Ensign Merrill — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

IN THE BASIN. pS a me bes Bs erode. is 47: the basin is deserted?” he Aad. at the same time narrowly scanning the adjacent shies with _ the glass. ‘‘Where are your living and storehouses?’’ The pirate pointed beyond the junk to where the - coastline ended in a sinall peninsula, and replied: ‘“What we have are built on the inner edge of that little bay. There are only a few dozen houses built of bamboo, and a larger one of stone for the chief and _ his lieutenant. The goods taken from ships are stored in caves nearby.’’ Mark glanced meaningly at Watson, and giving a short laugh, said: ; ‘““This latter information comes a little too late, doesn’t it? Wewould have been glad to hear where their booty is kept, if the catastrophe hadn’t occurred. Now, I think we will be lucky to get away with our lives. But, before we go some one will have to pay a terrible | reckoning for this day’s work.”’ His face darkened, and_he clinched both hands with a gesture expressing much. Both Watson and the young surgeon echoed his determination. The latter walked over to the end of the bridge, and glanced con- templatively at the distant junk, then again joining the others, he said: “Tt seems very queer to me that these pirates would, firzuratively speaking, cut off their own nose to spite their face. In other words, I cannot see how they are going to get out themselves. They have certainly trapped us, but that explosion also closed the gates to them.’’ ~ “T am afraid there is something behind all this,’ Bil in Watson uneasily. _ “My opinion is, this white loader had prepared the mine as a last. resort, but, understand, to be used in keeping war vessels out, not in,’’ said Mark impres- Eomicbooks.co