The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-10-01

face was look Of triumph and exal-
tation which It had probably never
worn before.
His fingers dropped from the In
strument and he rose to his feet and
faced his captain.
I've been in touch with Singa-
rore." he said simply. %and the cat
is out OF the bag. Singapore knows
that you wrecked your ship on pur.
pose. -. Oh. see you've got gun.
-. But you won't collect any insur-
ance, and II you hurt me and leave
the passengers to drown, you'll hang.
1t doesn't pay to double-cross people.
Captain Wong 30. They're mighty
aps to spill the beans"
Wong 30 made no comment In
words. He simply shot the wireless
operator in the stomach. watched
him for a moment as he erumpled
to the floor and lay face down twitch-
ing and jerking. turned on mis- heel
and went out
Presently he had been helped into
his boat, and when he saw that the
first officer had also come over the
side. he gave the order to cast loose
and push on. Above the despairing
screams and roars Of the birds and
beasts. aware Of their peril. could be
heard the ringing blows OF Bowers
ak
The boats crawled away from the
sinking ship like many-legged
beetles; and when at last Bowers had
cut and smashed a way to the deck,
they had vanished In the darkness.
lCAPTAIN Wong 30 nursed gloomy
~ foreboding thoughts and an aeh-
ing Jaw. In the second boat the first
officer pampered q swollen nose
which bled for many hours.
Somewhere or other a bulkhead
must have given way and the water
which was pouring into the BoIdero
found a general level in the holds Of
the ship. for she was no longer down
by the head She had lost her list and
was settling on an even keel.
The first thing obviously was to
find or devise some means Of keep
ing dryly afioat after the ship had
submerged. and although Wong 30
had seen to 1t that none Of the re-
naming boats could be put In shape
with the means and the time at hand,
he had overlooked a life-raft-a
small rectangular platform set upon
two hollow circular floats with
pointed ends.
1t was no great trick to rig a block
and tackle. cut the lashings by which
the raft was held in place. and get IL
overheard. And while Bowers was en-
gagged upon this business. Ivy busted
herself with the menagerie.
The forward cargo-deck was al
most awash. and It is impossible to
describe the frenzy of the creatures
variously imprisoned. That the
wretched things must have a chance
for their lives was as clear to Ivy
as il they had been persons.
Some could fly and others could
swim, and she had read and believed
that the brute instinct win always
choose the shortest course to the
nearest land.
II was no longer dark. Far OF to-
ward Borneo three black specks
marked the progress OF Wong Bo
and his piratical crew. To the east
ward. nearer and more important,
the inverted fan of the volcano on
Tiger Island showed clearly. Here
and there the thin pale smoke which
rose lightly from the crater was
touched with rosecolor.
One by one, Ivy opened the cages
containing birds These, for the most
part. upon being liberated. rose and
few in Overwhelming circles, then
presently Strengthened out their
flights. and headed straight for the
volcano which was the nearest land.
Whatever ITy's fate was to be. she
was determined that Helen should
share it, and before opening the
monkeys cages, she shut her own
pet into a cage recently tenanted
by a pair Of pheasants. r.
The monkeys were loath to wet
themselves. but when at last one,
more because he had lost his balance
than for any other reason, went over.
board with a loud scream, the others
followed-also screaming.
The snakes took to the water with
out hesitation and swan strongly
toward the island.
When Bowers came upon the scene
the cages and box-stalls which had
contained members Of the deer
family were empty. and the two half
grown honey-bears brought up the
rear Of struggling procession Of des-
perate brutes all headed for a tiny
bit OF solid land and swimming for
their lives.
or all McLeod's far-sought and
far-fetehed collection there remained
on the Boldero only the tigers
frenzied with fear.
(cesgiSEs. 1884. b. Gorssrssxr KsrraJ
Tomorrow Flint makes q part.
" Ina aft.