Evening Star Newspaper, March 12, 1898, Page 18

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY. , MARCH 12, 1898—24 PAGES. | WRITTEN FOR THE EVENING STAR BY CUTLIFFE HYNE. e THE PEARL Ge), £2 (Copyright, 1808, by ‘ * said Kettle, “it ‘a s to say I knew a thing ri fishing. I've heard of it, ef course » hasn't? And, for the mat- ter of I've had on a diving suit my Felf and gone to see if the divers that had been sent down to look at some started ad brought up a true report. But i've never done more than pass through those North Australian seas. They tell me pearl fishing’s done from small luggers or fourteen tons, sailing out of jand."" sid the big man. “And——" you'd better get another cap- | amer sailor by bringing up, amer I know my business and ma ste © it with any other man alive. But you'd not find me much good on a little wind jammer like a Thursday 1 Ima ute er. despe -up man, Mr. C want of a b think it undue nf szy that I like you personally on't think you'd better eni our skipper for this trip. a so mu rr You better man ior your | rth laughed. he “My dear Kettle.” Tr came act on of looking after | ou ware, I} = n't think I ot | what h POACHERS, the S. S. McClure Co.) one’s hands. This sailor, who was sent down in the diving suit, had been having a dog’s time of it on the sealing schooner, and when he got on the floor of the lagoon and saw the piace round him literally pack- | ed with shell that had never been touched by human fingers, he made up his mind that the time had come to repay old scores. So when he came up out of the water again he said sulkily enough that there was nothing below but seaweed and mud, and the boat rowed back out of the lagoon, and the schooner let draw her forestaysail sheet and ran away on her course. The skipper reported the new reef, and in due course it got on the charts; and the sailor kept on holding his tongue till he could find a market for his informa- tion. He didn’t find one at once; he had to wait two years, in fact; and then he found me. I guess that skipper would be easier on his hands in future if he only knew what he'd lost, eh, Kettle?” The sailor frowned. “A shipmaster, sir, has to get the full amount of work out of his hands, or he’s neglecting his duty. I can picture that schooner, Mr. Carnforth, and I can picture her old man hearing ‘d, and still carrying on the The things we have to ship dri them as such; and if you can show me a master who's popular in the forecastle I n show you a man who's letting his shirk work, and not earning his own- ‘aid Carnforth, “I've seen you uliar qualifications pretty an eminently practic: : 1 offer you a handso: n, and yet afraid of robbing me eyes © you a © omy said own seen me words. the ides little sailor, } of what's sea using vio- | ut you will kindly | service of an em- | | lence and u remember that 1 was ir Plover then. and was earning his pay by ing his crew. It's another thing he »w tha membe and I would have you | I am a strict chapel yressure conscie } reful | myseif your pa. it 1| without in edge- rob me | fly— The and so is the url fishin r 4 Sa very diff ion sloomils bi 1 + Japs have an- ne isiands and have « re At the outside we should poaching, t . and o | got ph which muses Me to chase the p catch them ally I for them hot and he ys of the game pre 1 want to taste the exci —of the poacher.” id Carnfor ther of them, skipper. I thing now and agu I ike the excitement ut you! You go and re- billet that would fit you merely for the sake of rter of hour ago you practical t the steamer,” said a fact ng you now, captain, an® © charge of her w ur own fault. Why, tween he nd 2 at would suit you better; . I'm keen to go there an in the and I ack 1 favor. ug, crderly, -nded m me a suc the wild air frock i 1 | to be there again. | among men and wo- | rely dollar millers and ick of what th : of the whole bl ick of Mrs. Kettle id house in Sou and loud. Ss very gratefy magnificent to earn thoroug! h was held out to} sort of thing: ¥ you'd like to hear a bit i pund, { } | | you latitude and I'l show you th the place marked on th Japan way, and the | aim ail the . and It's a n put in listurbed, we pounds’ a de we could when we w ritles, gunboais two ang a hun- } | 2 OF “Wait a tL lanes and uboat patrol place has Was found r ofa + missed the plum 0 have been a brute aid this reef was he schooner had Commander islands. and got into lL 4 up the surf of th daybreak, ran down ili the breeze was charted, and the the make,’ wondered dividends out of it. was in the his thoughts ran upon pearls and shell. He'd sit on board, and he rowed into ning at . and lay the | will myself, and s | whil “and not | & j me | and to | now, and handle a crew, and I know your theories nd little . and I know also that you're too obstinate an animal to change your opinions in a hurry I've a pretty strong I can sympathize with However, we'll let that matter of ethics slide for the present, and go into the question of ways and means.” And on the dry detail of this they talked till far into the night. you. i Here, however, the historian may for a withhold his pen, since those in the interest can fill in the gap for while to all others these small tions of ways and means would be in- ous. The yacht's voyage out to ers may also be omitted. The i its commence. e usual formal para- ir. Martin Carnforth, M. P. for sion of Yorkshire, has start- ne steam yacht, the Vestris, for d tour in Chin to study questions on the and will be absent some considerab.e probably y, being confined to arid ts of distances run and the ordi meteorological happenings of the ocear rd the latter entries even thes skillfully fictitious. Indeed. when the were sel r ne of action her yellow funnel changed to black with a crimson band. a couple of squarish yards were eressed on her forem: er dainty gaff ished and w sel ddition of a coat of crude hove the trimiy-polished teak, died over by a clumsy iron bridge nded by ill-fitting canvas dodgers and s. There was no making the expert of course, that she was a rere trader that had always been a trader. But to the nautical eye she unsuspicious; she looked one of those ex-yachts that have been sold out of the petticoat-cruising service of Cowes, and been adapted to the more homely nee of the mercantile -| marine, and in the Mediterranean, the Aus- tralian seas and China waters there are many of this breed of craft making a hum- ble living for their owners. A couple of weeks’ neglect will make any brass work | look unyachtiike, and a little withholding of the paint brush soon makes all small traders wonderfully akin. Rechristening, of course. is but a clumsy device. and one which is (the gentle novel- ist notwithstanding) most seldom used. A ship at her birth is given a name and en- dowed with a passport in the shape of “papers.” Without her papers she cannot enter a civilized port; she could not “clear” at any custom house. and to attempt do- ing so would be a blatant confession of “something wrong.” So, when the paint brushes went around, and the name Vestris on counter. boats and life buoys was ex- changed for Governor L. C. Walthrop (which seemed to carry a slight American flavor) a half sigh went up from some of the ship's company, and a queer little thrill went through the rest, according to their temperaments. They were making them- selves sea pariahs from that moment on- ward, until they should deem fit to discard the ali Capt. Kettle himself finished lettering the last of the life huoys and put down his brush and shook his head. Carnforth was watching him from a deck chair. ‘You don’t like 1t?” he said. I never did such a thing before," gaid nd TI never heard of it being to any good. We're nobodics 's everybody's business to m ile with a nobody. If you're a somebody, jenly the proper people can interfere,” Ip it,” said Carnforth. “The well known at home, and I'm . too, and we've just got to s-2 ‘'s through, one way or ile under purser’s names. She’s ihe Cc. Walthrop, and I'm Mr. » and you can be what you like. still use my own name, sir. I've a good many years now, through most kinds of weather, and it's had so many stones thrown at it that a few more won't hurt. If we get through with this little game, all right; if we get interrupted, T guess the only thing left will be to at. tend our own funerals. I'm not going to teste he inside of a Japanese gaol at any price “IT never saw such a fellow as you for looking at the gloomy side of things,” said Carnforth, irritab! of “It's the gloomy side that’s mostly come my way, sir.” carried “I wish to goodness I'd never been idiot enough to come out here on this hare- brained scheme.” ‘Why ‘d Kettle in surprise, “you've got the remedy to your hand. You give your orders, Mr. Carnforth, and I'll "bout ship this minute and take you home.” “And don't you want to go through with It, skipper?” don’t see my tastes need be mention- ed," said the sailor, stiffly. “You are my owner, sir. «I'm here to do as I'm bid.” ‘Capt. Owen Kettle,” said the other, with a laugh that had got some sour earn- est at the back of it. “You're a cantank- crous little hegear. T sailed with you be- fer nd found the most delightful of shir mates. T sail with you now, and you ki me ays at heat-hook’s length away Re hanged if I see what I've iffe: u. id Kettle, “on the Sultan of Bor- ‘0 you were my guest; on this vacht you re my owner; there's all the difference in he world.” uy sh to point out, IT suppose. that r looks upon an owner as his enemy. as he does the board of Still T don’t think I personally have rved that.” am as 1 have be - I can't help it. man with some wonderfully kre However, as to go- oing to stultify myseli by doing that now. We'll see the thing through now, whatever happens.” Martin Carnforth nodded curtiy and got up and waiked the deck. He was ‘on- scious of fine sense of disappointment and lusionment. He had started off on this dition filled with a warm glow of ro- mance. He had been grabbing along at distasteful business pursuits for the larger part of his life, and adventure, as looked at from the outside, had always lured him strongly. Once in Kettle’s company he had tasted of the realities of adventure among | Cuban revoluticnists; had got back safely and settled down to business again for a time; and then once more had grown resi- less. But he had the virus of adventure in his blood, and he was beginning to learn that it was a crmulative poison. So, one? more he had started off, but this time he was being chilled from the outside. Prop- erly treated, the prospects of the trip natural trade. de sir, and I made one of his crew put on the suit. and sent him dow Now observe the result, With sly relish, “of being id Carnforth too severe on would have been rosy enough. Handled by Capt. Owen Kettle, the whole affair was made to assume the aspect of a commer- cial speculation of more than doubtful san- ity. And as he walked he cursed Kettle from his inmost heart for brining him to earth and keeping him there among sordid considerations. The little mariner himself was seated in a deck chair under an awning, turning in the frayed sleeve of a white drill jacket. His sewing tackle stood in a pictured tin biscuit box on the deck beside him. He un- ripped the old stitches with a pocket knife, and resewed the sleeve with exquisite ac- curacy and neatness. His flerce eyes were intent on the work. To look at his nimble fingers, one would think that they had never held anything more deadly than the ordinary utensils of tafloring. Carnforth broke off his work and stood for a moment he said, “you're a queer mix- ture. You've lived one of the most excit- ing lives any man’s ever gone through, and yet you seem to turn your more peaceful moments to tailoring or poetry indifferent- ly, and enjoy them with gusto. “Mr. Carnforth,” said the little sailor, “I guess we're all discontented animals. We always like most what we get least of.” “Well, I suppose that’s intended to sum up my character as well as your own,” said Carnforth, and sat down and watched. the sewing. The mate, on the yacht's upper bridge, picked up the reef with his glasses that evening, a couple of hours after sundown. ‘The night was velvet black, with only a few stars showing. A sullen ground swell rolled the seas into oily hills and valleys, and the reefs ahead showed themselves in a blaze of phosphorescence where the swell broke into thunderous surf. It seemed as though the yacht was steaming toward the glow and din of some distant marine vol- cano. The watch below were all on deck, drawn there by curiosity, and along one bulwark the watch on duty were handing the deep sea lead. At intervals came the report, trolled in a minor key, of “‘No bot- tom. The engines were running half speed ahead, and presently they stopped, and the order was given for the yacht to lay to where she was till daybreak. A light breeze had sprung up, bringing with it a queer, slender taint into the sweet sea air. For a long time Carnforth had been snuffling diligently. I’m sure I smell some- thing,” he said at last. “It's there,” said Kettle. “Have you ever “TAKE CARE, MY mas, barefooted, roughly bearded, and wearing a crumpled pith helmet well down on the back of his hi His face was burned to a fine dark jogany color by the sun, and dangling over his chest at the end of a piece of fine i erie rimmed eyeglass, which giit diamond when it caught the sun. touched his helmet to Kettle. . “You've brought a fire with. you, captain,” said he. > “Rather warm,” said Kettle; “I have not looked at the glass this morning. it’s going to keep stead: The visitor glanced round, and sized up the yacht and its resources. ‘Oh, I should say it's likely to for the present. You've a nice little boat here, and ai likely-looking lot of men. You'll be having ten of a crew all told, captain, eh?” “Thirteen,” said Kettle. “Humph, it’s an unlucky number. Well, captain, if I were you I wouldn't stay here too long. The weather's a bit uncertain, you know, in these seas.” “We want some we go.” “I might have guessed that. Well, it's a nuisance from our point of view, because we thought we'd the lagoon to ourselves, and intended to skim it clean ourselves, if the Japs don’t interrupt. But, take a tip, captain, and don’t be too greedy. If you stay too long the glass may fall suddenly, ep bakes “Take care, my lad,” snapped Kettle; "ma man that accepts threats from no was a gold- tered like a He I hope Pearls and shell before ed up the accommodati§n ladder and was looking about him on d@k. He was a biggish man, in striped paja- man living.” “Oh, au right,” said the stranger, care- lessly. “But who have we here?” And he stuck his glass into his eye and whistled. Capt. Kettle made a formal introduction. “My owner, sir, Mr. Martin of New York. “Humph,” said the visitor; ‘you used to be Carnforth up at Cambridge, didn’t you? M. Carnforth, I remember, and M mighi possibly stand for Martin.” : Capt. Kettle smiled grimly, and Carn- forth swore. “Bit of a surprise to find you pearl poach- ing, Carnforth. I see your name in the Australian papers now and again, and got a notion you were something big at home. Had a bust-up?” said Carnforth. “I’m all right LAD,” SNAPPED KETTLE, been in a north country Norwegian port, sir?” y Jove, yes, skipper. same. Decaying fish.” “There's not another stink like it on this earth. You know what it means here?” “I suppose some other fellows are in the lagoon before us, and they're rotting out shell.” “That's it,” sald Kettle, “and we're going to have our work cut out to get a cargo. But we'll do it, Mr. Carnforth, never you fear. I suppose there'll be trouble, but that'll have to be got over. We've not Il this way to go back with empty It's just the Carnforth looked at the little man slyly. Here was a very different Capt. Ketile from the fellow who had been mending the white drill coat half a dozen hours before. He was rubbing his hands, his eye was bright, his whole frame had stiffened. He was whistling a jaunty tune and was star- ing keenly out at the phosphorescent blaze of the breakers, as though he could se: what was behind them and was planning to overcome all obstacles. An hour before Martin Carnforth had been cursing the tedium of his expedition. A Httle chill vent through him now. Before many more heurs were past he had a strong notion he would be scared at its liveliness. He had seen Capt. Kettle’s methods before when things went contrary to his plans and wishes. Slowly the night dragged through, and by degrees the blackness thinned. The eastern waters grew gray, and the sky above them changed to dull sulphur yet- low. Then a coal of crimson fire burnef out on the horizon and grew quickly to a great half disk cf scarlet; and then the rest of the sun was shot up, as an orange pip is slipped from the fingers; and it was brillant, staring, tropical day. For full an hour the yacht had been un- der weigh at half steam, with a lead go- ing, circling round the noisy reefs. The place was alive with the shout of break- ers and the scream of sea fowl. Inside, beyond the hedge of spouting waters, were three small turtle backs of sand and a lug- ger at anchor. The waier outside was clear as bottle gre gless, and of enormous depth. The only entrance to the lagoon was a narrow canal between the reefs, shown up vividly by the gap in the ring of creaming surf. It was not likely that any one from the lvgger would lend a hand for pilotage—or be trusted if they offered. So Keitle Turning in the Sleeve of a Jacket. steamed the yacht to some half mile off the entrance, called away the whaleboat, and went off in her himself, with a crew and a couple of leadsmen, to survey the channel. He did it with all deliberation, returned, took his perch on the fore cross trees, where he could see the coral floor through the clear water beneath, and con- red the yacht tn himself. Carnforth leantd over the bridge end and watched. The coral floor, with its wondrous growths, came up toward him out of the deep water. The yacht rolled into the pass en the backs of the great ocean swells, and the reef ends on either side bcomed like a salute of heavy guns. The white froth of the surges spewed up against her sides, and the spindrift pattered in showers upon her deck planks. The stink of the place srew stronger every minute. ‘Then she shot through into a mirror »2 still, smooth water, slowed to half speed, and, with hand lead going diligently,steam- ed up to an anchorage in sixteen fathoms, off one of ihe sandy islets. A white whale- boat put off from the lugger, rowed by three Kanakas, and by the time the yacht's cable was bitted a man from her had step- there. Come below and havea drink and a talk. By the way, it’s awfully rude of me; I haven't tumbled yet to who you are.” ‘Never mind my name,” said the visitor, coolly. “I don't suppose you'd remember me. I was a reading man up there, and you weren't. You did your best to torment my life out. I took a big degree and made a fizzle of after life. You got plowed and So you see ve little enough in common, and be- les, I was here first, and I resent your coming.” “Oh, rubbish, man; come below and have a cocktail. “Thanks, no. I prefer not to be under the tie of bread and salt with—er—trade rivals.” He dropped his eyeglass and the head of the accommodation ook here, Master Carnforth,” he T'll give you a useful tip: Clear Then he went down into his whale became a commercial success. w said, out.”” boat and the brown men pulled him back to thi lugger. ‘urse that be; Carnforth, hotly. he is “Maybe we'll find out,” said Kettle. tried to catch your eye whilst he was speaking. If I had my way he'd be on board now, kept snug till we were through with our business here. He'd have been a lot safer that way. “Oh, no,” said Carnforth, “we co: dn’t have done the high-handed like that on the little he said. Wonder who he can be, though? Some poor beggar whose corns I trod on up at Cambridge. Well, anyway, twenty years and that beard have com- pletely changed him out of memory. How- ever, if he chooses to come round and be civil, he can; and if he doesn’t, I won't worry. And now, captain, pearls! The sooner we get to work the more chance we have of getting a cargo under hatches and slipping away undisturbed.” ¢ “Right-o,” said Capt. Kettle. “They've got the other two sand banks, and by the stink, they’re doing a roaring business. We'll bag this empty one near us, and set about fishing this very hour, and plant our shell to rot there. It'll smell a bit dif- ferent to a rose garden, Mr. Carnforth, but it'll be a sight more valuable.” Then began a period of frantic toll and r’s impudence,” said “I wonder who the deuce “y labor. Every man on board was “on shares,” for it had pleased Carnforth’s whim to use this old buccaneer’s incentive. Half of the profits went to the ship and the rest of the crew. Each man had so many shares, according to his rating. Carnforth himself, in addition to his earn- ings as owner, earned also as an ordinary seaman, and sweated and strained like any of the hands. From an hour before daybreak to an hour after sunset he was away in the boats, under the dews of morn and ve, or the blazing torrent of midday sunshine. Every night he tumbled into his bed place dog-tired, and exulting in his tiredness. Every morning he woke eager again for the fierce toil, He was un- shaven, sun-burned, blood-smeared from the scratches of the shell; filthy with rank sea mud. But withal, he. was entirely happy. Kettle toiled with equal vigor, working violently himself and violently exhorting the others. Neither his arms nor his tongue ever tired. But he wag,always neat, sel- dom unclean. Dirt seemed to have an an- tipathy for the man, and» against his disheveled owner, he looked, like a park dandy beside a rag-picker. At the other side of the lagoon the white man from Cambridge and a) white friend and their crew of ten Kanakas worked with similar industry. The ring of the lagoon was some half mile in diameter, with lanes of deep water running.,through its floor, where divers could not,,work. There was no clashing of the two parties. One ot these water lanes seemed to set out a natural boundary, and neithér transgressed it. On each submarine territory there was enough shell to work on for the present, and each party toiled with the same frantic energy, and spread out the shell on the sun-baked sand banks, and poisoned heaven with the scent of decay. But there was no further intercourse between the two bodies of men, nor indeed any attempt at it. How the others were doing, the yacht’s party neither knew nor cared. Theirs was a race against time for wealth, and not cne striver amcngst them all had leisure to be curfous about his neighbors. In a nicer lif#, the smells of the place would have offended them monstrously; here they were a matter for congratula- tion; the more the putrifaction, the more the profit. They ripped the shells from the sea and spread them upon the beaches, The roasting sun beat upon the spread-out. shellfish and melted away their soft tis- sues in horrible decay. The value was alla gamble. There might be merely so much mother-o’-pearl for inlay work; or a seed pearl, such as the Chinese grind up for medicine; or larger pearls of any size and color and shape, from the humble opal- crown, to the black pearl worth its score of pounds, or the great pear-shaped pink pear) worth a prince’s ransom. It was all a gamble, but none the less fascinating for that, Carnforth was mad over the work; Kettle, witf all his nonchalance gone, was nearly as bad. But the process of realizing their wealth was nono too fast, and, in fact, seemed to them tedious beyond words. Every filled shell, with its latent possibilities of treas- ure lying out there upon the sand, was so much capital left in a perilously insecure investment. They were so bitterly afraid of interruptions, the dark shadow of Japan was always before their eyes. Still at last came the first moment of realization. They had toiled a month, and they had collected that day the fruits of their first day’s labor. The mother-o'-pearl shell was packed in the hold; the little crop of pearls stcod in a basin on the cabin ta- ble, and they gloated over them as they supped. Carnforth stirred them lovingly with the butt of his fork. “Pretty little peas, aren't they, skipper? “For those they amuse, though I like to see a bit more color in a woman's orna- ments mysel “Matter of taste and matter of fashion. Pearls are all the rage just now. Dii monds are slightly commonplace. But wo- men will spend their money on something, and so the price of pearls is up.” “So, much the better for us, sir. It’s a pity, though, that some of them seem a bit cff color, like that big gray chap, for in- stance.” “Gray, man! Why that’s a black pearl, and probably worth any ten of the rest put together. “Well,” said Kettle, “I don’t set up for being a pearl merchant. Poaching them's trouble enough for me.” “Pass the biscuit, will you?” said Carn- forth, yawning. “I suppose that little lot is worth anything over £1,000" and with that he dropped back dead asleep in his chair with a forkful of food in midair. Captain Kettle finished his meal, but he, too, man of wire though he was, suddenly tumbled forward and went to sleep witi his head on the table. It was no new thing for them to do. They had dropped off like this into unconsciousness more than once during that month of savage toil. The next day they had a smaller crop ready to gleam, a bare £500 worth, in fact. But they did not lament. There would be an enormous quantity ready for the mor- row. That further realization of their wealth, however, never came. During the night another lugger sailed into the lagoon and upset all their plans. She was the consor' of the lugger commanded by the Cam- bridge man, and she had taken away to a safe place their first crop of pearls and shell. Further, she was manned by fourteen whit all armed, and ali quite ready to defend what they considered their poachers’ monopoly. As a consequence they pulled 2cross to the yacht some two hours before daybreak, and Carnforth and Captain Ket- tle found themselves waked by three men who carried Marlin repeating rifles, and were quite ready to use them if pre: But the little sailor not e: cow “By Ja he cried, “this is piracy!” “It be a funeral,” said the man with the eyeglass, “if you don’t bring your hand cut from under that pillow, and bring it cut empty. Now, don’t risk it, skipper. I'm a good snapshot myself, and this is only a two-pound trigger. Captain Kettle did not away uselessly. He let and drew out his hand. “what are you grimy pirates going to do ext? By the look of you, you've come 1 our soap and hair brushes.” shouted the man with the “come in here and be told what's going to happen. I say, you fellows, bring Carnforth into the skipper’s room. Martin Carnforth came into Kettle’s room sullenty enough, with his hands in his pockets. w, Vi chuck his life go his revolver “Well,” he said, give you the whole case pack- ed small," said the spokesman, “A crowd ot us found this and discovered the pearls and the We were all badly in want of a pile, and we took the risks and Started lo get it. Most of us went away with the first cargo, and only two white men were left, with a few Kanakas. Then you came. You were told you're not Want- ed, but you gently hinted at force majeure, and were allowed to st Finally, the rest of our crowd comes back, and it’s force majeure on the other side, and now you've got to go. If you've the sense cf oysters, you'll go peacefully. There isn't enough Yor all of us; at any rate, we don’t intend to share.” “Mr. Carnforth,” said Kettle, “I told you we'd better have bottled that dirty man With the window pane eye who's been talk- ing.”” Look hére,” said Carnforth, hotly, “this is all nonsense. We've got as much right here as you.” “Right!” said the pearler; “right had better not enter into the question. We're all a blooming lot of poachers, if it comes to that. You know that, Mr. Martin, or Carnforth, or whatever you choose to call yourself for the time being. You came here under a purser’s name, your yacht is guyed out like a Mediterranean tunny fish- er, and I guess you look upon the thing much as as you did bagging knockers and brass doorplates in the old days at Cam- bridge; hait the fun’s in dodging the bob- b; ow, we're here on business. Y1 forth, solid business, all the way. We're ull of us poor men, and we've been all of us what we call ‘on the beacn’ for more years than we like to count, and we want to wriggle out of the curse of poverty once and for ail.” Yor re taking the wrong sort of tone,” “I'm not used to being hectored at like this.” I can believe it,” said the pearler, drily. You are a 5 ful man.” And let me tell you ins. You've got the upper hand for the present, I admit. You may even force us out of the lagoon. But what then? I guess the account would not be closed, and when a man chooses to make me his enemy, I always see that he gets payment in full, sooner or later.”” ‘All right,” said the man with the eye- glass, “pay away. Don’t mind us. “A hint at one of the Japanese ports as to what was going on would upset your little game.” “Not being, fools,” said the pearler ccolly, “of course, we've thought of that. We've—”" A hail came aown the saloon skylight cutside from the deck above: “Scoot, boys, scoot! The Philistines be upon us!” “What's that?” shouted the man with the eyeglass. “Well, it’s one of those blasted Jap gun- boats, if you want to know. Hurry, and we shall just get off. We'll leave these fools to pay the bill.” “Humph,” said the pearler. ‘Well, this settles the matter another way. I must go, and I suppose you'll try to hook it, too. Ta, ta, skipper; you're a good sort; I like you. By-by, Carnforth; can’t recommend the Jap jails. Hope you get caught, and that'll square up for your giving me a bad time at Cambridge. He followed the others out on deck, and a moment later their whaleboat was pull- ing hard for where the luggers rode lazily at their anchors. Carnforth and Kettie went after him, and the engineers and the yacht’s crew, who had been held down in the forecastle at rifle’s muzzle, came on deck also. It did not require any pressing to get the engine room staff to their work. The tellers were cold, but never were fires lit quicker. Paraffin, wood, small coal, grease, anything that would urn, was coaxed into the furnace doors. The cold gauges began to quiver, but as every man on board well knew, no human means could get a working steam pressure under half an_hour. On deck the crew had run the boats up to davits, had hove short by hand, and then stood like men on the drop, waiting their fate. The luggers had mast-headed their yards and were beating down the lagoon against a spanking breeze. One after the other they tumbled out through the passage and swung on the outer swell, and then, with their lugs goose-winged, fled like some scared sea fowl out over the blue sun-scorched waters. But though the yacht had canvas, Ket- tle knew that she could not beat to wind- ward, and so dare not break his anchor out of the ground till the engineers had giveu rer steam There was nothing for it but to wait with what patience they could. The Japanese gunboat had been sighted far enough off, and as she was coming up from the further side of the ring of reefs, she had to circle round them be- fore she could gain the only entrance. Moreover her utmost paper pace was eight knots, and she happened to be foul, and s0 her advance was slow. But still to the watching men it seemed that she raced up like a western ocean greyhound. The sun rose higher. The stink of -the rotting shell ca‘ae to them in poisonous whiffs. At another time it would have spoken of wealth in sweet abundance. But now they disregarded it. Prison and dis- grace were the only things before them, and these filled the mind. Then the chief engineer called up to the bridge through the voice tube that he escent sphere worth its meager half a | could give her enough steam for steerage way in another minute. “Foredeck, there!” cried Keitle. “Break out that anchor by hand.” And the men labored with the hand gear, so as to save the precious steam. Then a thought flashed across Captain Kettle’s brain, and he quickly gave it to Carnforth. ‘“It'’s only a beggarly chance, sir, but we'd bet- ter try it, F suppose?” “Yes,” said Carnforth. “If only we hadn't painted oy those names Wwe might have done it more safely. AS it is, we must risk it. Off with you bejow, sir, and get into some decent clothes. You'd give the whole show away if you stayed up on the bridge here in those filthy rags. You may be a yacht owner, sir, but by James, you iook far more like an out-of-work coal trimmer.” Carnforth ran down the ladder, Kettle gave crisp orders to the hand deck, who disappeared also, and presently ceme back dressed as spruce yachtsmen, in white trousers, white drill jumpers and straw hats, and by that time the Was under way and steaming slowly tc pass. The gunboat was coming in with crew at quarters, officers with swords and everything cleared for action. Japanese flag ran up to her peak. Promptiy an English Royal Yacht Club burgee broke out at the poacher's main truck, and a British blue ensign ran up to her poopstaff and dipped three times in salute. Carnforth came up on to the bridge. “Now, sir,” said Kettle, “you must do the talking. I guess it’s got to be lies, and Iying’s a thing I can't do.” “What shall I say?” “Say what's needed,” replied Kettle con ly, “and don’t say it wrong. Remem ber, sir, you're lying for your liberty. It neck or nothing. She's got two big gun trained on us, and a shot from either would send us to Jones before we could get in a smack in return.” “What ship's that?” perfect English. “Steam yacht Vestris, Lord Martin, owner,” said Carnforth, who knew the value of titles on the foreigners. “I am Lord Marti “What are you doing in here?” “Been watching those poachers.” “Heave to and explain.” ‘I shali do nothing of the sort, and if you dare to fire on me I will bring the British flect about your ears The Japanese spokesman gasped, and consulted with a superior, and the steamers drew abreast. “You nwst heave to.” I shall do nothing of the kind.” But you are in forbidden wate: ‘Then you should put up a notice to say so. I shall report this to my admiraity in London.” 0 it,” said Kettle, blooming cheek give me an M. P.”” “But you must stop, id the Japanese, “or I shall be compelled to fire. “You can do as you pleas forth. “I shall report you mander-in-chief at Na came across such insol my neme, Lord Martin. of it before lon Steam was rising in the gauges, and the yacht was getting into her stride of twelve knots. She sped out through the y and rolled in the trough of the glistening swells beyond. The crew of thi i stood to their guns, but the officers were tilential Britishers if any of and this. ap- and came the hail in sotto voce. “For said Carn- to your com- aki. I never nee. You heard You'll hear more parently was a yacht, though grot unkempt and d out with a and white fu and moreover, she was owned by a p f the realm. despairing hail came cu_noble?” . heven't I told you? Lord Martin. You'll know it better when you're next in port.” And that was the last word. The gun- boat turned and steamed out after them, but her turning circle was large and her speed slow. By midday she was hull down astern; by evening her mast trucks were er the water. Carnforth struted the deck complacentiy. ‘Rather a gcrgeous bluff, eh, skipper? said at last. ‘You're the only man on this could have done ‘t.” said Kettle ly. “It takes a parliamentary to lie like that.” Again the silence grew between and then Carnforth said musingly wonder who that Cambridge man wa: He seemed to hate you pretty tenderly “He did that. I suppose I must have played some practical joke on him. Well, I know I used to be up to all sorts of larks in those days, skipper, but that’s long enough ago now, and all that sort of fool- ishness is past.” Capt. Kettle laughed. “Have you done with pearl poaching, sir? Or are you go- ing to have another try at it. But don’t paint out the name of your ship next time. If that Jap had had the eyes of a mole he'd have seen the change, and he'd have taken his chances and fired. Gov. L. C. Walthrop is no name for an English mi- lord's yacht.” ART AND ARTISTS. over the ship that admiring- education he At the anaual meeting cf the Water Color Club, held last Saturday evening, the officers who are to serve during the ensuing year were elected, or rather re- elected, as the officers will all succeed themselves. The list is as follows: Mr. Parker Mann, president; Mrs. Andrews, vice president; Miss Juliet Thompson, sec- retary; Mr. Carl Weller, treasurer. The board of managers for the coming year is composed of the following members: Mr. J. H. Mosher, who was elected chairman; M Bertha Perrie, Mr. Edward Lind Merse, and the officers previously named. The club vcted to have the constitution printed, and this, with the annual report os the treasurer, was the only other bus- iness transacted. It was the first. time that the club members have met together in the evening, but it is probable that in the future all the meetings will be held at that time. *x Since his return from New York Mr. Uhl is again busily at work in his old quarters, and in his studio a number of interesting hew canvases are to be seen.’ He is now engaged upon a second portrait of Mr. Augustus Kountze, and the likeness which he is also making of Mrs. Kountze is strong in expression and full of character. A small but effective full-length portrait that he has just completed shows Dr. Will- iam H. Lyon seated in an easy, comforta- ble position, expressive of leisure keenly enjoyed. The Ikeness of Commodore Guest, which Mr. Uhl has painted for the Army and Navy Club, is rather the most striking portrait in his studio, and the di- rectness and simplicity of ‘handling is worthy of notice. Mr. Uhl has recently brought to light some of the sketches which he made abroad many years ago, and as there are among these many charm- ing tonal studies and bits of color, it is probable he will use scme of this material in his contribution to the spring exhibition. * The water color Class at the Ccrcoran Art School is ncw enjoying the improved light and increased space of.a new work room. The class is large and flourishiag, and the spacious room which has been fit- ted up on the third ficor for the use of the water color workers is not only in size nore commensurzte to the needs of the class, but is lighted in a most satisfactory manner by a large skylight. In the life ciasses those students who are planning to enter the annual medal contest are work- ing with especial industry in order to make as good a showing as possible. A sketch class, in which a nude model poses, has been started by a small band of students, and they work regularly on Thursdays. Rapid ten-minute sketches are made of the model in different positions, and the results have been highly successful. * ** Three new members were added to the rolls of the Society of Washington Artists at the meeting held on Tuesday evening, viz: Mr. Henry Floyd, Mr. Flix Mahony and Mrs. Thomas Hovenden. Mrs. Hoven- d2n’s work is best known through her gon- tributions to the New York Academy. A good deal of time was given during the T™meeting to a discussion of the rocia! side of the organization, and it was decided to set apart Thursday evening as_a regular tim2 when the active and associate mem- bers might meet together in a friendly, social way. With a view to furnishing music and planning other enjoyable fea- tures for thése occasions, an entertain- ment committes was appointed. The so- clety intends to fit up the ante-room with mere.of the conveniences of a reading ro}m, and to add, whenever possible, to the nucleus of an art library that has already been formed. For one of the coming Thurs- day? the entertainment commit'ee has ar- ranged with Mr. Moser to give a talk on his German experisnces, illustrating it with & Gisplay of some of pis skeiches. * . = Now that newspaper drawing no longer claims Mr. Moser’s undivided attention, he is able to turn himself seriously to paint- ing. It ts disappointing to learn that there is Nttle probability of his holding an exhi- bition of his foreign sketches this year. The attractive water colors that he has exhibited in past years have always been recetved with favor, and as an anusual treat was anticipated in his collection ot German sketches, the announceme: be a source of regret to a large numb» 5 While Mr. Moser works mainly in water celor, it is quite possible that he will be represented in the exhibit of the S« y of Washiagton Artists, either by something in ofl or by work in black and white. * Mr. David Walkiey's exhibition, which cleses today at Veerhoff’s gallery, zas, with Scod reason, attracted a great deal of at- tention. One of his most striking canvass, a painting that was added to the collection while the exhibition was in progress, gives us a glimpse of a typical Connecticy S'ass-grown and bordered with irre stone walls. It is not, perhaps, as agr in composition as some of his can lane, ular able nor has it as pleasing a quality of color, of but it is a rema what rkably fine ¢ may be called conservatiy> mple impr; sionism, and not only is coloring vu usually brilliant and true to nature, but the offect of sunlight and atmosphere 4 rendered in a wonderfully successful man- ner. * “x Next week flower levers will have an cp- portunity to enjoy Paul de Longpre's charming water colors, and the w=ll-known flower painter will keep his coliection of pictures on view at Veerhof’s for two weeks, * x * Mr. Henry Floyd has been at work on several portraits and study heads, the like- ness of Mr. Ralph = Johnson, which is new upon the artist’s casel, being one of the most interesting of these. It is a small head, treated in a rather sketchy manner, but Mr. Floyd has, with a few simple strokes of the brush, put a good deal of expression into the face. A rather stronger fect of light and shad2 is to be found in another head which he is working upon, a likeness of an old lady dressed in black. Mr. Floyd shows a great deal of skill and artistic feeling in his treatment of land- Scapes and architectural subjects, and it 13 likely that some of his work in this line may be contributed to the spring exhibi- Ucn, opening at the new gallery on April & * x * Mr. H. B. Lradford still confines himself assiduously to rk in black and white, contenting himself with an « al saliy into the domain of color. Monochrome secms to be his forte, but when he does say color work it is usually with a con- able degree of success, as one may see s Water color portrait of a very beauti- ung lady. He has not been able to quite shake himseif free from the tenden- cies of his black and white work, but he has mcdeled the head in a very satisfactory manner, In his chosen field he has been naking a number of drawings, and amoag e perhaps the most noticeably good work ts ta be found in the pencil drawing of 2 mother and child out in the open fields. * * The quintet of old English pictures which arrived at Fischer's recently includes a girl- ish figure by Opie, painted in a charming scale of tawny hues; a portra‘t of an aris- tocratic lady, by Sir William Beechey, full of refinement and delicacy; a military gen- tieman by Hoppner, bold and vigorous in modeling, thcugh a trifle crude in color, and two canvases by Sih Thomas Lawrence from the same brush. * x * Beginning on Monday, and continuing for one week, there will be an exhibition of water colors by Mr. Walter Paris, at the gallery of the S. W. A., 1020 Conecticut ave- nue. Visitors cannot fail to note the great variety in subject, and must also be im- pressed with the marked advance which is to be seen in the sketches made in England last summer. A number of Washington sketches are included in the collecuion, and of all these there is nothing more artistic and original than the view of th ment by moonlight. One of the t digni- fied of his landscapes is a view of one of the ttish lochs; and Holland and France have also furnished motiv: is exhibi- tion. It is, however, from English scenery end architecture that he has drawn the most of his material, and he has never done any more attractive work than the little street scenes in the city of Gloucester and in St. Ives and Penzance in Cornwall. * x * The spring exhibitions in New York,which are without doubt the most important an- nval art everts of the metropolis, are rap- idly approacbirg. The Society of American Artists opens on March 19, closing April 23, and the Nattonal Academy of Design will be open from March 28 to May 14. — a Don’t. From the Chicago News. Don’t play cards with a woman who has winning ways. Don't boast of your blood—you may need™ a purifier next spring. Don’t go round looking for trouble vun- less you really want to find it. Don’t talk too much; a stiff lower jaw is as useful as a stiff upper lip. Don’t tnink because riches have wings ther they’re bound to fly your way. Don’t believe that th> kick of a cow is the most acceptable form of milk punch. Don’t think because a man does you @ favor that he’s under everlasting obliga- tions to you. PURITAN DAMES. We heara deal these days of our puritan fore- fathers, but little concerning the wives and moth- ers who landed at Plymouth Rock and founded that colony which was destined to play such a large part in our history. In 1621 der Cushman wrote from Plymouth that he “would not advise any one to come here who were not con- tent to spend their time, labors and endeavors for the benefit of those who shall come after, quitely coh- tenting them- selves with such hardshi and difficul- ties as shall il upon them.” What self-renunciation and heroic purpose was this! They drowned witches to be sure, but that was no part of their puritanism. It is to the puritan women we owe so much for that spirit in our people which gives them the fortitude to endure hardship and stake life and fortune for their convictions. ‘The American women of to-day have the spirit of their puritan mothers, but their constitutions are not Se ped to en- duse half the hardships of these New Eng- land apcestors. Very often they are run- peculiar to their seg, and the constant drain Upon their vitality makes them chronic in- roe ree women erence to their ‘ily physician, because is the local exami mations eo generally tasisted upon by practitioners. Such women should write Dr. R. V. Pierce, chief consulting phy of the Invalids’ Hotel and te be