have been her ship
whose captain I had attended, but l could not
make myself believe the tales that were told
me.
Then a man called at my hotel one evening
and asked If an English physician was stopping
there. and I recognized Captain Deverell, but
he was as formal as a stranger, and | did not
indicate that l knew him.. He asked If he could
consult with me and | took him to my room.
where he assumed a much more cordial air.
Il called" he said, ito invite you take a
cruise with me so that we may get better &C.
quainted and l can show you my appreciation
Of your kindness"
hacked nv baP and turnnd n ovor tO a man
whom Deverell summoned from the street.
I was given the cabin of the surgeon, who
had died recently. Deverell took me" to his
room and we talked until midnight.
1t was considerably after eight bells before
l retired, but my sleep was not long or heavy.
At breakfast time Deverell. wearing a smart
uniform, escorted me aft to the private quar-
tiers of the queen.
In a moment the queen appeared. AS she
parted the curtains and paused In the doorway
with an air of difhdence, I was transfxed by
her marvellous beauty.
II already know DR.. Burnett" she said, as
she swept toward me with superb grace and In
finite charm Of manner and extended her hand,
small and soft.
1--WE are headed for my retreat" she explain
ed. IL should like to have you stay with US as
long as you can. l will put you Town in Hong
Kong or Singapore on three or four days mo-
tive"
assured her the prospect was delightful.
On the afternoon Of the third day out from
Hong Kong we ran into a group Of islands, of
to the eastward of the regular course to Sing
apore. Just as dinner was announced a flag
was waved from the bridge and I made out an
answering signal on the steep side of a small
island Just ahead of us, but could see no sign
of either a landing or an opening. Then a mes
senger brought word that the queen was wait.
ing dinner for me. The ship slowed down
while we were at dinner and finally the screw
stopped. Immediately the queen led the way
(, to the deck.
"This." she said, sis my kingdom-without
a king. Isn't it beautiful
I assured her that 1t was the most beautiful
place I had ever seen, wherein, when day
dawned, I found I had not exaggerated. VIZ
we're at the head of an oval lake, perhaps {
mile and a half long, with mountains rising
crescent-shaped around 1t. There was a small
village of English cottages and native huts. OF
three sides of the lake was a narrow beach
the fourth side, toward the sea, was a perpen
dicular bluff, sixty feet or more high. ! search
ed 1t for the passage through which we hat
entered the lake, but nothing could l see blu
a bare wall of dark rock. Tho queen smiled
at my perplexity. wait until tomorrow" sh'
laughed. w will go ashore at sunrise"
she appeared with the sun, accompanied by
Y Dyak woman whom I had not seen before, ant
we landed at a little stone dock in front of tn
village. All of the Inhabitants, consisting Q
about fifty English and Scotch men and women
some with silvered locks and bent backs ant
some Of them crippled by the pirates, and neal
ly as many natives, crowded the pier to NEE
her, their manner one Of the greatest %affectioi
and Difference. We walked through the vi