Adventure, November 1915 — page 58: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

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I’ve got the weather gage of them, besides the speed, and we can afford to keep off and away. “You can get the rifles up, though, Selim, in case we are put to it, and Jim, see if you can make out how many there are of them. They must have been able to recognize some of us or the vessel or they wouldn’t have dared to fire. Naturally they’re sus- picious of anything in these waters, but if they’d made a mistake it might be costly. It’s plain piracy as it is.”’ Winton mounted half-way up the rings of the mainmast and, concealed by the sail, scanned the craft they were rapidly overhauling. “‘There’s Tuan Yuck. He’s got his glasses on us,” he reported. ‘And Henley is walking deck like a lame duck. He’ s the one who fired, 1 guess; he’s got a rifle. Look out!” A bullet came singing over the water, but the range was too great for the accuracy of any one unaccustomed to long-distance sighting, and it passed over them harm- lessly. The powerful. marine-glasses en- abled Winton to see clearly what was going on as the two schooners drew abeam, though over half a mile of water separated them. “‘There’s a row aboard,” said Jim. “Tuan Yuck’s kicking at Henley for firing. Looks like a general scrap. There are a dozen Chinamen to about six with Henley. Hen- ley’s going below now. I guess Tuan is boss of that expedition.” The Wavecrest slowly forged ahead of her broader bowed adversary, and the crew of the Lei Lehua set a clumsy square sail on the foremast in an endeavor to keep on even ‘terms. Blanketed by the main and foresails it was largely ineffective, and the Lez Lehua, despite her bigger spread of canvas, fell steadily behind.”’ “Bad steering,” said Addams. ‘She ought to do better than that.” “What’s Tuan Yuck’s idea in not trying to pick us off, Archer?”’ asked Winton. ‘‘He must know he’s lost out.” “He’s not the kind to take chances,” an- swered Addams. “And he doesn’t figure * WG a a Sa at ee es nO ee Ss ed Adventure he’s lost, yet. Murder is a more serious charge than robbery and, after all, we’ve only a treasure-trove right to the treasure. It’s the property of the first finder, if he can keep it. Tuan Yuck probably figures on letting us dig it up and meeting us-.coming away. ‘That’s where the trouble will start if we can’t outsail him hard enough in the next twenty-four hours to get the gold aboard and get clear of the island. He’s still got chances to win. What’s that?” A shrill cry for help came from below. “Take the wheel!” shouted Addams to Winton, and leaped for the cabin compan- ionway. 58 came from the forward ladder, fol- vant’e lowed by a gush of smoke. Henley’s sister ran to the rail before she could be reached, and with a yell, topped it and sprang into the sea, going rapidly astern as she swam strongly toward the Lez Lehua. Her skirt, stripped off, showed free for a moment behind the woman who was striking out vigorously for her brother’s craft. Winton, deserting the wheel, dived down the main hatchway after Addams, in terror for what might have happened to his sister. Selim and Ah Sing, with Loo Chow, rushed to where clouds of black smoke rolled from the forward companion, as Foo Chin grasped the deserted wheel. Below, Winton found Addams bending over Peggy, seated protestingly on the transom. “T’m not hurt!” she said. I screamed to warn you! fire.”’ Smoke was filling the main cabin as they broke through the passageway between the staterooms to the kitchen, where they met Selim already throwing water on the blaze from buckets handed down by Ah Sing from Loo Chow. ‘““Get back in the main cabin, Peggy,” or- dered Addams. “Pass me those cushions, Jim; we can beat this out. Tell Foo Chin to keep her steady!” In ten minutes the confusion was over and the fire out in the galley at the expense of charred walls, broken dishes, and some minor burns to the fire-fighters. “We got it in time, thanks to you, Peg- gy,” said Addams. ‘What happened?” “T was sitting here looking at the chart after you sent me below,” said the girl. “TI EVEN as he did so a flying figure “Not one bit. The galley’s on Gomichbooks (C@ SE Ee ROOT es ee EE