Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-13
A Pirate Adventure.
BY r. N. FORTUNE.

BY r. N. FORTUNE.
titled Adventures in, China, 1t has the
subtle essence Of real adventure, straight
forwardly todd
Early one morning the whole feet
was in motion, starting all together for
the sake of mutual protection. The
wind and tide were both fair and we
proceeded along the coast with great
rapidity, and were soon out of sight
Of the Min and its beautiful and ro-
mantle scenery. The plan Of mutual
protection soon seemed to be aban-
doned, and the vessels separated into
threes and fours, each getting on as
well and as fast as it could. ,
About o'clock in the afternoon and
when we were some SO or so miles
from Min the captain and the pilot
came hurriedly down to my cabin and
informed me that they saw number
of JandouS right ahead, lying in wait
for us. I ridiculed the idea and told
them that they imagined every junk
they saw to be pirate, but they still
maintained It to be so, and therefore
considered it prudent to be prepared
for the worst.
I got out of bed, i'll and feVerish as
was, and carefully examined my fire.
arms, clearing the nipples Of my gun
and pistols, and putting on fresh caps.
also rammed down a ball upon the
top of each charge Of shot in my gun,
put q pistol in each side pocket, and
patiently awaited the result.
BY the aid of a small pocket tele-
scope could see, as the nearest junk
approached, that her deck was crowded
with men. ! had no longer any doubts
regarding her intentions. The pilot, an
intelligent old man, now came up to
I,
would be of no use. might manage to
head on one junk. or even two, but
had no chance with five of them.
Being at that time in no mood to
take advice or be dictated to by any
one, ordered him to look after his
own duty. knew perfectly well that
II we we're taken by the pirates I had
not the slightest chance of escape, for
the first thing they would do would be
to knock me on the head and throw
me overheard, as they would deem IL
dangerous to themselves were to get
away. At the same time, must con-
fess, had little hopes OF being able
20 beat OF such a number, and de-
voutly wished myself anywhere rather
than where was.
The scene around me was strange
one. The captain, pilot and one or
two Of the native passengers were tax
ing I'D the boards of the cabin floor
and putting their money and valuables
out Of sight among the ballast. The
common soldiers, too, had their copper
cash, or "tsien," to hide; and the whole
place was in a state of hustle and con-
fusion. When all their valuable prop
erty was hidden they began to make
their preparation for defense.
Baskets of small stones were brought
up from the hold and emptied out on
the most convenient parts of the deck,
to be used instead of firearms when |
the pirates came to close quarters. |
This Is q common mode OF defense In
various parts of China, and is effectual /
enough when the enemy has only SINH
lar weapons to bring against them; but
on the coast of Fokien. where we were
now, all the pirate junks carried guns;
and consequently, a whole deckloao OF
stone could be of little use.
I was surrounded by several OF the
crew, who might be called Jobs COM
forters." some suggesting one thing and
some another. Many proposed that we
should bring the junk around and run
back to Min. The nearest pirate was
not within two or three hundred yards
Of us, and, putting her helm down.
gave US the broadside OF her guns. All
board our junk, and every man ran
below. except two who were at the helHA.
I expected every moment that these
two also would leave their post. and
then we should have been an easy prey
to the pirates. i
my gun is nearer you than those Of
The Jandous,' I said to the two men,
land II you move from the helm, de-
pend upon It, I will shoot you"
The poor fellows looked very uncom-
Portable, but, suppose. thought they
had better stand the fire of the pirates
than mine, and kept at their post.
Large boards, heaps of old clothes, |
mats, and things Of that sort, were /
thrown up TO protect us from the shot;
and as we had every stitch OF sail set, /
and fair wind, we were going through
miles an hour.
The shot from the pirate fell con-
siderably short Of US; I was therefore
able to form an opinion Of the range
and power Of their guns, which was OF
some use to me. Assistance from our
eowardly crew was quite out OF the
question, for there was not a man
among them brave enough to use the
stones which he had brought on deck;
and which, perhaps, might have been
Of some little use when the pirates
came nearer. ;.
The fair wind and all the press Of
sail we had crowded on the junk proved
of no use to us. Again the nearest
pirate fred on US. The shot this time
fell Just under our stern. I still re-
manned quiet, as had determined not
TO IRE a single shot until I was quite
certain my gun would take effect. The
third broadside which followed this
came whizzling over our heads and
through the sails without wounding
either the men at the helm or myself
The pirates now seemed quite sure
Of. their prize, and came down upon us
hooting and yelling like demons, at the
same time loading their guns and evil
IDENTIFY determined not to spare their
shot This was a moment Of intense
interest. The plan which had formed
from the first was now about to be
put to proof: and, If the pirates were
not the towards believed them to be,
nothing could save us from falling into
their hands. Their fearful yells seem
to be ringing In my ears even now.
after this lapse Of time and when I
am on the other side Of the globe.
BY watching their helm, as they
came nearer to us, could tell when