White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1925-08-21
"HAWK" of the NORTH
BY KENNETH GILBERT

| of her. Lights moved about, and now
and then shouted order came dis.
tinctly to us.
"The Aleutian," explained Mulvane.
can American trader with an Ameri-
can skipper and crew. Brought out
lumber from Seattl this voyage and
will swing back by way of Anadir
for such cargo as she can get"
l thought l saw his shrewdness If
he was going after The Hawk, who
had preyed upon American schooners
up north, he would use as bait the
kind of fare to which the pirate had
been accustomed, just as buccaneer-
hunters on the Spanish Main used
armed banks disguised as merchant
men.
Then we were at the gangway, and
an elderly, white whiskered man
wearing shiny-visored cap was help
ing us aboard Mulvane introduced
him as Captain jeremiah Allen. He
was active enough despite his years,
though inclined to be fussy 1 thought.
Thorne, the mate, was more of the ag-
gressive, go-getter type. Quickly and
efficiently, he directed the work of the
eight or ten men composing the crew,
| seldom raising his voice above a con-
versational undertone, except when it
was necessary to make his wishes
known to someone. aloft, yet his
orders were obeyed with snap and
precision.
Were already hove Short" Cap
tain Allen announced. "Tug should
be here within twenty minutes" He
rubbed his hands nervously and added
in low whisper: "The two six
Founders came over from the flag
ships today, with couple of navy
men to man EN-"
You've been watchful, of course?"
Jimmy asked. The captain nodded
Except for the cutter with the
guns, no one has been within hun
bred yards of the ship all day." After
a moment of reflection he added:
oval, yes, there was barge with
stores"
Stores? What stores?" asked
Mulvane. 81 thought you were fully
provisioned for sea"
$50 we are," averred the skipper,
''but these Japs are always getting
names mixed Seems that they had a
barge load of stores for the schooner
Alaskan and mistook us for that
packet I let 'em come alongside,
thin1in' it was something you had
sent, but made EN- shove off as
soon as 1 found out what they were
after"
els there such a schooner as the
Alaskan in port?" Mulvane queried.
The old man shrugged.
thought be-" he replied. alaskan
is common enough for ships name.
Prob'ly there's a dozen packets, from
tug boats to six master windjammers
that bear it,
The tug was in sight now, for al
though Yokohama harbor is large
enough to have a breeze most of the
time, that night it was utterly calm.
Outside, however, there was certain
to be wind. Presently the tall-stacked
steamboat with odd looking Japanese
hieroglyphics on it's stern, was yank
| ing the Aleutian along at four-knot
clip.
Jane was aft, pacing the deck in the
moonlight with the skipper while
Mulvane and / stood at the rail
smoking. l wanted to ask him thou
sand questions, yet knew l would
have to be patient. He stood cycling
the tug as it kept strain on our haw
Fser, and now and then he glanced
astern at the diminishing lights of the
city. 1t seemed to me that he was
biding his time.
The schooner now had main ant
fore sheet shaken out, and before long
there came over the water puff o
breeze, Stating the sails with mufflet
reports as of distant firing. From
the forerigging Thorne hailed the tug
which slackened speed and cast of
the tow line. The steamboat swung
about, and soon her outlines were los
in the darkness.
AS the Aleutian sheeted home AM
the sails filled, she careened gently
and Immediately there was heard
purring note as water began to rippl
past her side. We were off for tn
north!
Mulvane overlook Captain Aller
Muster the crew, if you please,
. Jimmy said. The old man stared
puzzled, but gave the command.
"You, Bellew," Jimmy went or
"stay here" Then to the skipper:
want Mr.. Therne to help me scare
:. the ship"
(To Be Continued)
Ha4: of Cocooro