Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-07-05

the straiagom loving Chinnman.
4 plot of such magnitude nccessltat.
ed the employment Of many confcd
crates. and when each grade Of vii
lain had received his share there must
be n goodly portion for the chief plot
ter: hence business must be done on
large scale
A. phliu rendered these things his
ears were strained toward the upper
landing whore confused murmur
rose aud fell Presently II increased
TO roar. and 1t was apparent that
whatever had been TRANSPORTING IN the
fog had been interrupted and intense
excitement was rampant among the
coolies ard boatmen
Then there was silence for several
moments while they sat listening.
Suddenly Philip uttered warning
cry
let her go. Peter. Great Scott.
were in for H. Look OUT
There was hurried rush down the
stone steps. the duh thud of many bare
running feet. and then score of phan.
tom hands seemed 10 take possession
Of the launch and its occupants
While the two men IN the launch had
expected an attack of some kind II
their presence in that vicinity should
be discovered. they We're unprepared
for such a sudden and fierce onslaught
For an instant only were they dis
concerted then they sprang TO meet
their ASSISTANTS halfway nay. three
quarters way-for that IS an Ameri-
can trait
Peter Cook grabbed wrench and
laid about him Justify among heads
aud hands that he could only guess
were hohbing about Ia the darkness
which surrounded the launch
Philip was wrestling silently with
pair Of strong. half naked coolies, who
had seized upon him and were endeav-
orinc to pinion his arms.
As he struggled Philip was conscious
that numbers were being added 10 the
attacking party. He heard the breath
ing Of men, aud he WAS aware Of the
presence Of many human beings about
him in the water. on the stone steps
and Oh the wharf above him.
Philip knew that he and Peter would
soon be- overpowered 10y the increasing
numbers ana So. with great ANA dcs-
pcrate effort. he thrust aside the cling
Ing hands that were menaciug him
and. bending down ia the engine. open
cd the valve and in a brcath's time had
returned to his fight. and now he found
three coolies to deal with instead of
two. and the fighting WAS hard.
With Il sudden swish the launch
backed violently AWAY from the land
ing. oyerturnns the swnrming coolies
and cutting swath through the crowd
which had gathered ~ the water about
them
Philip struggled with his three as
sainnts expecting every moment to re-
ceive a knife thrust or 10 feel gar
rioters cord encircle his throat. The
odds were nsuch against them. but 1t
was evident that it was the intention
of the attackers 10 take the foreigners
alive--to make them prisoners. but not
to harm them.
The launch cleared herself from the
swarming coolies, leaving wake of
broken heads and angry yelps.
With final effort Philip dealt Wig
orous blow through the darkness TO
the man on his left. The coolie dou-
bled Imply. poised on the gunwale and
then disappeared into the inky black
ness As he struck the rail the boat
lurche,l. and this sudden shock knock
ed the two remaining coolies from
their feet. and. with jabbering shrieks.
they. too. vanished
Then Philip turned his attention TO
Peter Cook whose PROSTATE form he
could dimly discern in the bottom OF
tho boat
He took small dark lantern from a
locker and turned It's ray on the face
of the boy
Peter opened his eyes, blinkcd and
stared curiously at Philip.
Are sou all right. retcr;" asked
Philip anXiously
Sure thing" said Peter brislly ms
he struggled to his feet and took the
wheel. Il hope | wouldn't squeal for
a burned chink Whe-ec. but that
fellow gave me a clip. expect III
be- dizzy the rest OF my life"
The lantern disclosed knoh-lilse
bunch on the back ~ the boys head.
II am glad it's no worse said Phil
ip rs he dipped his handkerchief in
the water ana applied 1t 10 the injured
spot What's ihatf" he asked sharply.
That" was the crack OF a revolver
and. together with the sharp spat Of n
bullet In the water near by. testified
that they we're sim pursued
They We're dashing through the wa
ter AT top speed now and. aided by the
current. would soon be- abreast of the
foreign quarters Although the thick
fog still cncirclcd them. the blurred
dimness Of houseboat lights along the
shore Indicated that they were we'll in
the middle ~ the stream.
Suddenly dark shape doomed before
them. and the launch crashed into an