Imperial Valley press., 1936-10-04
Sixty Seconds From Life
"ADVENTURE" By John Richard Finch
"ADVENTURE"

HAwN was crawling out of the east-gray,
u cold, sunless A drizzling rain, fine and sharp
as needle points, struck Larry Braden's face and
spewed over his Southwestern with cracking
sound as he crouched in the lee of the windlass
on the forecastle head. A long swell caught the
ships bow in a deep trough catapulting the
green sea against the fish plates and forcing the
water geyser-like, up through the hawse-ppe.
With a leap, the lookout just cleared the spout
ing sea that boiled on the foredeck, only to be
caught moment later in a mist of foamy spray
that broke over the bow. He shook his head like
a dog and holding onto the forepeak rail, swept
the sea ahead with eyes closed to narrow Sits
to protect them from the singing rain.
Off the starboard bow lay the China coast,
invisible in the mist and rain. Larry knew that
at four bells they would be abreast of Annoy,
where less than week ago the Macedonia,
British ship, was boarded by Chinese pirates,
the Captain and Chief officer killed and $780,
900 in gold bullion consigned to Hongkong
bank obtained.
After lull of more than year. the China
coast pirates were again active. Several Chinese
ships, coasters, had been boarded and looted
in the past few months; a Japanese ship met
the same fate a month back, and then-the Brit
ish steamer. Various precautions were being
taken by all ships plying the coast, and those
transporting bullion were assigned companies
of marines as added protection
But an American ship-a palatial passenger
liner in the American-Asiatic trade! It hardly
seemed likely to Larry that the pirates would
have the temerity to attempt an attack. When
he had gone on watch, the Second Mate had eau
toned him to keep a careful lookout and had
mysteriousy intimated that the President Arthur
was carrying rich consignment of gold bullion.
He knew too that a detachment of American
marines from Shanghai were stationed aft in the
third-class quarters. He glanced up at the bridge,
and made out the face of the Chief Mate and
sure enough, the Old Man himself, behind the
protecting glass windows of the wheelhouse. If
the skipper got up at five o'clock to join the
other officers on the bridge they must be in dan
ger, Larry thought. With strange feeling of
uneasiness, he renewed his vigil
Larry Braden was making his first trip to sea.
After haunting the San Francisco waterfront
for weeks he had finally been shipped out as
ordinary seapan. Since, he had been living in
world of dreams. He felt the thrill of con-
queror! He was conquering the world-with
chipping hammer and "soojee" bucket That
he had been given the forecastle head watch
on this momentous morning seemed not only
privilege but an honor indeed to Larry.
An UNDERCURRENT of excitement gripped
~ him. Four bells sounded on the bridge Six
O'Clock, He moved few PAGES over the slippery
wet deck to the watch bell and struck an an
swering four bells They must be just off Annoy
now He had heard the Mate giving the course
when he reported on the bridge at four o'clock,
and drew that they were much farther off shore
than usual He scanned the sea ahead. Nothing
but gray mist and rain! half hour passed.
Five bells struck. Six-thirty! He could see only
the Second Mate on the bridge now. They must
be out of the danger zone! He wasn't quite sure
whether he was relieved or disappointed.
He made half turn toward the bow to re-
sumo his watch when something caught his eye
and rooted him in his tracks Up from the sailors
quarters onto the forward deck, next to the
midship's superstructure and out Of sight Of the
bridge, poured line of Chinese steerage pas
sengers Noiselessly they came up from below
decks and moment later mounting the
steps to the bridge. Along the promenade deck
came more. Larry couldn't move. He realized
olmly that they were about to take the bridge
that these men were pirates who had boarded
the ship as passengers at Shanghai He must
warn the Second Nate He must ring the watch
bell! b.. somehow, he couldn't move. His body
was like lead, his arms and legs seemed bound
Then suddenly, he began to tremble He felt
like he was going to cry. Something terrible was
gong to happen, and he seemed powerless to
act. He must do something.
The Chinese were now just outside the pilot