The daily sentinel., 1912-09-14

riddled by bullet OF large caliber,
several days before, as the wound
was septic and in very bad condi-
ton. With the assistance of the pur-
ser and as many others as could be
of use 10 me. proceeded TO remove
the many bandages aud cut away the
dead tissues, disinfect and dress the
limb, which required a great deal of
time, as / was working for my liberty
and not on "a very Interesting case"
as is often met with in hospital
work.
When my task was accomplished,
a proceeded to tine deck, to find the
day we'll advanced, but, as the storm
was still on and the clouds running
.Uw, my vision was very limited, and,
SO far as position was concerned.
was as much in the dark as when |
came aboard, and fully as anxious
about the future, as / was well aware
that my friends at home We're eX-
Aausting every means at their COM
mand to account for my unexpected
absence.
However. after hearty meal that
was all that heart could wish, washed
down with a generous bottle OF wine
and allowed to settle under the be-
nign influence OF the tunes of a
rltn Turkish cigar, 1 found myself
IN better spirits, and determined to
interview the purser and ascertain IT
II might not be possible for me to in
struIt him SO that he could thereafter
care Tor our patient, which would al
iow me to return to my home and
business.
Finding said officer aft and off
duty, very soon satisfied myself that
1t was entirety useless for me to even
breach the subject. So ! enguired II
might be permitted the freedom OF
the ship, to which he readily assent
ed. offering to act as guide on tour
of inspection, which, to say the least,
proved to be extremely interesting.
Reaching the gun deck, | was sur
prised to find that we were not only
heavily armed, but that our guns
were all of the latest models, breech-
leaders and of 4 and 6-inch caliber,
with heavy Hotchliiss in the stern.
When 1t is remembered that this
was in the sos, 1t Is the more re-
as the old-fashioned muz-
zle-loaders were still doing service
on the greater part of our cruisers.
also observed that she showed no
gun ports, they being covered with
drop hoods, making them invisible
from the outside. Stored amidshins
were many cases OF the latest i'm
proved rifles, while cases of ammuni-
tion, covered with heavy tarpaulin,
fiiled up the interspaces.
Descending into the hold discov-
cred that her cargo was of the most
valuable merchandise to be found in
any market, consisting of bales of
SILK, cotton, tobacco, opium and
wools, some of them almost priceless.
Wines and brandies in cases and
great oakcn casks, showing by their
lmprints that they were from the
most famous vineyards Of tho old
world, were scattered about promis-
cuously and, it seemed to me, with
little care for either their value or
the conserving of space. This, pre-
sumo, was due to the fact that the
captain was disabled, and, further,
that II had been but few days since
many OF them had been brought on
board
While | was still pondering over
the strange condition of things, J.
was Joined by my escort of the pre-
Vlous evening, who proceeded to re-
lieve my perpiexity by informing me
that although the cargo was mixed +"
1t mad passed Inspection" and
would, in time, appear in the proper
market, although not bearing the
stamp OF the customs house. wi n
..e admitted was little irregular.
but added that 1t was a regular
business with The Errand Boy upon
whose deck we stood
Rpa ltZinu that l urac ab =, -,
uine pirate boat, and that the entire
crew were freebooters of the most
abandoned type, as there was no at
tempt on the part of my informant
TO hide the fact, became interested
and inquired how 1t was possible for
hem to avoid being overhauled by
the police patrol aud our revenue cut
ters. He replied that 1t was very
easy to avoid them ii it was not to /.
their advantage to know that such .
4 craft existed; that there was an I'M /
written law between the officers and |
themselves; not only that, but many
of tho great merchantmen and coast
wise traders who were frequently
taxed by their own consent. and ,
sometimes even the entire crew were /
not only knowing to it. but were
benefited by 1t.
Appreeiating the fact that | did 1
not understand his remarks, he pro-
ceeded to elucidate them by saying
that II was their custom to cruise
about in the track of ships, suitable ,
for their purpose, aud that. when 1
one was sighted, they Immediately I
run up the flag OF revenue cutter
and signaled for them to "heave to, - 7
which, ii obeyed, they would stand I
by, launch boat and board the ship, I
calling for her manifest. aud pro- /
ceed to find goods which were not .
then seiziug as much as
they thought best, make off, leaving
the crew aud passengers. If auy, to |
believe that the transaction was i
perfectly legal one.
If, on tho other hand, the ship did |.
not obey their signal, the gun ports
were raised and a shot was sent
1prQSS hor l,o,yu nd 1c,x, !, ct a 10 q