The Argosy — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

THE VOYAGE OF THE PULO WAY. 287 ‘‘ Very well;’’ and this time he smiled wickedly. ‘‘ We’ll make you one of us yet. Now, lads,’’ cried he, turning to the men, ‘‘to quarters. In half an hour we shall be rich men.’’ He waved his hand and drove them forward, while I slunk away aft, a prey to the most distressing emotions. The ship, a long, low, one funnel boat with a projecting bow, came sweeping up grandly out of the ocean. When she was near enough to read our signal her helm was put over and she bore straight down upon us. Poor beg- gars! Hager to help, how they would have shunned us had they only known ! On she came, straight for us, like an animal ready to spring over the white hedge of foam which forever seemed to block her way. ‘The red ensign went up, and presently she signaled, ‘‘ Can I be of any assistance ?’’ The mate came rushing aft, and ran up the pennant ‘‘ Yes.’’ ‘There followed an immediate bustle aboard the liner, and I saw some men spring to the davits on the port side and begin to clear the falls. ‘Then the wash before her bows subsided, and I knew that the engines had _ stopped. Through my glasses I could see distinctly the officers on the bridge and several persons leaning over the rail aft. As she was near enough for me to distinguish her name, which was written in big brass letters upon her bows, I read the words Chung Tong. I admit the singularity of it all deeply impressed me, and I knew not at which I wondered more, man’s ingenuity or his perfidy. The electric wire had told the people in China that the Chung Tong had left Sydney with fifty thousand pounds on board. The next day the newspapers had printed it; a man had read the paragraph ; it awoke an idea, and the idea had been duly executed. And now here was the vessel coming up to her destruction. She stopped less than a quarter of a mile off, and the people on her decks were plainly visible to the naked eye. With glasses I could distinguish the uniform of the officers, while to my dismay I saw some women aft. But now the boat of which I have spoken was lowered from the liner ; four or five men slipped down the falls, and presently the little craft shot out from the big one and came towards us. In the stern sat an officer; in the bows knelt a man with a boathook, while four more rowed. The sea being smooth, the little boat slipped gallantly across the water, and presently she was brought to a few yards away from us, and just opposite the bridge, upon which the captain stood. ‘‘ What ship is this?’’ asked the young officer, scrutinizing our bows for the name, which had been painted out some three or four days before. ‘“The Golden Guinea,’’ shouted Macshiel, ‘‘ from Shanghai to the Torres Straits. What are you ?’’ “The Chung Tong—Sydney to Hong Kong. What can we do for you ?”’ ‘Pl tell you,’’ said the old man, leaning far out over the rail. ‘‘ We intend to do a little trading among the islands, but being a bit short of cash, we thought you wouldn’t object to lending us a little.’’ ‘“Hh?’’ said the young fellow, looking exceedingly astonished. ‘‘T believe you have something like fifty thousand pounds on board. You must hand it over.’’ ecomichook (G(o)