The Devil's Admiral

e navy-cap running away from the Flagship Bar. But, if I had, I might have been held as a witness and nothing come of it, for it

ly as I could in the Kut Sang. Even then it was time that I hasten to the dock and board the steamer. I hailed a cochero and, leav

nts of that day in their proper sequence, which compels me to t

ntly casual meeting in the bank came upon me with its full force, and I saw the

window talking with a teller. He was smoking a long Russian cigarette, and pulling with nervous fingers at a tiny black moustache. His malacca cane was leaning against

window, and the clerk handed out the papers

ing, Mr. Trenholm?

turned round and surveyed me with mild surprise. As I stepped to th

t one minute, plea

that he had forgotten something about my le

," said the teller. "He will

appraising me as he looked at me, although outwa

gh in that mechanical manner which makes the words sound as if they had been

to meet you on board," I said,

ood that the bank-clerk had assured Trego that my character was goo

ver, with the Blue Peter at her foremast and heavy black smoke pouring from her funnel. She had th

Home, roaring out the chorus of "Rock of Ages" as though it were a chantey. There could be no mistaking the figure seated at the wheezy little organ-the Rev

ve seen me from behind his goggles, but, if he did, he gave no sign, and I urged the driver to whip up the horse and pass the group at a good cl

artled to see Petrak emerge from the pack of staring

, sir!" he cried, grasping the side of

oked like a bold move to block me at the last minute, and I was rather amus

ap, making him look more like a stoker than a seaman. His ratlike visage was covered with a coppery stub

was shipwrecked-in the H.B. Leeds it was that went down in a typhoon. I can't get a ship out of this blasted place. I'm an h

cting him to take alarm and run away, for I was not so sure he h

thick of the scattered cargo, and Petrak still clung to

ch of arrogance, giving me a shrewd l

utting in the

gh-one of his mates out of this wessel right alongside what you're

low who stabbed the ma

of his mates, he was, that did the cuttin'-l

told him, convinced that the little villain could have ha

the saloon where I saw the old captain seated at the table, with a litter of papers about him, argui

he bo'sun has went and got hisself stabbed and four of the white han

and that's all there is to it," said Ca

-wicks and got hisself slit open in a gin-mill

cut

done for, near as I can make it out. But the police have the lampman locked up for it, and I'm too busy to bot

n?" demanded the capt

ks like a Rooshan Finn to me. What sort of a charter we got, cap'n? This ain't no blockade-runnin' game, is it?

to be able to scrape up a crew at the Sailors' Home for the asking. We'll manage all right with the chinks on deck, if we can get some good helmsm

n in command, for he was gray and stooped, but he surveyed me over his glasses with kindly eyes, although I knew he was being harassed

ell aft, all to yourself. Two more passengers to come yet, according to the list. Didn't know I was to have passengers this trip, so I can't tell what the accommodation

ys he's a sailor with a Manila t

uared his shoulders, making a gesture, whi

Singapore, and shipped out in the H.B. Leeds that went down in a typhoon. Junk picked us up, sir, what was left of us, and I lost all my disch

ndle ste

iff to Delaware Breakwater in t

in Riggs, and Petrak went

eroom, but I went up to the hurricane-deck, where I found a

ital. The river itself was alive with cascoes being poled about by half-naked natives, the families of the crews doing the cooking and prim

e moss-grown walls of Fort Santiago, and on both banks were

s' Home, and I watched him until he closed the service and started

teamer ready to sail, and was preparing to cast off the lines,

Harris. "That ain't for this

e office of the harbour-police station, a

ute-one

s angrily. "Who be you to hold up this ship!

d him as Mr. Trego, the man to whom I had been introduced in the bank. He met Harris at the foot of the ladder

re my papers-get those boxes off the wagon, eef you please. I am supercargo for the owne

quick glance at the paper which Trego thrust befo

?" he demanded

oward the paper, and Tr

gg

y." He leaned against his cane and twirled his moustache, wh

tain Riggs to Harris, and the mate gave o

hey go?" as

looked at Treg

ht under the feet of me," s

room," said Captain

e to see from my papers that I am the commander of all. Read eet ag

, Trego?-as Mr. Trego says. Move navy-style! Keep clear of the s

he rail and looked over to see the Rev. Luther Meeker standing at the edge o

way!" bawled

the missionary, "but is t

ention to Harris and Trego, who were gi

toward the gangplank, where the two men were stand

he said to them. "This is my ship, sure

en bringing the organ aboard, although Meeker was out of his sight by t

chaps going?" he sh

d and looke

nger," said the t

?" demanded Rig

, and as he said it Meeker him

e explained, presenting his ticket. "I am going to Hong-Kong

l right, you men-come

along with it, my good men, but leave it below. How do you do, my dear Mr.

aid Captain Riggs, handing back the ticket. "Mind

aft, twirling his shell crucifix bet

l sing his way to Hong-Kong, with that old melodeon of his. Oh, Mr. Harris! There are two men bel

fore-deck, and I went down to my stat

t job!" I heard the Rev.

into the

oom next to mine, bu

sly. Then, in a louder tone: "We got

tation, I heard some one step into the passageway and run forw

I knew we were letting go of Manila as the winches drew i

ankment and into the current of the Pasig, whic

situation, not sure that I would not be wiser to remain in Manila rather than sail in the Kut Sang. I shi

yself, and opened m