Irving Hancock

“ Wherever we go, if discovered, we are killed. It would take us weeks, even if not caught, to walk to our own country and safety."
"Is it as bad as that?" queried Li, with huge satisfaction. "You did not follow me by sea, but came overland? Then, truly, you may as well drop your rifles and ride back with us to Mattanegua. You can only be shot to death; therefore, why not be done with it?"
"Fleming, step back about six paces and cover these wretches!" commanded Carrick calmly. "If one of them stirs, kill him. Do not mind the noise of the shot. And, for preference, kill Li Shoon." ”

“ Why the devil should I lie to for boarders? "The Sea King's master will soon learn," was Carrick's grim word.
The answer flashed back:
Because we carry cannon, which you will see our crew uncovering. If you don't lie to immediately we shall be obliged to sink you, with your crew and passengers. If you have any regard for the lives intrusted to you, you will obey at once. You are dealing with Mexicans, who will spare or destroy you, as you merit. ”

“ Is there no limit to the ingenuity of that Chinese devil?"
"Apparently not," yawned Carrick, sitting up and reaching for his pipe. "And what I've learned to-day completes my reasons for knowing that Li Shoon knows all about the missing treasure ships."
"A man trained as a chemist," replied Fleming gravely, "would say that you have strong reasons for believing that you know the trend of Li's present activities, but that you lacked anything like logical proof of your suspicions." ”

“ Doctor John Fleming responded, "and the scene laid out for us was so real that I do not wonder that even you, Carrick, were fooled. Confound Li Shoon! He appears to possess the nine lives of a cat."
"Li Shoon would make a cat look foolish by comparison," retorted Carrick, more bitterly. "It seems impossible to slay him. I never really thirsted for any man's blood—not even Li's—but I am certain that it would not grieve me greatly if I were to see him cut into small pieces. ”

“ Like a hawk the chemist pounced upon the three nearest rifles and also a bandolier of cartridges that one of the soldiers had carried on his arm. Then the doctor fled.
"Good work and a happy thought!" panted Carrick, as he relieved Fleming of two of the rifles. "Now we can at least die fighting!"
But the fugitives were out of sight ere the Mexican rebel captain realized he was a victim of trickery. While still searching nervously for coins or notes, he called to his men to look after the prisoners. Each eager soldier, however, left obedience to be rendered by his fellows. ”

“ How strong a message does it take to call your captain from his bunk in the middle of the night? If that doesn't rout him out, just whisper the word, 'Pirates!' But hurry, my friend! Davy Jones is waiting for us at the bottom of the ocean! ”

“ They have seen no ship of any kind."
"It is well, sergeant," declared the lieutenant. "Faithfully serve the new republic of Calvoras, and you shall be rewarded. You may become a lieutenant, like myself, if you detect the coming of such a ship and report it in time. Think what it will mean to be a gentleman in the new and glorious republic."
"Never doubt my alertness, my lieutenant," begged Sergeant Penumbra, saluting and retiring when he received the signal.
"When a Mexican knows that an enemy is near, he is a marvel of watchfulness," whispered Carrick in Fleming's ear. ”

“ Carrick declared, as Captain Rourke, turning his back to the yacht, leaned in over the window sill.
Second Mate Riley, leaving the wheel in the hands of a deck hand, was now busy uncovering the tug's searchlight.
"Better signal and ask what ship is to the south of us," suggested Donald Carrick, and Rourke gave the order.
"Sometimes Heaven is good to liars!" ejaculated Riley, as the unseen stranger answered with her flash light in the code. "That craft is really the Pearl City." ”

“ Line after line of the other craft came into sight, every new glimpse confirming the suspicion that the stranger was the Sumatran yacht.
"If our suspicions are right," announced Carrick, in a steady voice, "no man now on this boat has more than a half an hour of life left."
"I've said me prayers already," retorted Rourke, "so I have a free hand for me duties. But I'm sorry for the boys undher me."
Fleming said nothing, though he puffed his pipe with a slight acceleration of speed. ”

“ Sandalwood, or llang-llang, or—hang it!—both of them!"
"I do catch some odor," assented Donald Carrick, sniffing. "And now it is plainer."
The next instant his features displayed a singular gravity. It was the nearest thing to terror that any man had ever seen on the Hound's face.
"I smelled that odor first on a terrible night," he went on. "It was then the dominant scent in Li's headquarters, many thousands of miles from here. But it must be imagination—here, at sea, on the Terence." ”

“ It doesn't appeal to me as my choice of deaths."
"What is death?" mocked Carrick lightly. "Merely the end of the struggle—the wind-up of the fight. The only man who is afraid of death is the one who realizes that he hasn't played the best possible part in the fight." ”

“ Carrick and Doctor Fleming, barely in their cabin, noted the abrupt changing of the course, accompanied by the noise of swift orders.
"Something out of the ordinary has happened," remarked Carrick, bounding up and opening the door. He and the chemist were soon on the deck. The first very tangible object on which their gaze lighted, as displayed under a deck light, was the now rather crumpled figure of Ling Cheng in the relentless grip of Donovan. ”

“ Every minute brought the Vulcan closer to the spot where the Budzibu lay to, while, half a mile to the southwest of her, the Sea King lay, motionless, on the waters. Two-thirds of the way from the Sumatran yacht to the liner, two launches rode the water. They contained a total of some fifty men, lascars and Chinese, as it afterward proved. Carrick and Fleming could realize the way the Sea King's decks would run blood to the scuppers if once this piratical crew got foothold on board. ”

“ Two rifle bolts clicked ominously, and two rifle muzzles were pressed against the two dismayed captives.
In the camp, confused murmurs followed. Half a dozen soldiers ran up at once. Others could be heard following. With instant death as their portion in case of resistance, Carrick and Fleming wisely made no effort to draw their automatics. Had they been on their feet, they would have opened vigorous fire, then taken to their heels. ”

“ Fleming declared, with a heartfelt sigh.
"For any other human being's tragic death I might feel sorrow," Donald Carrick answered. "Li Shoon's death, under even more terrible circumstances, can only fill me with entire satisfaction." ”

“ As the two sailors sprang in, the launch turned and put silently out to sea.
"And now," observed the Hound, producing pipe and pouch, "I propose to enjoy a smoke."
The doctor preferred to roll a cigarette. They lit up with shielded matches, keeping their faces turned westward that the glows might not attract attention from shore.
"Straight out for five miles," directed the Hound. "Then return to ship."
That was done. In a little more than an hour Carrick and Doctor Fleming found themselves ascending the side gangway of the Vulcan, while Captain Mulford stood on deck to receive them. ”

“ Calvoras, after listening in a stupid, noncomprehending way, drained another glass of wine, then rose heavily to his feet, breaking in in Spanish:
"I understand, Doctor Li Shoon, that you are talking over old grudges. Let it be so. I will leave you alone for a while. Then I will send my file of soldiers to see that these scoundrelly Americanos are taken out and shot. A quick shooting, Doctor Li, always saves bother."
The door closed, and the three were alone. Had Carrick wished, he could have sprung upon this odious Chinaman and killed him with his own hands. ”

“ Carrick went on, "is that I appreciate the fact that you are soldiers. Therefore, you must obey your orders, and I bear you no ill will. I have one request to make, and that is that you take full pains to make our deaths instantaneous. I am going to reward you for doing it, for I have gifts that our first captors overlooked. I have with me twelve hundred dollars in American gold, worth nearly twenty-eight hundred dollars in Mexican silver, and worth more than a shipload of your paper currency. I propose, captain, that this gold shall go to you and your soldiers." ”

“ At reduced speed the yacht proceeded. At a quarter of ten, when she lay to, the Vulcan was not more than half a mile from the shore. Low, sloping hills rose from the beach. Seen through the night glasses, these slopes were covered with short, dense growths of what looked like scrub oak.
No sooner had the Vulcan lain to than a boat was lowered, Kerrigan being this time in charge.
"Look to your weapon," muttered Carrick. "Take two extra magazine loads with you and a full box of cartridges."
"I have them on me," Fleming answered. ”

“ Two minutes later, the callers were received by the elder and the younger Miss Dorrance.
"We did not know but that you had already vanished," smiled Donald Carrick. "Unfortunately, we have news that Li Shoon, though officially dead, is again at large."
"You cannot mean it!" gasped Sylvia Dorrance, much of the color fading from her lovely face.
"It is true," replied Fleming, while Carrick pleasantly inquired:
"Has Li made any effort to get you away from your hotel again, to some point at which you might again fall into his power?" ”

“ Carrick returned, "but it would be difficult indeed in the case of a submarine. The Mexicans of all factions are daily looking for a possible war with this country. They have no submarines, but would sell their souls to own one, for in the event of our making war upon them, their coasts would be blockaded. They would prize a submarine that they could send out on a mission of sinking blockading craft. No, there is hardly a shade of a chance that Mexican rebels would protect Li Shoon in running into one of their smaller bays or harbors, or even in appearing along the open coast. ”

“ Ten minutes later the trio ascended to the hurricane deck. In the darkness the Budzibu had vanished. It seemed good to be out in the open air once more. For a few moments that thought dominated over the realization that the tug had not been foully sunk. ”

“ I'm wondering if I'd better call the captain."
"Do you think the stranger is traveling full speed?" demanded Carrick.
"Too far away to be certain, sir, but I should say she was."
"Then you would better call Captain Rourke," advised Donald Carrick quietly, while to Fleming he added, in an undertone: "If it's the Budzibu, then perhaps Ling succeeded in signaling her before fate overtook him, and she's trying to overhaul us."
"'Trying' to overhaul us?" retorted the chemist. "She won't have to try. That greyhound can't fail to overtake this slab-hulled sea cripple! ”

“ The gods of our ancestors be praised that both of the meddlesome Americans now sleep in their last beds! By to-morrow forenoon, Weng, that eight millions should be ours, and all traces of our work lost under the waves. The Sea King carries fifty passengers, as well, but what are fifty more lives when the glory of Ui Kwoon Ah-how thrills our hearts? ”

“ Give me back the map and I will let you go."
"A wonderful favor!" exclaimed the Master Hound, with biting irony. "You will let us go—where? We are hundreds of miles from our own country, and all the Mexicans for scores of miles obey Calvoras. ”

“ For Li will try to get hold of Miss Dorrance every time that he starts in with any new villainy. He has an obsession that she is a hostage who can be used to make us stay our hands. One of these days Li, if he secures possession of your sweetheart again, will, in an excess of temper, remove her from this earth as a rebuke to us. ”

“ At last he halted in a grove of tall trees.
"You will be tied, each to a tree trunk, gentlemen," he announced, "and four men will hold rifles against each of your chests. Death should be instantaneous and painless. Will you pray, or have you anything that you wish to say before you die?" ”

“ If this tug transfers her passengers to the Vulcan, I could not hope to smuggle myself into the transfer. But Doctor Li Shoon's orders provide for the alternative of destroying the tug before help for Carrick can arrive. This tug will have to go to the bottom, with all on board, including myself, unless I can manage to provide myself, unseen, with a life preserver. No matter! My life does not count as much for the Ui Kwoon Ah-how as Carrick's does against it. I can die with our enemies. ”

“ Carrick reversed. "He has never given it the slightest use since he was born."
Presently the hull of the Pearl City was sighted. The two craft passed with hearty steam signals. At this moment Carrick was sweeping the coastward horizon for any sign of the lurking presence of the Budzibu, but that evil craft was not to be seen.
"I hope the Budzibu will try to run us down when we are once safe on the Vulcan," Carrick confided to his friend. ”

“ A craft of from twenty-eight to thirty knots would be needed, or safety could not be secured. That would mean a yacht, for none of the coasting vessels possess such speed. I have had all the yacht registers examined, and cannot find the slightest reason to believe that Li has chartered any craft along this coast. Where, then, did he get his vessel?"
"A submarine, perhaps?" hinted Fleming.
"There are no private ones," returned Carrick, with a shrug of his shoulders. "True, one could be built, but one could not be hidden. ”

“ Donald Carrick shouted through a megaphone to the Sea King's skipper. "You will find yourself well, though not sufficiently rewarded by the Blue Stack Company when you reach Frisco. You will now, of course, proceed on your way under the speed you prefer." ”

“ Carrick and Fleming slipped over the side. Amid cheers from the tug's crew the boat slipped away. A few minutes later the Hound and the chemist signaled Rourke from the starboard rail of the Vulcan.
"'Twas their own boat, thin," muttered Rourke. "Good luck to thim—the best. Misther Scanlon, the course is straight back to San Diego."
Amid a din of whistles the two craft parted company, the Vulcan skimming speedily south.
Carrick had, indeed, found himself among friends. Captain Mulford was a bluff, hearty skipper. His two mates, Gray and Kerrigan, were keen-looking young men. ”

“ When he hears of the gold he will kill you either before or after he has seized the gold, for which he will hunt like a rat on the scent of grain. Unless you can save us, Li, you are done for as surely as we are. ”

“ He is spending a part of his wicked plunderings in bringing in munitions of war to Calvoras. It is a clever way of gaining the hiding place and protection that he needs!"
With infinite care the Hound picked his way around the camp, under the deep shade of the trees. But on the northern side of the camp the two Americans, despite their stealth, made slight sounds that reached the ears of two Mexican sentries. This brown pair, after listening for an instant, slipped silently, on their bare feet, behind two tree trunks. Carrick and Fleming passed between the trees. ”

“ No distress signals were received anywhere from either craft."
"But there is only one class of men who rob ships and then sink them, destroying their crews," the chemist objected. "Such men used to be called pirates, and pirates are extinct in these days of steam."
"That doesn't mean that a new breed of pirates couldn't spring up," Donald Carrick interposed, speaking almost impatiently for one of his equable temperament. "In fact, if piracy has been committed in these two instances, then we are bound to admit that pirates exist, or reëxist. The point, Fleming, is right here. ”