Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-25

hourS more OF unbfOkcu sumner. Ia"
fingered for i, little in his berth. with
his body. wondering lazily az the stili-
ness OF tho ship. There were no
sounds audible to him other than tho
least Of Watcry whispers along the
sides and languidly complaining
| block.
! Presently he rose ana pccrcd through
! tho port.
Absolute calm broodcd over the
world. Tho sea in thh dawn-livht was
| iikc vast plate "f iridcsccni EiaSs
| IN the cabin the heat WAS opprcs-
siNc. The waters looked very cool aud
! inviting. Provided none but tho crew
WAS on deck. there was no reason why
ono should not enjoy a swim
Dressing quietly in shirt and trous-
| crs' fhilip slipped out into tho saloon
10 hhd that Captain Goodc had risen
before him and was seated al his end
"l the table. mcditativcly rclishinS
/ his matutinal coffee
tic greeted Philip with = nod and a
TOOK Of liking. overnight he had OK
tractcd from this shu,tlccock of for
| tuhc some account OF his recent his
Tory. Ia return Philip had learned
! 'hat the Samaritan was bound for
colon with mixed cargo Including -
| considor"hi" quantity Of dynamite for
the canal workings.
Morning said tho skipper in g,
guarded tone. explaining by his next
words. You're tho first up. after me-
! Coffee"
! No. thank YOU ! want swim first"
Better be satisfied With sousiuy
yourself with = bucket" C;oodc adyiycd
sharks as thick as minnows in these
| waters"
Where arc 40 ."
"Bccalmcd OF Rum Cay"
| Land in sight
! of to s,arboard-too closc for
! comfort. If YOU ask nc"
How so"'
Pirate holc-worst in the Bahamas
Pirates"
| Niger wreckcrs-no better than
pirates. These outlying islands arc
mighty nigh exclusively populated b.,
! nigGers Bad lot. No, enough a,-
! thority 20 keep them i'm order. Thoy
get their food from the s.. ana Inc
trees, and do Il little sponge iishirc
/ on the side. Bu; wreckinv's their r.
Eoriic sport. ~" seen vessels that 90,
| into trouble in these waters picked as
c!ean as bone is by the time hun
sry hound gets ready to bury it"
III have q look
Philip went on deck finding /, 10
\ serted but for three of the crcw-tho
/ man a. tho wheel ANA TWO who 50,
| on the deck up forward. with back :
10 the rail. smoking and Gossiping
! idly.
a glance off TO starboard showed him
me proh!e Of rather considerable
| islam" less than = mile distant it's
heights. clothed IN brilliant tropical
| foliage. shining. In that clear light
| like jewels above the golden band Of
! the beach.
But tina, sah,e glance showed philip
something else that robbed the scene
/ OF all lis beauty in his sight.
Little more than midway between
! the beach and tho schooner a notilla
of SINAI! boats. numbering nearly Two
I dozen. all black with negroes was ad-
vancing swiftly toward the calm bound
! schooner--ione oars lifting and rising
I in rhythmic unison. blades Tia shing
brightly III the early sunlight.
/ Turning quickly back, Philip called
/ down the companionway to the skin
per. His alarm communicated itself
! Immediately TO the watch on deck
bringing all to their fee, TO stare shore
| wards.
Reaching the deck in a bound. Cap
tain Goodc comprchcnded the situa-
ton i'll twinkline. and almost as
soon as he appeared was shouting or
dcrs for all hands TO turn out and
prepare to rebel boardcrs.
NO telling VIVA, dcvilmcnt they'll
| try II they think were weak enough"
he told Philip, and dartcd below TO
rouse out ,hc mate and get his re-
! Nolvcr.
| his summons required no repetition.
Apparently all appreciated how grave
an emergency was imminent. The
noti!la had still some distance TO come
when the Samaritan's crew, 10 a man.
including Philip and Juan Lopez. stood
ready a the rail. armed with sheath
knives. Delaying pins. capstan- bars.
and up forward with buckets fun Of
boiling water from tho galley and tubs
nearby from which 10 refill them
But il appeared that the Sauna ritan's
arsenal consisted OF but two firearms.
tho shippers revolver and the mates.
The uneasincss caused by this dis
covcry was ia no way mitgatcd by
the appearance on deck OF Princess
Julia. whose sleep had been rudcly
disturbed by the hustle and confusion
of preparation against possible trou-
bic.
Ordered back 10 her quarters per-
cmp,orily by Captain Goode, she sub
nittcd lingering only for a few words
with Philip. whose efforts 10 r"aSsurc
her had little effect. Hut If patiently
frightened the cir! kept her head. and
submissivcly Went below again
Her retirement from tho deck WAS
almost coiucidcnt with tho arrival Of
the hotilla within mailing distance.
Goodc lifted a stcutoriau voice. dc
handing /" know what The negroes
wanted and warning them 10 keep of.
y total absence OF any sort of reply.
together with the undated progress
OF tho boats towards the schooner,
decpened the sinister tone OF the mo-
ment.
Repetition of Goodies hail and warm
ing produced no more effect. Stll in
OIninous silence. tho negroes bent
broad, naked backs TO their oars. and
their rude craft fairly lcapcd across
the remaining width Of waters
With a cry Of transportation Goodc
flourished his revolver, high above his
head in the sunlight.
i've warned yc." he shouted. stand
off--stand off | say--or take the CON
sequences
From the midst OF the dusky COM
pany that crowded the thwaris of tho
foremost boat a puff Of smoke APP
pcarcd. The volume of the accom-
panying report was strangely loud in
the unnatural silence OF the calm
With choking cry Captain Goode