might be better fun than passenger We steamed round the next pr>- mentary into Bias Bay, and our thoughts were far from' pleasant as we realized that we were making straight for a pirate nest, and would probably not be seen by any other vessel. There was a moment of really tense anxiety when to our amazement, we met the same company's steamer, Sinkiang, steaming. inshore about 11.30 a.m," She must have identified us. She hoisted and dipped her ensign, and the pi on the bridge lay' down with their] rifles pointed at the Chict and Second Officers, Would she turn, or go on her way? The hoisting] and dipping of our own ensign appeared to lull her suspicions, if she had any, and again we had a respite, The Pirates' Lair On nearing the pirates' nest we were advised by the Chief Oficer to remain in our cabins, with doors} locked, and he requested that some of the men should sit with the ladies whose husbands were not on board, Consequently five of us, two men ud three ladies, sat in one eat ith the shutters up, and the door locked, awaiting our fate, The ship slowed up. We heard the leadsman singing out "By the mark five," "By the mark four," "Quarter less four," and wondered whether we were to be driven aground. We next heard the anchor drop, and the engines put full speed astern. Thi long tense minutes of silence, broken at last by footsteps on the brids2 ladder, a knock on our cabin shutter, and a warning from the Chief Oficer to the ladies not to be frightened if they heard shots, as they woul probably be fired to attract atten tion. Another long and interminable Pause, and again his cheery voice: "As far as I can sce at the moment everything in the garden appears to be lovely." Yet another wait. and a knock at the cabin door, with an inquiry for Mr. Sharp, to whom the Chief Officer without remark handed some gold dollar notes he had concealed under the cushions of the} saloon settee. Finally another knock and the Chinese steward's voice telling us to come to lunch as all was over. We had anchored ina cove in Bins Bay, East of Int. Hewett, at 1.25. We weighed an-char at 2.10. Tt was much the! longest three-quarters of an hour I have ever spent in my life. A few such periods would turn anyone's hair grey.
We learnt on emerging from semidarkness, that on arrival at the an. chorage a number of boats had come out and quickly loaded up the loot. There was apparently some disposi tion on the part of the newcomers to add to their stock by a farther! inspection of the ship, but this was forbidden by the pirate chief, who, Presumably as a result of our counter with the str. Sinkiang, was possible. anxious to get away as soon as
Relief from the strain of these!
None of the passengers had seri= ous cause for complaint. after ths pirates had once captured the ship. Most of us simply ignored. thatn One passenger who against the a vice of those more experienced, a'- tempted, as he put it, to "pal up to" the worst looking of the ruffians, found that his action was liable ho misunderstood. The next evening, they accused him of stealing the Chivt OMicer's certificate, and went through the contents of his Iiggag2, But they stole nothing from any of the passengers except a cap oF two, and refunded to the Officer the $90 which wax missing from his desk after his cabin had been searched for arms, 'They also presented him with an' honorarium of $30, presumably for overtime, Everything of value that the Chine: passengers possessed was, however, stolen, Before leaving, the pirates presented cash bonuses to the sea: men, the firemen, and, it is said, also'to the stewards, The passengers on this eventful were: Mesdames Melchers, St, Ish, F. Murch, Mr, and Mrs mott, Mr. and Mrs. Pamplinon and two children, the Revs,. X-Ford and 8, Lefaki, and Messrs, H. Sharp, E.G. Wobster, J.C, Gamble, R. B. MeAfeo, I. G." Woodhead, and G. 8. Chen,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.