The Argosy — page 97: 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. 289 the second. It struck the high skylight of the poop, and, exploding with a horrid noise, sent the splinters flying in all directions. ‘The fourth missed ; but the fifth shattered a boat that swung on the port davits, and destroyed the mizzen shrouds. This last shot must have proved conclusively to the captain of the liner that in the gunner of the Pulo Way he hada dangerous man to deal with, so without more ado he hoisted the signal of surrender and stopped his engines. We passed very close to him—so close that Captain Macshiel leaned over the rail of the bridge and bellowed, ‘‘ Get the stuff ready. I'll send a boat alongside in a minute.”’ We came to about three hundred yards away, always maneuvering so as to keep our bow on. Then some of the men rushed aft to lower the star- board boat, which piece of work Hayling superintended. I tried to catch his eye, for very obvious reasons, but never once did he turn my way. Presently the mate came along, and as his eyes met mine I saw that his - face was all aglow with a quiet, devilish sort of delight. ‘“ Now, then, bustle along, you there!’’ he cried. ‘‘Get ready to go in the boat, and make yourself useful.’’ ‘“ You seem to forget that I am a passenger.”’ ‘We have no passengers aboard the Pulo Way,’”’ he answered signifi- cantly. ‘‘ You are for us or against us—which is it ?’’ ° ‘‘I prefer to remain neutral.’’ ‘“ There can be no neutrality,’’ he blustered. ‘‘Into that you go, or aA ‘Or what? ’’ He grinned consumedly. It was a joke in ten thousand. ‘“Don’t you be so bally obstinate,’’ he said. ‘‘ For some reason best known to himself, the old man seems bent upon making a pet of you. But we mean business this time, and you may take my word for it, the old man is not the most patient soul afloat.”’ It was aclose corner, and one out of which I failed “to see my way. I looked at the liner yonder, the men about me—the one was as helpless as I, the other ready for anything. Just then I caught a look in Hayling’s eye which somewhat reassured me. ‘Very well,’’ I said, ‘‘ I will go, but under protest.’ ‘‘Oh, that’s all right,’’ he replied, with a disagreeable laugh. ‘I'll duly enter it in the log.’’ By this time the boat was lowered and swinging clear of the ship, and at a sign from the mate I sprang upon the rail, seized one of the ropes, and slid down into her. Hayling made room for me beside him in the stern. Half a dozen men scrambled down, and we pushed off. Before us lay the liner, a great black mass of iron, her side crowded with an eager throng. Hayling kept a stiff upper lip, and stared coldly ahead of him; but it seemed to me as though each eye looked unutterable scorn, while each tongue framed the horrid word, ‘‘ Thief ! thief! ’’ Carlton Dawe. (c) (TO BE CONTINUED. ) Eomichook (E(0)