THE ADVENTURES OF LARRY BLAKE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2860, 6 January 1909, Page 71

THE ADVENTURES OF LARRY BLAKE.

Bt Lottis Becee, Author of "Notes From My South Sea Log," "Sketches in Normanby," "ByReef and Palm." CHAPTER XVII. HE schooner was about four miles away, and quite dlres in to the west side of Cocas Island. An immense volume of smoke wa-s risiaig from her, and there being not a breath of air it enveloped lika a pall. Busy as our ship's company were, Captain Guest at once gave orders for two boats to be lowered — those of the second and fourth | mates — and told those officers to- make ; all speed to the burning vessel, cautioning | them not 'to approach too close if the crew had taken to the boats. I tumbled into the boat of block Mr Diaz, and the crew, bending to the oa-rs with a will, cent the light craft at a sweeping pace over the smooth water. In a very short time bot-h boats were> quite close to the vessel, which was now sheeted in flame from bow to stern. We pulled completely round her as closely as we j dared approach, and sheered off again, satisfied that no living person waa on board. Just then the second mate hailed us, a-nd pointed to the shore, where we saw three boats and quite a number of people — 50 at least. Swinging his boat's head round, the cecond mate at once headed for the inland, followed by Mr Diaz. Well it waa for us that we did not- delay, for we were scarcely over a cable length away from the burning vessel when she Mew up, and almost immediately all that was left of her sank. " Lucky for us that we were not closer," remarked Mr Diaz. "Why, she must have had some tori 3of powder or explosive* on board." As we drew near the shore we noticed that, a little distance back, there were several houses, roofed with corrugated iron, and that the scrub and undergrowth had been cleared. Presently the second mates boat sheered over to ours, and the officer calkd out to Diaz. " I guess I know wlio these people are, Mr Diaz. Tliey are another blamed lot of treasure -seekers. I heard there was another expedition bein-g raietd, and that a bi^ lump of a schooner had been bought at Panama last year. Well, we must at , least go and see what we can do for thorn." Pulling in together, the boats made for the landing place, c.nd we were at once s-uri-ounded by a crowd of the mo?t ragged, piratical-looking people I ever saw, clad I in some sort of military uniform. Most of them were half-blood Indians, but one of them, who appeared to be the leader,

was evidently an Englishman. He shook hands with the second mate, who inquired if he were the ■captain of the schooner. " No, the captain is lying ill. lam the shore leader of these people. My name is Waxrington." "Are you in want of assistance?" " Not as far as food or clothing go, but,"' he hesitated a moment, "is there a doctor on your ship? We have a great many sick people." "We don't carry a doctor. Our ship is a whaler. But we have a good medicine chest. What is the matter — fever?" Again the man hesitated. " Yes, some have fever, but- there are many badly wounded, amongst them the captain of the Gchooner. We have had trouble. Will you come to the house, and I will tell you what has occurred." As I accompanied him and Mr Prosper (the second mate) to one of the houses, I noticed that quite a dozen of his ragged followers had their arms or heads bandaged with bloodstained rags or coloured handkerchiefs. One man had a fearful slash on the side of bis face, extesding from temple to jawbone, and at that moment he was being attended by one of bis comrades. Kveryone of them was anned — some with a brace of pistols, others with Henry repeating carbines, and none was without either a dagger or cutlas« in his belt. " How did your ship take fire ?" atked Prosper (the second mate) as we walked along. ■*'A quarter-cask of brandy was being broached in the lazarettes instead of being brought into the cabin, where there was good light. The men who were broaching it took a naked light, and I imagine one of them held- it too ;lose to the cask when the bung was started.. But as they were both killed by the explosion, or burnt to death, I cannot say for certain." We entered the house. It was a long iron-i'oofed. buildiing, with pinewood sides | and floor of rough planking. It was j nearly filled with cases, casks and bundles, tools, etc., but one end had a bunk, table, and benches. Outside was a sentry, who was armed' witt a Henry carbine and a brace of revolvers. "Will you have some English beer?" asked our host. "You bet we will," replied. Mr Prosper, with alacrity. "We have water in the boats, but had no time to take a drink." Warx'ingtoin took three bottles of Tennaait's ale from a, case, and filled three large rmigß wii'h it. It was deliciously cool and very refreshing. " Firtt of all, sir," said our hoet to Prosper, "will you come and look at the captain? He is in great, agony, and' I have nothing to alleviate* it. Perhaps you can suggest something." "What is ths matter with him? rt "He was shot m the stomach last night, and cannot possibly live. He knowa it too, poor chap." Warritigton led us to a smaller house, w.hich wes divided' in the centre by a hanging screen of navy blue. This he drew aside 1 , and we saw lying on a bed of canework a fine -looking, clean-shaven young man. about thirty rears of age. His face wss dc-nlhly pale, and with every breath lva drew he rooanc-d with pain. A Chile-no lad. eat by his bedside, ready to give the wounded man assistance whenever he desired to be moved. His eyes werp closed, but he opened them slowly when Warrington. took his hand. "W?-rn'ngt^n." he said feebly, "do you think lam to last much longer? If so, for God's sake give me your pistol." "Do not ask me that again, Wayne, my dear fellow. God knows how your suffering affects me." He seemed to be quite oblivious of the presence of Mr Prosper and myself, and presently he closed his eyes. "Can you get me some laudanum from that whale-ship " he murmured. Warrington looked inquiringly at Prosper, who nodded assent. "Yes, old chap. One of the ship's officers is here now, and I will go off on board with him and get some," and pressing the unfortunate man's hand, he, with Prosper and me, came away. After remaining half an hour longer, during which time Warrington gave us briefly the story of the grim tragedy that had occurred, we bade him farewell. One of hia own boats "was to follow ours as quickly as possible, and get the laudanum and some bandages, lint, and such other articles aa Captain Guest could spare from the ship's medicine chest. Our two boats were soon pulling swiftly for the ship, followed by one of the schooner's, which, being heavy and clumsy, was quickly left a long way astern. As soon as we reached the ship Prosper told his story, and- Guest at once went to the medicine chest and got the desired articles, including some surgical needles and thread, in readiness for the coming boat. Immediately she came alongside, the packet was handed to the man in charge, and she at once returned to the shore. Shortly after 3 o'clock a breeze sprang up, and whilst the decks were being cleared one of the lookouts gave the cheerful cry : "810-ow! B-1-o-o-w! and again she blows !" Captain Guest himself sprang aloft, and was soon on the fore-topgallant yard, glasses in hand. An anxious minute or two passed — then hs hailed the mate. "Brace up sharp. Mr Walker, and steer for the north point of the island." In another minute he was down on deck again, giving his ordeis with astonishing rapidity. "There's a 'pod' of about 10 pperms, Mr Walker, with a . thundeiing big bull amongst them. The breeze is freshening fast, and we'll he up to them in an hour. Then he hailed the lookout again, and told them to let him know the instant the whaler made any change in their course. It was hi.? intention, as the breeze was now steady and the ship travelling through the water at six or seven knote, to get as close as possible to the

"pod" with the ship, and sail cfown upoi them in the boats. There was a state of intense but subduec excitement as the boats were made reaJj for lowering, and a> grin of approval ap peared on the sun-tanned faces of the crew when Guest said : "Now, men, I'm giving 40dol to lh* boat that gets the first iron into that bij bull. And I "gu^ss I'm going to trj mighty haTd to earn it for my own boat.'" Then, turning to the cooper — who would be in charge of the ship when all thf boats, with himself and the four mates, had left- her, — he said : "Mr Cassells, do you see that long point of land there to the north, nearly rigW ahead? Well, keep that just as it is now until you open out a. bay — but I forgot, you know Cocos?" "Yes, sir; I know the bay well. "We anchored there when I was in the Cambridge, of New London." ' "Well, if you see the boats get fast to jnore than one fish, especially if one of them is the big bull, you can go about and stand in and anchor. It's good holding ground most anywhere in the bay, and if we get more than one fish we'll cut-in and try ot there in smooth watr." The whales were now all in sight. They were -travelling very slowly, and the ship was rapidly overtaking them. Then at a sign front Guest the helm was put dow^ and the ship hove-to whilst the boats- gpt away, and I went aloft to- watch.