The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-05-04

|
| We've changed her name and rig and
her official number and letters and
we're sailin' under bogus papers. That
makes us pirates, and that old Maggie
burgee floatin' at the fore amt moth
in more nor less than the Jolly Roger.
cares? When we slip into M'galao
harbor We'll invite the king and his
head men aboard for dinner. Wen
get 'em drunk, clap 'em In double
irons, and surrender 'em to their weep.
in subjects when they've filled the
| hold Of the Maggie II with black
coral. If they refuse to come aboard
we'll shell the bush with that long
gun and the Maxim rapid-fire guns
| we've got below decks. That'll scare
'em so they'll leave us alone and we
can help ourselves to the coral'
Scraggs' cold blue eyes glistened.
Lord, Gib," he murmurpd, you've
got head"
Like playin' post-office," was Nc
| Guffey's comment.
you boys would see it that way. Now
tomorrow I'm going ashore to buy three
divin' outfits and lay in big stock
of provisions for the voyage. In the
meantime, while the carpenters are
gettin' the ship into shape. We'll leave
the first mate in charge while we 90
ashore and have a good time. I've
| seen worse places than Panama"
AS result CT this conference Mr..
Gibney's suggestions were acted mp
on, and they cOntrived to make their
brief stay in Panama very agreeable.
They inspected the work on the canal,
mary eled at the stupendous engineer
ing In the Culebra Cut, drank little,
gambled little. McGuffey whipped
a bartender. He was ordered arrested,
and six spiggoty little policemen. sent
to arrest him, were also thrashed. The
reserves were called out and a riot
ensued. Mr.. Gibney, following the
motto of the syndicate, i. e.,
All for one and one for all
United We stand. divided we fall,
mixed in the conflict and presently
found himself IN, DURANGO vile. Cap
tain Scraggs, luckily, forgot the mot
to and escaped, but inasmuch as he
was on hand next morning to pay a
fine of thirty pesos levied against each
Of the culprits, he: was instantly, for
given. Mr.. Gibney vowed that If a
IInitn1 StOtnc NJ hor
to be lying in the rOadstead, he would
have shelled the town in retaliation.
But eventually the days passed, and
the Maggie IL, well found and ready
for sea, shook out her sails to fair
breeze and sailed away for kandavu.
She kept we'll to the southwest until
she struck the southeast trades. when
she swung around on her course. head
ed straight for her destination. 1t
was pleasant voyage, devoid of i'll
cident, and the health Of all hands
was excellent. Mr.. Gibney took daily
observations, and was particular to
make daily entries in his log when
he. Scraggs, and McGuffey were not
playing cribbage, game of which all
three were passionately fond.
On the afternoon Of the twenty-ninth
day after leaving Panama the lookout
reported land. Through his glasses
Mr.. Gibney made out a cluster Of tall
palms at the southerly end Of the IS
land. and as the schooner held lazily
on her course he could discern the
white breakers foaming over the reefs
that guarded the entrance to the har-
| Dor.
That's Kandavu, all right" an
nounced the commodore. II was there
in 80 with Bill McGinty in the schoon-
or Dashin' Wave. There's the entrance
to the harbor, with the Esk reefs to
the north and the Pearl reefs to the
south. The channels very narrow
not more than three cables, If It's that,
but there's plenty Of water and a
good muddy bottom that'l hold. Nc
Guffey. lad. better yum below and tune
up your engines. IT'S too dangerous
a passage on an etb-tide for a sailin'
vessel, so we'll run in under the pow
err. Scraggsy, stand by and when
give the word have your crew shorten
sail"
Within few minutes a long white
streak opened up In the wake Of the
schooner, announcing that McGuffey's
engines were doing duty. and nice
breeze springing up two points aft
the beam, the Maggie heeled over and
fairly few through the water. Mr.. Glib
ney smiled an ecstatic smile as he
took the wheel and guided the schoon-
err through the channel. l. He rounded
her up, in twelve fathoms. and within
five minutes every stitch Of canvas
was clewed down hard and fast. The
sun was setting as they dropped an
Choir. and Mr.. Gibney had lanterns
hung along the sail so that it would
be impossible for any craft to ap-
proach the schooner and board her
without being seen. Also the watch
on deck that night carried Mauser
rifles, six-shooters, and cutlasses. Mr..
! Gibncy was taking no chances.
Continued in Next Iss. s)