But the faceJim crowded closer, swinging both hands. A blow staggered him. But he went under and whipped up a left hook that bared Dussel's cheekbone.
A terrific right knocked Dussel sprawling along the bridge.
Someone was shouting at Jim. He looked up, dazed. A slim white cutter had swept up, scarcely a half dozen yards away. Standing on the bow was Major Albert, immaculate in a white and gold uniform!
"Jump, you slug-minded clown!" Major Albert yelled. "That damned old scow is sinking under your feet! Stop playing slap hands with that beef trust slugger!"
"William," Jim gulped. He suddenly felt relaxed and empty inside. "You look sweet enough to kiss. Am I seeing stars or are those gold buttons?"
"Jump, damn you!" Albert roared. "If you don't, I'll come after you!"
Jim stared around. The water was creeping over the decking of the bridge!
Jim sprang to the rail of the bridge and off into the water. Panting and dripping, he was hauled aboard the cutter. He could see the sturdy old Semiramis standing off. The crew let out a cheer and dived into the water, swimming for the cutter. "Look!" Major Albert said suddenly.
On the bridge of the sinking freighter, job Dussel had tottered to his feet. His wide, repulsive face was horribly smashed and bloody. The white shirt hanging around him in shreds revealed his great body. Instead of fat, enormous bulges of muscle hung over his arms and shoulders. His torso was like the trunk of a vast tree!
Staggering to the rail, Dussel toppled blindly into the water. With a grinding crash, as though it had waited for that instant, the freighter slipped down into deeper water. Only swirls of water marked the spot....
Ponga Jim turned to Major Albert.
"William," he said. "I got so busy there at last, I never did find out where your sub base was located."
"You said the Gulf of Tolo before you started," William grinned. "That gave me a lead. Then the Valapa Bay relayed the message you sent with the mast light. I knew if they were aboard the Semiramis, it was because they had to get to the Molucca Passage, or to some boat en route.
That pointed in the same direction. We investigated and found the submarine base.
"You see, Dussel and Lucieno didn't dare show themselves on a British ship. The Dutch were watching for them, too. Then the boys found you were going to Amurang, Menado, and Wahai, so they slipped aboard. Job Dussel sank the Silver Lady.
He also sank those other ships, sank them without a chance. He was aiming at paralyzing the entire trade of the islands-and he came damned near success. He was a brute, all right!"
Ponga Jim Mayo wiped the back of his hand across his bloody mouth.
"Yeah, he was a brute," he said. "But, William"-Jim pointed back at the reef, where the waters were stirring slightly over the rocks-"that guy could fight! Boy, how that guy could fight!"
AUTHOR'S NOTE
West From Singapore (ss) (1987)
BANGGAI
The Banggai group of islands were inhabited at the time of which I write by a very primitive people living in the mountains and avoiding contact with the Muslims along the shores.
These islands were one of the best sources of ebony, a dark, beautiful wood much used for carving and furniture. The islands are also a source of mica. Gum and rattan are brought from the forests. Maize, tobacco, sugar cane, and sago are cultivated.
Many of the islands are high and thickly wooded.
The Banggai Islands and the Sula group lie eastward of Celebes, and at the time of which I write the area was imperfectly surveyed, so navigation was conducted with caution.
*
West From Singapore (ss) (1987)
FROM HERE TO BANGGAI
You know, William," Ponga Jim Mayo said drily, "I'm Y getting so I hate to see that handsome pan of yours showing itself around. Every time you come around me I end up getting shot at."
Major Arnold smiled blandly. "Never give it a thought, Jim. I don't. They can't shoot a man that was born to be hung." "Huh!" Ponga Jim emptied his glass and reached for the
A terrific right knocked Dussel sprawling along the bridge.
Someone was shouting at Jim. He looked up, dazed. A slim white cutter had swept up, scarcely a half dozen yards away. Standing on the bow was Major Albert, immaculate in a white and gold uniform!
"Jump, you slug-minded clown!" Major Albert yelled. "That damned old scow is sinking under your feet! Stop playing slap hands with that beef trust slugger!"
"William," Jim gulped. He suddenly felt relaxed and empty inside. "You look sweet enough to kiss. Am I seeing stars or are those gold buttons?"
"Jump, damn you!" Albert roared. "If you don't, I'll come after you!"
Jim stared around. The water was creeping over the decking of the bridge!
Jim sprang to the rail of the bridge and off into the water. Panting and dripping, he was hauled aboard the cutter. He could see the sturdy old Semiramis standing off. The crew let out a cheer and dived into the water, swimming for the cutter. "Look!" Major Albert said suddenly.
On the bridge of the sinking freighter, job Dussel had tottered to his feet. His wide, repulsive face was horribly smashed and bloody. The white shirt hanging around him in shreds revealed his great body. Instead of fat, enormous bulges of muscle hung over his arms and shoulders. His torso was like the trunk of a vast tree!
Staggering to the rail, Dussel toppled blindly into the water. With a grinding crash, as though it had waited for that instant, the freighter slipped down into deeper water. Only swirls of water marked the spot....
Ponga Jim turned to Major Albert.
"William," he said. "I got so busy there at last, I never did find out where your sub base was located."
"You said the Gulf of Tolo before you started," William grinned. "That gave me a lead. Then the Valapa Bay relayed the message you sent with the mast light. I knew if they were aboard the Semiramis, it was because they had to get to the Molucca Passage, or to some boat en route.
That pointed in the same direction. We investigated and found the submarine base.
"You see, Dussel and Lucieno didn't dare show themselves on a British ship. The Dutch were watching for them, too. Then the boys found you were going to Amurang, Menado, and Wahai, so they slipped aboard. Job Dussel sank the Silver Lady.
He also sank those other ships, sank them without a chance. He was aiming at paralyzing the entire trade of the islands-and he came damned near success. He was a brute, all right!"
Ponga Jim Mayo wiped the back of his hand across his bloody mouth.
"Yeah, he was a brute," he said. "But, William"-Jim pointed back at the reef, where the waters were stirring slightly over the rocks-"that guy could fight! Boy, how that guy could fight!"
AUTHOR'S NOTE
West From Singapore (ss) (1987)
BANGGAI
The Banggai group of islands were inhabited at the time of which I write by a very primitive people living in the mountains and avoiding contact with the Muslims along the shores.
These islands were one of the best sources of ebony, a dark, beautiful wood much used for carving and furniture. The islands are also a source of mica. Gum and rattan are brought from the forests. Maize, tobacco, sugar cane, and sago are cultivated.
Many of the islands are high and thickly wooded.
The Banggai Islands and the Sula group lie eastward of Celebes, and at the time of which I write the area was imperfectly surveyed, so navigation was conducted with caution.
*
West From Singapore (ss) (1987)
FROM HERE TO BANGGAI
You know, William," Ponga Jim Mayo said drily, "I'm Y getting so I hate to see that handsome pan of yours showing itself around. Every time you come around me I end up getting shot at."
Major Arnold smiled blandly. "Never give it a thought, Jim. I don't. They can't shoot a man that was born to be hung." "Huh!" Ponga Jim emptied his glass and reached for the
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