r
faiaUCEOFSEEXia
Bv FEEOY BUS3I.LL.
.Copyright W8S, by tba Author.
Bad it not been fort light breeze
that blew refreshingly under the deck
awnlnor thn heat would have been all
bnt unbearable to the little group of , you know, I know," wm the somewhat
passengers on the poop of the bark Kiat
na, bound for China, and now well part
the Maldives that curiocs chain, JfOO
tnilea .-rag, of atolls, or iwrul ialands,
whioh baa procured for lta ruler the
grandiloquent title of the auitaa of
the Twelve Thouaand ialoa, 80 far the
Tojrage had been propitioui ia all ways,
and now on thia exceedingly sultry aft
moon, when no one appeared to bare
anything partionlar to do, the captain,
John Grant, wai wondering whether
the pronto of the voyage be had a ten
ture in the veseeh -would enable him to
stake hia old father, down at Dunkeld,
that ancient Pictiab city of Pertbahire,
comfortable for the rest of hia days.
Peters, the carpenter, waa reflecting
how woll he had "fuhed" the foretop
mast and bow lucky 11 waa that ever
since there bad been no ale to try bis
work. Tbe sailors generally most of
them ordinary seamen and little better
than mere laborer were thinking bow
hot it waa and longing for unlimited
drinka of aometbing atroug and fiery,
1 even if it were in the dirtiest and moat
tnffy little "pubXitf" east of the tnoun-
'fb Hon, Edward Poulter, who had
a apeoial mlaaion to Singapore, waa fret
ting and fuming inwardly that he had
ever consented to ship in anch a iniscre
ble concern as tbe JCistna merely to save
few daya1 time .and because bia vale
tudlnariun wife 'bad declared that aba
nd Emily, their only daughter, muat
positively o out in a "dear aailing
hip" or not at all, and tbe lady bcraelf
waa thinking if ever aha onoe got back
to England nothing abould again tempt
her on the mm, ioreven'tben ahe shud
dered atwbut sho oalled the fearful and
unspeakable 'dangers they bad eur
mounted dangers that ao far existed
only ia her ailly imagination.
Emily bene If, a sensible looking and
fresh oomplexioned typical English
girl. lay beck in but deok cbafr looking
very uioe, froah and sweet in ber das
aling white muslin, gayly trimmed
with bright blue ribbons, a book on ber
lap and heriprettyfoet, inoased in neat
sandaled shoes, carelessly crossed, while
one at her very white, amall hand waa
toying vitbitbe long, thick, brown curl
which be bad' drawn over one aboulder
from jider her broad brimmed bat and
might viry well have laid on her knee.
What waa abe thinking of T Well, to
toll tbcirntb, abe waa thinking of bim.
Both were on the point of apeaklng,
and both stopped. Winaoom.be amiled,
and hia amlle waa very pleaaanl "La
. diea first, "be said,
I "I do believe, " ahe rejoined, "that
! we were both going to aay tbe aame
thing."
I "And what waa that?" ,
"Ah, if I know, you know, and If'
strange answer,
"I am aare you quite puzzle me, Miaa
Poulter, bnt I will be frank, I waa go-,
ing to auk you what you were thinking
of."
The young lady looked down, and
under bia curious and evidently amuaed
glance quite a rosy glow auffueed ber
face. She atrove to bide ber confuaion,
for when any one reddena under anon
circumstances their couaoiouaneaa only
make them feel hotter, and ahe remark
ed, with affected carelcianeae 1 "Tbe tea
ia very mouotonooa compared with (be
land. Don't you think ao?"
"I certainly do not agree with that
It haa been aaid that, in beauty the
world of great waters need not yield
the palm of (ovelinoM to the land. Tbe
deep haa ita butterflies aa well aa the
fields, and then look at tbe countleaa in
babitanta of the ooeun. Their ia, for ex
ample, the globe boroe, that iridescent
creature that ia by night phospborenccnt
nd hanga out ita living lamps ou the
waves, and then there are tbe muny
voioea of the sea" '
"What are you two yonng people
talking about ho onrneatly K' now unkcft
tbe Hon. Edward Coulter, Using with
much atatuliut'Mi and approaching the
apeakera.
Emily cuKt down her yee and aaid :
"We were debating, or going to de
bate, tbe relative beauty ut land and
It In, perhapa, superfluous to aay that looliab way.
"And a vera guid subject, too," r'j
aerved Captain Grant, who hud now
aboved tip hia telescope under hia unu.
"And which aide May the young leddy
betaking?"
"Mot your, captain, replied Wins
combo, "Wbecbauiplons the land, and I
tbe aea, whoso arure face reveals the
beavena in all their glory. "
"I ana sure," remarked Mia, Poulter,
rouaed up by the withuniuam therewith
tbe last worda we delivered, or rather
spouted, U needs 'courage to talk like
that thia fcjwt.M
"Heat, madam,' 'exclaimed 'Captain
Grant "Thia ia ttiothing to what we
ibaveyt,"
"Then I AhaU'die'outoight," murmur
ed the aKtyadareaaod, wlosing her eyea
liawoMstoxbautedtomake another
effort. i
"You wiiooM have wore courage,
mamma,'" ried Emily, who waa al
ways aroused to extra animation when
wo another ibuhaved ilaw unusually
thia elm waa not ber excellent papa,
alt ting very upright, very cleanly
I abavd,imuch white wttiatooated, and al-
togetiter.porapoua,unapproachablfl, high-
My repectable and extremely Britiah.
The hi m waa Harry Winacombe, a young
man of Jour .and twenty, going out
in the (China tea trade, determined to
make liia foctnne, now that the chance
hod come, and equally determined jnat
then to tnke everything aa eaaily aa poa-
ible and not to trouble bimaelf about
buaineaa of any kind. .Tbe other paaaen
gera had left them at Ceylon, and now
aa they approached the atraita they bad ,
quite a amall party, , playing Wblat
tooNt doily, llttrry Winacombe, having
to prcaamre (bia good temper with Mra.
Pouitu; who ;profeaed to adore wbiat,
but would never, her hnaband openly
aid, itako ithe trouble .toJearu even the
yudimente.and waa continually provok
ing bim to the vergo of apoplexy by im
ploring him juat thia once. to let that
nice knave of hera win, or not to put bia
ace ahe wax aure .be .had ,iti ready "to
pounce, " .and"tpono' alwayo terri
dedher cm iar oawmi 1 little queen.
Emily had ieaa jmtienee 1 than, any one
with her mothrur'a aillinesa , and contin
ually aclaimed; "Oh, do, .mamma, be
quiet. Ifou puta,all ont "
On thia partionlar .afternoon in the
Indian ocean, dndug one of ithe botteat
daya in tbe year, thia little party had
gathered aa the paop and found wbiat
"ao judge from yew," the lion. Edward
Poulter had aeveaaly remarked to Jiia
wife, "the game ia nonaenae And fool
iah chatter" muck too great an ex
ertion. For florae time they bad even
eeoaed to talk and hardly Jookad at onu
another. But while EmHyoertainly waa
thinking that Harry Winacombe Rooked
altogether nice bo waa lazily thinking
the aame of her. Their eyea, tocv.juet,
" am aura yim quite puttie im,"
and eyea have a language of their own
which did Dot aulfer any oonfunloii
when the luildliig of tin twer of Ha
bel had to be
an had l u a
Lad not fuund Harry U'iniHMiitV 1 ph
ant to look vd. H waa but alightiy
over the totilrila height, wi II and Uttuitf
)y hiimIo, bnt nt alHiytg halt the
trenglh fte ntnilyiN
were cli-4i and kind ll
d nia.glit at you,
amallMt t .well of a ata
Vwm thurnughly well
thick, gUMiy itark ha
beard iuf uiuaiatme, and ala faoa waa a
fine oval, wMch waa more firommueed,
aa be parted hia hair naelly la iha w.d
dte of hia rather high furahead It waa
an aarnt, w4 iaulllgeat turn and
t thai any caa would ! at tr
Artt lewuiMiott to the wnt thrat.t
"Oourage'l "What ia dt, 'I wonder?
don t auppoftu, child, -if you were tried,
yoa'd .'have any wore than me."
l ihave utum 4hongtt," obaerved
Winattomije, 'that xt would be a numt
interest iug thing if wo could collect ev
erybody'a.roul opiukdi oa to what cour
age ia. 3. don't knenv, II am aure, la
tooat caaea it acenjN tO'lead to very dif
feraut rewjlfa dn thuva who potuum it
Burnt:"
QM" 'OtU'A Mine .Poulter, and ber
"Qbl" WAiMkiiOro ehajui-nt than awhole
cpoecb,
Tor my jpart," oborved Captain
Grant, "'J iiovantbink alwut it ataJL
I fancy that when a imun baa to tbink
about it .he icunna buvtmuch of tie
commodity An.hlmmlL "
Winacomlw ami led, or be detected a
abade of coiitoinpt in the tone, and.
atretfJhiiur liini;if out, lazily aaid:
"JTixat at'theifcoMt and.htHtat the fray
la my motto. :l tahoum never run my
bead intoiduugcr. It ia not worth while
and ia fur too. much trouble. "
th, Jllr. Wiiiwombe, now can you
talk like rthut,". exclaimed both larliea
togetbei;, "when you iuinyeA in thvaea
at Adtiu iand iav(d that poor block
mahP
"Dal 1 treully? 1 had forgotten it
quite," he Jaughed andventon: "I
uppone it won .a 'foolinh impulae; bad
no time te think, yem fee. What woa
the value if ithe life of that .poor block
man against mine?"
"Yoa dreadful man!" aried Hiaa
Poulter. Tluvg, I don't belirjve a word
you aay. 1 tiiiulc you.aoo a liao, there,"
and ahe latiglifd out aach a pretty rip
ple of ailver toned luughter outiahowed
at the aaiue time auch a pretty little
mouth and auch dazzling teeth that
Winacoinbe U-XX .thoroughly rouaed from
ilia lazy U'llwxj, ,i which he bad, given
way to bia intcjiHe doHire to teuae.
fear," he replied, "it ia a caae of
a Jamb in a lion'aakio, then, only. You
not I have put it ou. I've a great
idea of number one, Miaa i'oultur, and
of the advantuge at a whole akin. It
would take a great dvil to induce ate
to attempt a practical illuitisation
ouragn."
"I tbink," remarked Captain Grant,
by way 0 tilling tip a pauae that now
enaued, "that I hxunl a remark alxtut
the tA IxiUig monoUdiona. Well, it la
here, aa a rule, i'erhnpa Mi 1'oulter
will do lua the lmuur to bade through
my gla! it'aone of extra powr. We'll
aae If you 11ml anything freab for aa.
It's rar to )tuH anything jtntt here
ahonta. L t me hold the glaMfor you."
bliM I'oulti r ltiuglnd ngaiu.
"To prove my voiiitntiou that the a?a
la nuMiotoiMiua 1 ought to ahut both
ahanlotmd. And truly ! eyea," ami, a n-M in up her pretty twK
qawr klud ut girl who , the looked more ebaruting ami
ciiievoua llmnever, VUnM4tui thought
aa be i ti ii forward ami aided the
eaptaiii iu holding and attjtMting the
lung ttili iK 4 m,
JdiM lVulnr irewl t,c pretty
f im. fit" Im kM, urn of hit MlteinUtiU
though jxiitltvely ratliMiit, and Wine
aoutlie frit a thrill aa hit hand now
UtM lrd l ra aa the tliHpe waa dt
reeted toward the dtatant bortatui.
"1 eeu noluitig. 1 m unthiiig at all,"
beariml. 'Iwaa light ttha atwi Isiuof
aaoaottuKMM tluu lit land, tn
and tiiuM owr," aud aha tiul I 4
little fvat m the d k with ail lha vlvi
My ol a playful, aplrtM rhild
"May," aaid .Viuewaau. "wi
it. Ilia ya
jwaya luok
ftthoul the
f4 bia moutU
M, lie had
wore aaith
7
a
shift it a little. Now look again. Ia it
all emptiness and heat?"
"Yea, ua Ah, what 'a that? Ob, what
a funny little ahip I" The captain was
immediately interested. "Funny little
ahip," he repeated. "What did the laa
aie mean?"
"You look, captain," ahe aaid, offer
ing him the telenoope. He adjuated and
looked. He looked ao long and auch a
atrange expression came over hia face
that both Miaa Poulter and Winacombe
grew aerioue. They knew not why and
waited, feeling a aort of atrange ana
penae aa the captain atill kept hia glaaa
teadily directed toward the horizon, on
which in the north they might, if un
uaually aharp and long aighted, have
aeen a ourioua, minute, dark, triangular
patch againat the pearl gray of the far
diitanoe.
The captain tucked bia teleaoope un
der hia arm and gave a meaning glance
at Winacombe, then merely remarking
to Miss Pcaiier, "Yea, it ia a funny lit
tle ahip," walked away, and presently
they saw bim and tba uato conferring
together in low tonea, he oocaaionally
indicating by a jerk of bia head that
point in the northern horizon where tbe
dark, triangulur speck could be juat dia
cerned without tbe uae of tbe glaaa.
Miwa Poulter and Winacombe looked
at each other Inquiringly.
"You appear to have very effectual
ly refuted your own argument," be
said, amiling. " You have found some
thing to break the monotony of the aea,
after all."
"What are they wetting the sails for,
I wonder?" asked Mrs. Poulter.
The Hon. Edward Poulter looked with
bis respectable indifference in the di
rection bis wife Indicated and saw tbe
men busily throwing buckets of water
on some of the sails. "I really don't
know," he replied. "It's not our buai
seas, you know, what tbe sailors do,"
and he addressed himself to a big blue
book which be bad conveniently placed
oa a reading stand by hia low deck
chair and was now marking In the mar
gin with a gold pencil in manner that
be deemed eminently official and even
statesmanlike. Winacombe started,
however, at the question of Mrs. Poul-
Iter and looked round. Tes, the sailors
were certainly baay pouring water on
the sails, and freab aaila were being aet.
In a moment the whole truth Sashed
across Harry Winaoombe's brain, and aa
be glanced at the (two women before
bim and at the pompous mass of respect
ability, tbe lion. Edward Poulter, a cold
thrill shot to his very heart Evidently
Captain Grant was "cracking on" all
tba canvas be could and making every
effort t anoroaee the apeed of the Kiat
aa There was but one rational explana
tion, be bnew. They were either being
obaaed or expecting to be chased, and if
really chased it could only bo by a pi
rate. "Wetting the nails, Mra Poulter,"
be explained, "is' to increase tbe speed
of tbe ahip. We have taea lying by too
much today, and 'I suppose tbe captain
wants to make up for loat tima. "
Mra 2'ouJter said languidly she should
go into her cabin and lie down, while
abe Celt o fatigued, locking toward br
husband for some expression of sympa
thy, which he never vouchsafed ber en
these ecnaaions, and no wonder, us ha
was dreadfully fatigued" and quite
"dying'ef (exhaustion" at fcat twenty
timeaduring tbe day. Winacombe gave
her ilia arm down the companion, for
Miss .Poulter declared that ahe would
not so iinto that stuffy cabin natUahs
wassibliged.
On hia return 011 deck tbe dark trian
gular specie on the horizon had hmihIjIj
inoreascd,in sizrx, and Mies Pcmkorffo
mafkerl : "See, there is that funny little
ahip. Can you tell what abe is likely e
be?" ' .
Before 'Winacombe couki reply Cup
tain "Grant canje up, and, seeing MiM
Poulter still in her chair, touchnd her
father on his shoulder, "I want toauy
a word with you." He was very seri
ous,, and the Hon. Edward Poulter per
ceived thatanmetbing wrong mnat have
happened'. .The captain signed bim and
Winseorabe ito follow bim, and when,
as be ithonghrt, out of earshot of Mixs
Poulter, lio said, "I dare say yoa gaem,
gentlemen, what bos befallen us?"
"1 ihaven't .the leant idea, " said the
Boa. iEdward J?oultcr, turning very
pale, immver,. and looking exceedingly
nervous.
ul can T!ues, sir, pretty well," was
Winaoombe's quittt reply. "There's no
mistaking the rig' of a craft like shut,"
pointing to .the :bow very much larger
triangular, dark patch ou the borhaat
just cutting tbe nky line.
"The lttH told mo at once," contin
ued Captain Urant. who, unlike bis
countryman, became very Engliah ia
his talk when ho wtin any kind of dif
Acuity, "that itavaa a Malay proa. It is
a big oua, too, uid I fear they suaun
miaohief."
"But thy aurely won't dare to at
tack anch aveaaelaa this," iuterjeetwl
ithe Hou. Kdwurd pjoultia, standing viy
arect and looking, aa bethought, very
ausRlatertal.
(JuptaUi (iraat auiUed. "They're pi
rates 1 that's all That proa is manned
by what they call the orong taut, which
meaaa the men of the sua, and they
meaa to piilagn the ship aa4 luurdur
the crew,"
"They won't surely murder ua!" cried
the Hon. lldwnrd I'oulur quite an
though tin) murdering t f tSaerew wtru
a Batter of no gn at importance,
"Malwy pirates, inr giid air, sre no
rept er i f ix rwiK," rewarkml Win
combo qiiii lly, "If wica Ihone fellowa
gel mi UimtJ, we may bold iiuraeivM a
dead mtiu"
'(1ikI tun, you dan't mean it I
Hut, eapt4lu, there's yur crew. We
luttil U at them off. I soy, you won't
let thiMi lutlSua ail on Utkard, will
ttt?" and llm aU'nbff lonkmt pitmuly
at tharnpUUi, who, with Wtnxunte,
could have Jaughmt ouuight at the au
aurd flgura wad y I ha Moo. Klward
Poulter had itot lit ooeaahat far
Ion avftoua bi im mad a auhiwtfor
iith under any elrvumauuoaa.
Captata Uraut h44 gravely at the !
aaeakvr, "It's sttar," h thoart.
"you'd never do for army or navy."
Then he aaid:
"We have no meana, if they outsail ua,
to keep them off. You don't know what
devila they are. It muat be a big one,
thia proa, for they uaually go in cou
ples, or more. I suppose tbe raaoala
think one hand ia enough in a puree aud
are preying on their own account with
out any partner. However, if the wont
happens, of course you'll take a bund
with the reat of ua. The worat of it ia
we are not provided with many arms. "
Yea, the Hon. Poulter would certain
ly "tuke a band with the reat" but in
tbe meantime he would go below and
break the dreadful news to bis wife,
and, looking thoroughly scared, be scut
tled below.
"Not much to be got out of bim,"
observed Captain Grant to Winacombe,
Wbo aaked what arma they bad.
- 'We've unfortunately no guns, as
you see. I bave about a dozen old rinea,
and I and the mate bave half a dozen
revolvers. We muster only about 80 in
It was a terrible moment.
all, yon know, and that includes the
cook. That proa is a big fellow and car
ries over 200 men. If they onoe board
us, we shall bave a poor chance."
"Are they certain to outsail ua?"
"Look for yourself. It Is only a ques
tion of time, We are doing our very
best and cannot carry another yard of
sail. Besides, when they get nearer,
they'll probably begin to pepper ua and
cut up our rigging."
Winacombe looked steadily at the
proa, whose form could now be pretty
clearly defined, and he owned to bim
aelf that unless miracle happened it
would be only question of time for
tba pirate to be alongaide these.
He looked at Captain 'Grant There
was no need to speak, and be took a
turn on tbe deck. Miss Poulter remained
oa deck, pretending to he 'absorbed in
book, but in reality foil of enriosity
and some niMgivingas to what waa go
ing to happen, &he rose: and advanced
to meet Wimeoni'be. "What is tbe mat
ter," she asked, "'for I 'know that some
thing has bapptmod?"
"I am afraid, Miss Poulter, that
aoxaethifig is igoing to happen. Your
funny little 'Ship lis, we fear, a pi
te."
Ho saw a feind of spasm pass over her
face, fibe fumed pale, but evidently
made a 'brave effort, and then gaped
rather thaa said, "Bnt there's nodaa
fex, I hope."
"I hope inot,'"!ho answored gravely,
"'bnt be wire we shall do our best
Meaawnilul advise yon to go down be
low. Tina ;ia not a place for you now."
Whileiahe aeemed hesitating Captain
Gxant came np, oud, putting bia hands
on her ahouldorM, said: "My dear young
lady, I ruTiHt order you down below. You
moot oIk yon know," and gently but
firmly lie ilediher reluctantly down tba
cordpanion.
Meanwhile Winacombe remained lost
in thought, leaning on the railing and
wot even booking in tho direction of tbe
trange;ond myaterious salt
"While Ibe remained thus a little puff
af emok&and a ftonh showed against the
hoxieon, ;and .it was evident that tbe
yroa carried 0 long gun, for tbe ball
could bcraeen ricocheting from wave to
wave, buttery wide indeed of the Kiat
4)0. .Most of the sailors were now en
dock, .and 'Winaoombe thought titey
looked anything rather than men reso
lute to sell their lives dearly. Perhaps
ithe obnsoioasnes that to such attacks
as these tht?y had no means of replying
Ihuda paralyzing effect Captain Grant
lurried on. deck.
" Wh.tt dovyou think of oar ckafceori?"
ibt axked.
" Very bodiy indeed. Bnt I tbink 1
icon aave the ahip if yon will let urn. "
Captain 'Chant stared and looked at
the young mail with an evident astou
iHhment "Youl- beaded. "And howr
'That you shall see, I hope, but yoa
snust order the men to obey my ordera
exactly, ami then, I think, we can man
age ta circumvent thoae devila "
This waaeatly agreed to. In truth.
Captain Grarii was at his wits' end. He
rardnl the ship and cargo as good as
lut and had little hope of anybody on
board, not esreptiag himself, escaping
with lite.
It waa txrfectly onrtain that the proa
wcuhl eventually outsail them, do what
thtiy might, aud what meana had a
eoore m ut mm with only a down
rtflea fr pmenting -or BOO Malnya
fnun xiuring up ttie alup'a aidea direct
ly the proa cwne fairly alongNido?
They tuitfht evtn tkr '."tuto!
alxmt Imw long it wuuld tl. .. -. .
their emniy !im up, aud then ha
might linauughly mku the vim1 with
hia guiHt. Ev'ryUly cxi-t pt the 1'oulter
kuuw all this well, aud euiuteijuently
everytMMly itie eaiwdingly dowu
hewrled riee t WtruiMiuhe, wbo now
stripped off his tHtat and waistuoat and
appeared fall of animation. Caitain
Urant, wbo Ix'gan lu think ih la young
titan had rinll a had ou hia ahouidns
U- Iciiained to carry out ali his plana
thtroughly, and he had lieu of hit
ca n aud wm aettetly in altar duapair
and di'Miaiiuu at th atrait to wbkh
Ihay bl btH ivdooml b fit a aott of
seal In kb"'piug ViivmUi aa iwaeb aa
piMd,T HtM'gU ha roald iKt aa y
hal. tit)s shk culd tinaa f
hU) ptv'WK Tha ware luU
enough at first He directed a rpar to
be rigged out at the extremity of their
spanker boom ao aa to swing round by
hauling on a rope and project about 20
feet beyond tbe ahfj'a bulwark. He
then rove a rope through a block at tbe
extremity and arranged it so that those
who held the other end from the deck,
by letting go, could let it run out at tbe
end so as to drop plump when weight
ad. These arrangements, being very clev
erly superintended by Winacombe, did
not take long. He now came down from
the spanker boom, where be bad been
scrambling about tbe aupplementary
spar quite like a monkey, aa aome of tbe
men said, and desired them to hoist an
empty barrel up on the poop. In tho
bottom of this be placed a layer of gun
powder about a quarter of an inch
thick, and, having covered this in with
stiff brown paper, he poured in a quan
tity of tar, and then put in a fresh lay
er of gunpowder in a brown paper pack
age, a sort of big cartridge, and so on
until finally be poured in tar at tbe top.
A chain wss secured round the barrel,
and it was booked on to the end of a
rope rove through the block at tbe end
of the spar secured to the spanker boom.
Osptain Grant grinned. He thought he
saw what Winsoombe was after, but be
oould not exactly see bow be meant to
bring this highly explosive' and oombas
tible contrivance to bear upon the proa.
Winsoombe did not keep bim long in
doubt He first bad tbe barrel gently
hauled up and then as gently let down,
to see that tbe apparatus worked easily,
and then gave his final directions. Tbe
Kiatna was to lower her flag and short
en sail, but to place all tbe disposable
men ready to spread every stitch di
rectly he gave the signal. The man at
the belm was to steer ao as to insure tbe
proa coming np on their quarter, and,
the veaael approached, the spanker,
with its long supplementary boom, was
to be swung out so as to lie right over
tba proa, tbe barrel being already haul
ed close up at the extreme, when Wins
oombe by full length upon the spar.
Bis business was to set tbe tar on the
urface in a blase, and then, those be
low letting go tbe rope, tbe barrel
would fall right on the deok of tbe proa.
Even while explaining this tbe pirate
began to yaw and recommenced firing,
aiming at their rigging, and presently
sanding snot right through their fore
sail. "You see his tactics," aaid Wins
oombe. "He oould bull us, but be is
afraid of losing bis plunder and won't
sink us juat at present Tba sooner we
cat bun alongside the better. We shall
know our fate in full five minutes then."
So aaying, be swarmed up the spanker
and lighted a small torch be bad con
trived and with whioh he meant to fire
the top f tth tar in the barrel. '
It was a terrible aaoment Any In
tant a tmll might bit bis aerial mine
and bum him to atoms witb bis own
Betard, 'and then there was the critical
snomeat to come when be and bis sus-
fiended magazine would be exposed to
tbe amall arms of the Malays. But be
tbeucrht of none of (these things. Never
bad be seemed aoigay and light hearted
during the whole voyage as now, when
he aay out on tbe spar with bis oontriv
awie beneath bim, a few feet down, wait
ing for the one instant of time which
ntuftt deliver or destroy tbem all.
.His orders were obeyed implicitly.
Jfiis rare oouruge and coolness bad in
fected tbe crew witb intense admira
ttiou, and each man waa fully nerved to
do'bie utmost Sail was shortened, tbe
red ensign, which had been kept flying,
was suddenly run down, and tbe pirate
in the proa gave vent to terrific yells,
which were feebly replied to by shrieks
that Winacombe plainly beard from the
cabin below him. He act bis tooth close,
Even be, hardened and nerved as he
was, could not restrain bis heart from a
terrible palpitation, for any moment be
imight, be knew, be blown himself to
atoms, to say nothing of tbe danger
.from the miaailea from the pirates,
whom he could now plainly see swarm
ing on i their deck. They seemed some
hundreds strong, brandishing their
Spears and looking like so many demons.
.His weakness was but moineuUry.
The proa approached closer and closer.
JPresently tbe vessels lay nearly parallel;
then, as If by mutual conaent they drew
.nearer, and Winaoombe saw the armed
.Malays all crowding to one side so
to the ready to spring up and board the
iKiatua simultaneously from stem to
atern.
Nearer and iitmft. He determined
not to be premature, althuugh he oould
ibardly rentrain himaelf. Then aa the
e-eeaola come within tbe diatanoe be bod
calculated be ahouted, and out ran the
spar right over the proa's deok and atop
ped by ber upper boom, where it lock
ed. Juat as he anticipated, tbe pirates
were eagerly bent on boarding. Pew c!
them noticed the extraordinary awing
ing right over tbem of the Kiatua'a
spanker boom.
Witb a au-ady hand he fired the tar,
and aa be 4id ao shouted for tbe men to
let go.
Aa tba tutrrela baugud down all ia a
blase on tbe pirate's dock Winaoombe,
by one tretuendoua effort, alid himaelf
back and juat eacaped the torrent of fire
aud tho fe&M concuiaion of the urn
shork aa the hia, exploded the topmost
layer 01 powuur,
Ali sail waa ret (,11 the Kiatna with
tba nimlilriieM of men d rea lms' to be
"l up thi'iiiaeivea, and by the clever
beta of tlte Meenmuui, the ceptatn him'
elf, there w a elor pom between
th Kiatna and the proa as layer after
layer tf mier Ignited and blew up,
enveloping tne pirato iu rii' smoke,
through huh hmgues if fUnte could
be seen 1-tvning.
Th .;;,'! Kt.Hi!' drew abend, and,
watching their Isie sniai H throngh
Wm I r g !. they coal it p uie that
all was uiif eonfuMhiM uud ihftl the
vnnI iately ao formMati waa doomed,
already iu ef hw rrw wm putting
Off a atuall tt, and aa th diatauc b
wwu I ha two vrMU'rtwd la proa
bCH for lU into on Ivrnwuiloua bia
and a pyramid of (Unis tvaiml sp 10
tin sky.
Tbfjr wrra d,
It is needless to say that all wen
loud in their praise of Winsoombe, but
for whose invention, gallantry and oool
ness not one of the Kiatna company
would bave lived to tell the tale of
their encounter with pirates off Suma
tra. As be laughingly aaid, bia combined
bombshells and aerial fire tub had
proved more than the pirates oould
grapple with. He declared that his suc
cess was chiefly due to the utter surprise
of his unexpected attack from above
and to the admirable way in which
Captain Grant steered and the men told
off for that purpose swung him to with
in a foot of the right point Bnt it bad
been nervous work, and for some days
Winsoombe was quite prostrate, .' al
though be bad what was to bim a heav
enly time, thanks to the tender nursing
of Emily Poulter, who declared between
tears and smiles that be bad turned out
"the lion" she thought bim after all.
As for the Hon. Edward Poulter, he
unfroze, ,and with bis wife showed
themselves sinoerely grateful. He could
not quite forbear from a little harmless
boasting of the fight be should bave
made bad these devils got on board, but
be privately determined never again to
venture in any vessel small enough to
be in real peril from tbe most formida
ble Malay proas. 1 1
TBI BHD,
eotoh Thrift Again.
When the history of the Elackwall
tuanel comes to. be written, the story
will be incomplete unless it includes an
account or tne xouowing uxnaent:
Quite recently tbe men who were work
ing as usual In tbe compressed air iocs;
were alarmed to hear first a rushing
sound and then an ominous roar, fol
lowed in turn by tbe bursting open of
tbe ground overhead. Before they bad
time to guess what bad happened their
jackets and even their shirts CeW o3
their backs in shreds, as if by bucso,
and some bags of cement wars hurried
away by the tremendous draft of the
moment Tbe men fortunatsly kept
tbeir heads, and so far as circumstxnoes
would permit remained at their posts
ready to cops witb any emerssney.
One of the gang, however, was great
ly distressed. Howling in a most unac
countable manner, lis hastened to the
end of tbe tunnel. "Let me out! Let
ma out!" he cried to the man in charge
of tba entrance to the air chamber, and
be was speedily assisted ia the lift to tba
upper regions. Seeing bim pabj ex
hausted, and attired only ia his trous
ers, those at tbe mouth of the shaft
crowded eagerly round him, anxious to
ascertain tbe nature and extent of bis
Injuries. "Are you much hurt?" asked
ocs, "Gi'e me ma vest, " (gasped the
refugee. "What's the matter with
you?" inquired another, to which he
impatiently made reply, "Gi'e me ma
Test, mon, an dinna stan gloweria
there."
Finding cross examination useless,
search was made for the missing gar
ment, whioh bad been drawn through
the burst in the tunnel by the draft
and was mingled with the reaaios of
other similar articles. It bad half a sov
ereign in the pocket! Hence tbe thrifty
Scotchman's anxiety, for, like his fel
low workmen, he had escaped without
personal injury, Loudon Daily Tele
graph.
, ? .
Vnmid tk Funnel Trick.
Jerry Lynch bus finally learned the
funnel trick. He took it in two doses
one on one evening and the .'fther the
next The senator sauntered up to the
Bohemian club the other day and saw
two or three of the younger members
attempting a new feat and be watohed
tbem with interest One of them stuck
a funnel in the top of his trousers,
threw his head back, placed a 60 cent
piece on bis forehead and tried to drop
it in the funnel by slowly lowering big
head. After all bod failed Jerry in
sisted on trying it, thongb all bad tried
to dissuade bim from attempting a feat
too difficult for them. Tbe funnel was
placed in the waistband of bis trousers,
and be threw back his head to receive
tbe coin on his expansive brow. At that
junoture a pitcher of ice water was emp
tied into tbe funnel, and by the time
Jerry got through dancing the jokers
had vanished. Tbe senator's temper im
proved witb dry raiment, and the next
night at the clnb he started in to show
a couple of friends tbe funnel trick.
"It's this way," he explained. "You
put tbe funnel in tho top of your panta
loons, ao, then throw your head back,
so, and wow I"
Again Jerry was forced to change bis
raiment, and he is not showing people
what he knows about the fvnnel trick.
Ban Francisco News Letter.
Aa Invalid' MfhldreM.
The difficulty of chaugiug a night
Arena wbeu a aick person ia too feeble to
aid tbo pmcew ia a problem, tbe auffer
er being often quit exhausted by the
effort Experience of thia haa taught me
that a deatgn for a nightdreaa that
would atip on without strain or did
culty would be a boon aud a bleaaiug.
The aimpleat way ia to make it button
.11 11 .
an me way oowu rroui ik to hero.
One of these ia of long cloth, trimmed
with insertion and embroidery, tbe ycke
of alternate tueka aud iuavrtiou. It
Opens all the way to the feet, Uti but
ton being eoueral.nl by the trimming
hit, if liked, the trimming may cta iu.
th ordinary way a l.KJe below the
waM, a neat false hem worked with
butttttiholea ewrryiug duwb tba neces
sary opening ta the feet, IV tucb a
garment tit 4 or ft yard c f l-ug eloth
will U ntmu.M, It,' yards of ioMrtiou
aud 0 yards of eiubiiderd sdiritia. if
this ia brought all th "tay dowu the
front I'ittnimiit IhnmMv.
( ticking a Tart,
"To can h a Tartar" recall a
told al h (Ml two cwntttriM aiKi tJ wi.
Irithaiii id Hi service of lh Austrian
govroitetnt who was captured by a Tar
tar hot man and who ahimloa bk t.
bia ti jln tut he hail twught a Tartar,
but tUt ths Mlow Mtt4 M b
hioagat Into vamp,
