West from Singapore (Ss) (1987) Read Online Free PDF

gun crew, and there was a terrific blast. But he had already thrown another.
    It fell short, but even as the gun crashed, he hurled another.
    Their shot put a hole through the stack, but it was the only one they got a chance to fire. Arnold had rushed into the wing of the bridge and poured a stream of hot lead down at the conning tower and then clipped a couple of shots at the boat. Ponga Jim Mayo's next grenade lifted the boat out of the water, a blasted bunch of wreckage and struggling men.
    The sub started to back off, obviously injured, but Jim hurled another grenade. The officer on the conning tower, apparently uninjured by Arnold's burst of rifle fire, had started down the ladder. In one horror-stricken moment his face showed white.
    Then there was a terrific concussion! The last grenade had fallen down the conning tower hatch.
    William lowered his gun. His face was bleeding from a cut on his head.
    "The marines have landed and have the situation well in hand!" he said.
    "It wasn't a limey said that!" Mayo grunted. "That was an American."
    "Righto!" William Arnold agreed.
    Borg was getting to his feet. Mayo walked in and slugged him with the barrel of his automatic, which he'd retrieved and loaded.
    "I'll tie this bird. He's wanted somewhere. Or we can kick him ashore in Sydney."
    "Sydney?" Arnold said. "Why Sydney? This ship-" "Listen, pal," Ponga Jim said patiently.
    "You're the British Intelligence or something, aren't you? Well, you want this activity stopped down here. You've prevented the landing of a lot of guns, and you've sunk an enemy submarine. Now I am informed that a certain gent high in official military circles at Sydney can buy arms and ammunition. For me, this represents profit, no loss. Now, unless you want to stage the War of 1812 all over again, we go to Sydney!"
    Major William Arnold grinned. "This is no time to sever diplomatic relations with Ponga Jim Mayo," he said cheerfully. "Let me get some pants while you muster the rest of this crew, and we're off!"
    He started down the ladder.
    "Hey!" Jim said. "You know any dames in Sydney?" "Just two," Arnold said. "Why?"
    "Just two," Mayo said regretfully. "That's going to be tough. I'd hoped there would be enough for you, too!"
    "Nuts!" Arnold said grimly, and walked down the ladder with his green pants flapping.
    AUTHOR'S NOTE

West From Singapore (ss) (1987)

AMURANG
    On the bank of the river called Rano Rapo, is Amurang, a neat little town of some two thousand people, with white frame houses and a covered bridge crossing the river to Rumoon. Steamers of the K. P. M. line (the Koninklijki Paketvaart Maatschappij) call every four weeks en route from Surabaya. Another steamer from Makassar arrives every month. The hills around are thickly wooded except where cultivated. Coffee was the principal crop. There was a good road to the town of Menado, and one also to the town of Tondano. The mouth of the gulf on which Amurang is situated is roughly eight miles wide and penetrates about that distance inland. It is subject to violent squalls which can gather very suddenly over the mountains. These are called barats.
    Seamen often have other, less respectful names for them.
    Such a sudden storm could be a very harrowing experience for a young man temporarily in command while the master and the chief mate were ashore on business. Fortunately there are no better seamen than the Bugis, and there were four of them on board on the Semiramis with Ponga Jim in this story.
    *

West From Singapore (ss) (1987)

ON THE ROAD TO AMURANG
    When he reached the road, Ponga Jim Mayo hesitated. Behind him, the wide, cool veranda of the Dutch Club echoed with soft laughter, the click of billiards, and the tinkle of glasses. There was a glow in the sky over Glandestan Way. But Ponga Jim's eyes turned toward the Punchar Wharves, where the Semiramis was tied.
    His frown deepened. Balikpapan was no place for an empty ship. But it was better than having it at the bottom of the Molucca