The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-03-13
The Blood
Pearl
9Ap
By ALBERT DoRRINGToN
(Copyright)


The crew of japanese shelters mus
tered silently on the oyster-strewn
deck of the Three Moons. The sea
was as still as a sleeping child. In
the far south few ragged palms
marked the limit Of the Vanderdecken
bank, where the cheeplng sun birds
drowsed over the mile-long fleet OF
working luggers
Sashino was captain of the Three
Moons, and he resented bitterly the
frequent thefts Of pearls from his lug
ger. The tricks Of the average dia-
mond thief become JIdicrously appar-
ent when compared with the almost
superhuman evasions of the japanese
shell opener. Captain Sashino had
grown subtle with experience, but his
smiling patience gave out before the
constant pilferings of almost priceless
gems.
Four coolies appeared from the for
ward hatch escortlng naked japanese
diver. A stern silence awaited him.
For a few moments he remained sui
lenly -irresolute, cigarette in mouth,
his bare toes kicking scraps of opened
shell across the deck.
Captain Sashlno regarded him con-
temptuously from his station near the
main hatch.
"You steal my pearl, Insumi, the one
you found on the Black Lip bank. |
am willing to hear you. Say what /"
Insumi hunched his reef-scarred
shoulders, cast furtive, sldelong
gances at the crew, and was silent.
"What made you steal?" Sashino re-
peated. 1.-THE German buyers or your
sweetheart in the town? Say quick J?
Insumi frowned.
81 work hard, Captain Sashno, for
small pay. Only once or twice have 1
taken little pearl. My sweetheart
does not ask me to steal"
He turned again to the crew, as
though expecting a friendly demon
stration on his behalf. There was
none.
A windlass-hand, wearing a coolie
loin-cloth, was holding baited line
over the port bow. incidentally, pair
OF tiger sharks drlfted from the
shadow of the lugger's keel, and re-
manned motionless within a few yards
Of the bait.
The pearl thief folded his arms sub
missively, as one expecting punish
ment swift and unannounced. The 81
lent wrath that moves japanese le-
gions to impossible assaults flowed
from the captains gestures. He turned
to a diver at his elbow and whispered.
The crew, catching his meaning, be-
came suddenly alert. A volcanic rage
swept over them. Oaths Of strange
origin and dialects filled the air. Cap
tain SaShino nodded twice, and called
to the windlass-hand with the baited
line.
Three men caught Insuml by the
shoulders, and fastened the line about
his waist and hips, leaving his arms
free.
"Overw shouted the captain. Let
him keep his knife"
Insumi was dangling over the bows,
his breast and feet nearly touching the
water. The tropic sun pierced almost
to the sandy floor of the straits. A
tiger shark does not always swoop to
the object in sight, but will sometimes
inspect 1t for a short period, then van
ish for Il brief space and return with
the speed of n hawk
The thief lay suspended within an
inch Of the water his knees slightly
updrawn. The knife in his right hand
was held point out from his face.
Above him leant the crew Of the lug
ger, telling him in fluent japanese that
thieves and sharks were the spawn of
devil men.
An inquisitlve snout appeared under
the lugger's bow; pair of swlnish
eyes began TO regard the suspended
Insumi with patient interest, then,
moving slowly in n straight line,
flashed suddenly under his chest In
sumi's back arched as the gray belly
swept beneath; a quick. grunting stab
followed, and the water grew crimson
for several yards, He breathed hoarse-
ly and wnggcd his bullet head,
"Fool!" sneered the captain. "The
scent will bring others, and they will
hustle him to death like Americans ~
A loud thrashing was heard near the
heum. The strong tide swept the red
stains clear Of the ugger. For period
that seemed like eternity the suspend
ed man looked eagerly into the water
as though listening. Then, with a sud
den frantic movement, he tried to turr
toward tOrpedoike shadow thai
rushed from the shelter Of the lug
gers stern. A cash, wide as a saber
cut. appeared on his naked hip.
"a fin-strOkeW chuckled the cap
tain "The old shark has got him now
II win be a slow fight, my children"
A hot stiffness hung about tn,
straits. The Jap lay motlonless, ey,
and ear almost touching the water. hi
glance fixed immovahly ON the trowel
shaped fin that stayed within gunsho
of the vessel. Neither the tide nor IN,
shouts Of the divers could urge It on.
"The big fish Is playing with him,
smiled the captain. "Do not make to'
much noise, my children"
Then an unexpected connection hap
pened In the water; school of sinai
sharks began to sport about the THIEF
ankles. with n ripping movement o
the wrist he slashed into them RICH
and left, dispensing them like shoa
Of mullet. one blue snouted invader