41 Lure O Gold 1904

"
/ am Relieved of my Burden
hauling on a line over the side. I yelled at them lustily,
but they paid no heed. Now they pulled at something
heavy my box of a certainty and lifted it into their
boat.
ting
Immediately I heard the sound of the engine "put
and whirring, and as my boat fell into the scoop
of the dark sea, I could do nothing but pull at the oars
and shout.
When my craft lifted again and I could see the light
of the launch, I raised my rifle and sent a shot singing
over it,
and then another and another.
"Bang! bang! The
bang!" sounds, in that great
expanse of sea, seemed but toyish and trivial in their
volume, and as for the effect upon the men in the launch
the firing counted for naught.
The light
went out suddenly, and as I could see
nothing
of the men in the boat nor even the outline
of the craft, there was little use of further shooting.
Indeed, I was sorry I had shot or shouted, for I might
have pulled in nearer before the light
was extinguished,
when, at closer range and being so well armed, I might
have commanded the situation. Now there was noth
ing left but aimless and futile rowing in the direction
which I blindly judged the launch had taken. As for
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