Adventure, November 1915 — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

— —s a ae P< ie ye - rn. h, oan - » si) srs Fee ne we <e" bg Ns 2 ‘ rgd wala a “9 NY oy MaRS. Ata an SOS eee y _ : F351 ' PSA ge ee el eae ee Sh Ve > i neii Ook ee SENG tO Coo Re Es ay | ; a dg TB en nate ie: | ia Les Ae Ge Be foe! > >~ 2 Fo MO Sh ces eS he ath WP pete, % , LAY Sy eer » 7 . . ; i aks Hh cia Ia AP Nig cee 64 Adventure “T don’t think I’d try to leave, if I were you,” he said. “I’m going to look for the gold. It will be better for your sake if we find it. I can not answer for my men. But don’t try and leave the lagoon.” “T don’t intend to, till the next tide,” said Addams. “Do you want to look over the ship?” “Tf you will not consider it an aspersion on your honor,” said Tuan Yuck, “I think it would be advisable.”’ Addams conducted him below, where he bowed to Peggy, who watched him with in- dignant eyes. With Selim they raised the transoms and the bilge-boards, looked into staterooms, fore-peak and, by the aid of an electric torch, the lazarette, until the baffled Chinaman was convinced that the treasure was not on the schooner. Apparently unmoved, he returned on deck and hailed the boat. “‘Take my advice about leaving,”’ he said, as he descended the side-ladder, and, with an imperative gesture to his men, ignoring Henley’s questioning, was rowed ee back to the Lei Lehua. “What’s the idea?” asked Winton. “I don’t quite get the hang of it.” “I was playing for a chance to get clear,” Addams answered. ‘“‘We can stand off and on for a week, or even two, come back when the coast is clear and dig up the money. They’ll not dream of looking for it under tide-water. Wecan salve it any time inside of a month without trouble. I’ve put a strong suggestion in his mind that some one has been here beforehand. It’s a doubt I’ve had in my own right along. They’ll get tired of digging and may start quarreling among the crowd before long.” “How about not letting us get away?” “We can stay here as long as they can. And we can keep them from boarding us. They’re going to try and blockade us now, I fancy.” A boat was towing the Lei Lehua slowly nearer the reef entrance, evidently with a view to blocking the exit of the Wavecrest. Another boat was pulling for the shore. The schooner dropped anchor in her new posi- tion and a second boat left for the beach. Two men were left aboard, two more, rifle in hand, patrolled the edge of the lagoon. The rest, clambering up the rocks of the promon- tory, presently disappeared. Henley’s sister apparently remained aboard. “They intend to keep us where we are,” said Addams. ‘“‘I’ll appoint watches and we can try and get some sleep. If that crowd gets drinking they may nerve them- selves up to try and start.something.” Gil 1] THE day passed quietly. The men Mem on the beach kept their patrol and the glint of a rifle barrel showed from the Lei Lehua as one of the men occasion- ally came to the side to survey the W avecrest. Toward sunset the crowd came trooping back from the other side of the promontory, evidently tired and discouraged, talking and arguing in groups of two or three as they climbed down to the beach. There they surrounded Henley and Tuan Yuck and an animated and apparently angry discussion took place. A boat rowed off to the ship and came back with pro- visions, while a big fire was lighted. The crowd settled around the blaze while the food was being cooked, drinking from bot- tles brought from the schooner It was too far to distinguish more than a murmur that rose and fell, but the gesticulations showed plainly that the Wavecrest was the cause of discussion. On board the latter they prepared for a possible invasion. The Chinamen took the situation calmly, taking the guns served out to them with smiles that bespoke only pleasant anticipation and assurance of handling any trouble that might break. All stayed on deck after dark, watching the crowd about the fire. The discussion died down for a while after the men had eaten, and there were attempts at singing in broken choruses. Then Henley got upon his feet and spoke to the ring, and in a mo- ment they were upon their feet, surging in upon him with angry gestures. “Tt is like a scene played in pantomime,” Peggy declared; “played for us as audi- ence.’ ~“But not necessarily for our benefit,” said her brother. ‘“Halloo! They’re going _ off to the schooner.”’ “Look out for a visit,’’ said Addams. “Peggy, you’d better get below.” “T can shoot as well as any of you,” she demurred. “Captain’s orders!” said Addams, and she obeyed reluctantly. But there was no occasion for alarm. Only one boat came near them to jeer across the water and then go to the schooner. The night passed without warning. Just at CORnNIECLOOOkKS (C@)