The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-03-03

added in an odd tone. do you
Think"
He waited for my answer, and
II seemed strange to me that my
uncle should be asking my advice;
/ don't think be had ever done that
before in my life. Something sort
Of wistful about hat. coming from
him It showed how much ne had
been subdued by heat. and fatigue,
and his wound
No, sir" / answered, q don't
think so"
Action
IXTELL, wen have TO do the best
w we can" His voice was weary,
but regained its vitality now that
he was coming back to terms of
action The plain fact is that Man
tusen and his praus viii come
banging down the Siderong any
minute. / don't understand why
he's not here now. If we can't make
the Avon move. vel have to take
what precautions we can to save
her. You'd better 60 over there.
Take six men out Of your own
watch-leave Blair's alone. Give
them two pistols apiece, and the
bamboo boarding pixies. and some
Of the light parangs. They'll look
good. at least9
Armed to the teeth | agreed.
See that the Avon's nets are
fixed up as well as the. can be;
make ready to fire that popgun
stern-chaser yourself. Clear every
thing as well as you can to make a
running fight"
Suppose they don't want me
there? Suppose they don't let US
board?"
aIt's your job 70 get them to LET
you Talk to CaDtain Stocker: try
to work out with him how you're
going 70 fight the ship He'll be
glad enough 10 see you-that's a
scared man to begin with. When
the MalayS come. cut the cables.
and 70 hell with the hooks. Don't
even ask Suckers permission for
that-just do il. They'll al be
anxious enough to get out Of there,
once hell busts Your Job is to get
them ready to boil out Of there
fast. and see that the ship is well
fought"
I'll get her out. all right.
You'd better get her out. hone
you win. Find out who's supposed
70 pilot the pass. and make sure he
knows his business II you're not
sure, leave the :tcrn-chaser TO
somebody else, and you take the
wheel The Avon has to 90 first
through the pass, so don't count
on dogglng me through. If you
take the wheel. be careful with
your back sights. Nobody VIII have
time to give you any soundings.
and Il you try TO pet out Of there
by ear and moonlight you're as
good as aground already"
= know the pass"
He gave me orders about taking
axes along for cutting the cables:
and about flares TO be lighted
when the Malay began to board
US. was 10 get the Avon's ammu-
milton laid out on deck BY her guns.
becauSe-once this thing got
started-there wouldn't be any
time. or any men either. to break
il gut OF the hold.
It viii probably blow up, Paul.
Then yo1r worries win be over"
] wish ! had more men.
I can't give you any more. |
have the Iinkang to fight III stand
fast and blast away at the praus
until the Avon clears me; then III
stand through the pass IN your
wake. Go ahead now And IL You
don't know your business-God
help us all"
! got my boat away fast. forget
ting the axes: ! did not q back for
them Under the counter OF the
Avon I left the men IN the boat
while went aboard 70 explain. II
/ could. what ] was trying to do.
Christine met me with a lot OF
quick questions.
You picked someone I'D ashore.
didn't you Was /. Captain CLYDE?
Is he all right"
He got away with only one kris
cut. he's on his feet. I'll ten Won
all about that later. The thing
now"
She wasn't listening any fur
Tier. She turned way from me,
rested her arms upon the rail, and
hid her face in her hand She was
shaking all over. and / could hear
her breath coming irrezularly.
Christine Forester was crying.
She was crying over the man she
had been determined 90 desert.
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