CHAPTER XVIII.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 2, 3 January 1896, Page 4

CHAPTER XVIII.

BOARDERS, AHOY !

The suspense is berrible, and ib seems hours bo bhe men in bhe boab. while in reaiiby only a minute or so passes. Manuel no longer uses his oars—bhere is no necossiby for ib, as bho bide takes them along in such a manner that they will soon come againsb the side of bhe yacht. In the bow crouches bhe Nabob, whose business it ia to fend off, so there will bono collision. Other hands aro also ready to do their part of the business. Still there ia no outcry, no sudnen hail from the deck of the boat. They can hear a peculiar clinking sound, and now one fellow burets into a song which others take It _ashe3 upon Max Lee thab bhey have come none too soon—that the anchor ia being raised. Ha ! Nat Mayne has touched the side of the boat with his hands, and keeps the boab from colliding. The current swings them broadside—Manuel has ere this taken in his oars, so thab all bhey have to do is to roach oub and push along in bhe direction of the stern. __._._. They could climb on board now, bub it snits the major to go farther aft. Be has been on tho steam yachb several times, and remembers the lay of things. The soldier is the firab one bo climb aboard, and this he does with the agility of a man'of twenty-five. His active cub-door life haa done much toward keeping him in condition. As Boon as he reaches the deck ol boo yachb, he benda down and bakes the painter of the boat which the Nabob passes up to A's all thi3 has been arranged beforehand, there ia nob tho least friction—things work like a charm. Mayne crawls aboard, and following in hia wako comoa Fhineaa. The boatman remains in his crafb, under sbricb orders to keep in readiness to take them aboard ab any minute. > ..___.. Major Max haa before him the plan which he purposes to carry out. They move along the deck, making for the cabin. Plainly can be heard the clang of the chain as tho anchor comes in. If they had missed the boat for even ten minutes it would have been too late. A cain they are favoured in nob meebing wibtTa aingle soul on the way to the cabin. The major's hand ia on the knob—he casta one quick glance over hia shoulder, to see that hia two companions are at hie heela, bhen flingß bhe door open and enbers. Clo_ behind him cornea bhe Nabob ot Singapore, while Phineas—bold Phineas, wibh nob a weapon save his clarion voice—brings up bhe rear. He knows his duby well, and tho firat thing he ia bo do is bo close tho door behind him ; yes, and turn the key in tho lock ab the same time, which may prevent a sudden and undesirable influx of visitors. When Major Max enters he finds the cabin dense with tobacco smoke. Through this haze ho can make oub aeveral figurea seated in eaay chaira at the table, upon which rests a decanter of cub glass, a few bobbles, and several unique bumblers, while a box of prime cigars lies open close by. Now bhat tfieowner of tho British yacht Talisman haß again come into possession, ho haa changed the order of bhings to suit his own taste. The soldier takes a step or two forward —he is' uaing his eyes to the beat advanbage, and brying to make oub who these parties may be. Thoy seom bent on making themsedves comfortable ab least. A voice reaches hia ear—he recognises it immediately as belonging to the Bribish genbleman who played such a tremendous game wibh Do Lessepa' side parbner to back him up, and lost. Yea, ib ia Lord Aleck beyond question, and his lasb senbence ia very suggesbive : «A million at tho lowesb, my dear fellow —nob a ahilling less upon my word.' They look through the haze! 'Is bhab you. Captain Wakeman ?' demands the lordly owner of the yacht. * Whab does bhis intrusion mean, sir ? I am not accustomed to having an audience forced upon me '

' It means that you are a prisoner, sir,' says the major, quietly. The two men utter exclamations of sudden alarm, and spring to their feet ; one of them upsets his chair in his mad haste. , ' Who are you, and what the deuce do you want?' exclaims the owner of the yacht. ' Major Max Lee,''falls from Lord Aleck's

* Through the dense tobacco smoke he has recognised the man whom he has most reason to dread in all Singapore. The eyes of fear are keen. ' Yes, that is my name—my mission here you can guess just as readily,' says the soldier, grimly. He does not trust this style of men further than he can see them, and deems it wise to keep a hand on his weapon while talking. 'Nonsense! how should we gueaa it? We are just about to leave Singapore for Hong Kong.' Time ia what the proprietor of the yacht desires—time to collect hia thoughts and form a plan of action. Time ia also a valuable consideration with the invaders, who know they have undertaken a tremendous job, yet are bound to carry it through. ' Then I will tell you. We are here after a lady.' 'A lady?' echoes the other. ' Yes ; we have brought the same boatman who rowed you out from the dock. Do you deny that you brought a lady aboard a short timo since ?' The two men look at each other.

• Why, certainly not,' says Lord Aleck grinning; 'bub I don't believe you have any claim on tbab lady, my dear Major Lee. Sho is—ahem—bhe wife of my friend Edgemont, here.' • Yes—that's so—my wife, you see,' declares the stoub individual, quickly, and he , s ha9 the appearance of a drowning man catching at a straw. There comes a knock at tho door. Major Max produces his revolver, and steps up close to the side of Edgemont. •Call out,' he says in a low tone. ' Hello ! who is it ?' demands the other. •Captain Wakeman. Anchor's catted, sir. Shall we {steam oub of tho harbour at once ?' Th 9 Englishman looks at Max. , « Whab would you have me cay V he asks, sneeringly. 'The moon will rise in half an hour. ' Yes.' ' Tell him to wait until then.' The Englishman frowns, and mutters something under his breath. •Tell him 1 Eo you hear?' repeats the soldier. Eye looks into eye; whab Edgemonb Beea in the orb of bhe American does not matter, bub he comes to a wise conclusion. 'Captain Wakeman, keop tho yachb where Bhe is now until moonrise,' he calls oub, sullenly. •Ay, ay, sir.' # Then the capbam ia gone. Edgemonb throws himself inbo hie chair again, showing anger. Lord Alecfe looks Into a pair of flashing eyes thab belong to the Kabob of Singapore.

•I whipped you once. Lord Aleck, and, by Heaven ! I'm only waibing for a chance to give you another doso of the same medicine,' is whab bhab excibed individual cay a bo him. Hence, Pemberton makea no move to sbarb a fracas—his eye has hardly recovered from bhe previous acquaintance with Nat's fists.

'Now, we'll talk business again. We have come to rescue the lady you brought aboard,' resumes the veteran. ' Rescue my wife ! Bidiculouß, man,' says the other, with a hoarse laugh. •Twice you have called the lady by thab name. Would you object to showing her to ua ?'

' Nob at all. Aleck, old boy, would you mind stepping over and knocking ab her door.'

Our friends are somewhat takon aback by bhia proposal, bub sbaud their ground. Major Max prepares for further business. He is positive they aro on the righb brack, and he does nob mean bo give up until tho whole yachb has been searched. Meanwhile Pemberton Bteps over to one of the several doors and knocks.

• Whab ia it?' aaka a feminine voice.

'Edgemont wiahes you to come in here.' ' Oh," I'm tired—can't he wait until dinner?'

'It's very important.' ' Humbug ! More papers to sign.' The etate-room door opens, and a vision of English beauty emerges. Nabob Nat immediately catches his breath, and begins to smooth hia moustache. Ib is second naburo with this Adonis to be on parade— ho has so long been accustomed to the society of ladies, and endeavouring to fascinate the in by his personal appearance, thab if ho were on bhe rack, and a female enbered the room, with tho pains of approaching dissolution shooting through his frame, thia man would try to win the admiration of the dear creatura. Sure enough, no sooner doos tho indolont lady who enters sob eyes upon the Nabob than she is like a poor bird fluttering around bhe head of a rattlesnake. She docs nob remove her gaze from Nab even while answering the questions put by Edgemont. • Aro you satisfied, gentlemen ?' demanda the Englishman, conbempbuoualy. ' Thab thia is your wife—yes. But bhat she is the lady you brought on board—no,' reburns tho major, calmly. ' Sho will tell you so horseif. Is it not the truth, my dear, bhab I brought you aboard in a boat?' ' Oh, yes.' •How long ago waa this.' asks bho major. She does not notice him.

The Nabob repeats the question. Edgemont would put words into her mouth, buo bho soldier makes a threatening motion and utters one word :

1 Silenco !'

' Some hours ago, at least,' sho replies. It is the major's turn to amile now, and the Englishman look distressed—ugly. 'Just a8 I suspected. You have the person aboard for whom we search. Produce hor.'

Tho Boldier is vory stern now, for ho realises that) these men are ready to attempt anything within their power rather than confess their defeat.

' Isn't the word of an English gentleman quite sufficient, air?' and Edgemont draws himself up stiffly; but tbe bold bluff falls flab.

Major Max laughs and snap 3 his fingers, ' I know many such gentlemen whoso word is their bond—l would risk my life upon it; but you, sir—bah ! your word would never reaasure a tailor. Tho lady whom we seek is on board thia boat; we have sworn to find her, even if we scuttle yonr yacht and go down wibh her. Phineas, try each door in turn whilo we watch these honourable gentlemen.'

( To _ Continued.)