The daily Alaskan., 1914-09-14
How Mr. Harding Conducted the
 Defense
By DWIGHT NORWOOD

"AIr. Harding" said Captain Vain wright, handing his glass to his first mate, "what do you think of that thing over thereT
 'I think" said Harding, that 1t is one of those devilish Chinese pirates that infest these waters"
 This dialogue occurred on the Amer ican tramp steamer North Star in the Java sea, a region dreaded by mari ners for the viIlalnous characters who infest 1t.
 "What do you think of our chances in case they attack ugT asked the captain.
 'That depends on our Ingenuity. We can't sink them before they reach us. We'll have to prevent their boarding us if we can, and if they board US we will have to fight them for our lives"
 "How can We prevent their board ing usT
 By so manning the points they at- tempt to climb that they cant get on deck. One American sailor armed should be able to keep off three China men from climbing q perpendicular ships side. But excuse me, captain, I see that the villains are pointing for us; must go below and order up the arms"
 Harding left the captain peeriug at the junk. It was a small vessel, small CT than the North Star, but its deck was literally swarmlng with copper coIored dends ready for loot and mur- der. It had no ordnance of any cali Der; 1t had been armed and equipped by men who had no especial means to equip 1t, and, as Harding said, relied on taking such ships as it could over power by boarding.
 Soon after the first officer had gone below the men began to bring up guns, pistols and cutlasses and distributed them, with ammunition to fit, along the bulwarks.
 "Where's Mir. Hardlng?" the captain demanded of one of the men. "Whats he doing below when we're in peril for our lives"
 He's in the engine~room," was the reply.
 At that moment a diabollcal shout went up which diverted the captains attention from the delinquent MT. Harding. It was a blOodthirsty cry of triumph. The pirates, having come near enough to the North Star to make sure that she had no means of sinking her adversary, were in a very hilari- ous state. Their Junk was a toierably good sailer. and the wind was fair to enable them to bear down on their en- emy. The North Star, though q steam CT, was tub and could barely do sev- en miles an hour.
 On came the junk, her murderous crew dancing and shouting and chat terIng and brandishlng their weapons. The captain of tue North Star was so terrified that he took no action what ever, but the second officer, MT. Meiggs, was quietly arranging the men in groups along the bulwarks and giV- ing them their orders. There were a few hand grenades in the stock of ez- plosives, and Meiggs ordered them on to the forecastle, where 1t was expected the Chinamen would attempt to climb the bowsprit chains, for the North Star was part steamer and part sailer. The crew was divided into two sec lions, the one for'ard, the other aft
 "Why are you leaving the ship clear for the devils amidships, Mir. Meiggs| walled the captain. Don't you sup pose they've got sense enough to come aboard where&they have the least height to cllmbY
 "IFs Mir. Harding's orders, sir"
 "Harding's orders? Whats he doing giving orders from the engine room|
 Again the captains attention was distracted by a yell from the pirates, who were right under the North Stars stern. There was a vOlley from the men posted there, and a grappling hook that was thrown and caught on the gunwale was cast off.
 Then the Chinamen were seen taking to their boats with the evident inten- tion of stTinglng the fight out so far that the little crew of the North Star UoTild mt he able 10 keep them of from all points at once. A boat load of men well armed and with hooks and rope ladders attacked the stern; anoth- CT the bow, while a boat was sent on each side.
 At tIds time Harding, dragging a hose, and the fireman, dragging anoth- CT, came up the companionway.
 "What are you going to do with that?" asked the captain.
 Harding had no time to reply In words, but be did reply in action. Two