WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:13.860 You are aboard a Chinese junk run aground off the coast of Borneo. 00:13.860 --> 00:18.300 And paddling toward you are the canoes of the deadly diak headhunters. 00:18.300 --> 00:21.580 Your powder is wet and your throat is dry. 00:21.580 --> 00:34.800 Because for you, there is no escape. 00:34.800 --> 00:39.280 Escape produced and directed by William N. Robeson and designed to free you from the 00:39.280 --> 00:48.280 four walls of today for a half hour of high adventure. 00:48.280 --> 00:56.020 Tonight we escape to the Orient of 150 years ago, to the Manila of 1790, in Richard Matthews' 00:56.020 --> 01:09.520 Hallett's story of a wooden ship and an iron man, Miss Fortune's Isle. 01:09.520 --> 01:13.800 The water which was lying at anchor so close up against the jetty I could have leaned over 01:13.800 --> 01:18.920 and spit on the wheels of the elegant Spanish carriages clattering along the promenade. 01:18.920 --> 01:22.840 And that's exactly what I felt like doing. 01:22.840 --> 01:26.040 I'd been away from Salem for three years now. 01:26.040 --> 01:31.400 Three years of sailing a trader brig through the China seas and south into the Spice Islands. 01:31.400 --> 01:34.600 All for one. 01:34.600 --> 01:37.320 The whole thing had grown stale suddenly. 01:37.320 --> 01:43.160 I was plainly and simply bored. 01:43.160 --> 01:49.240 Yang Po stood beside me there at the taff rail and tried to console me with philosophy. 01:49.240 --> 01:54.120 He'd anchored his sailing junk alongside earlier in the day and come aboard to renew a friendship 01:54.120 --> 01:59.960 that started two years before at Tianxing when I hauled him out from under an executioner's 01:59.960 --> 02:01.040 axe. 02:01.040 --> 02:05.540 He was under it because he just sold me six fine fat pigs without remembering they happened 02:05.540 --> 02:08.720 to be the sacred property of the Tianxing temple. 02:08.720 --> 02:13.360 Oh, Yang Po was a real philosopher, all right. 02:13.360 --> 02:17.160 Anyway, my friend, I reserve my sympathies for the poor. 02:17.160 --> 02:19.360 You have gained much wealth and trade. 02:19.360 --> 02:21.880 Aye, and a few measly gold pieces. 02:21.880 --> 02:24.840 But the trouble is out here a man can't go it on his own. 02:24.840 --> 02:25.940 He needs backing. 02:25.940 --> 02:30.720 What more backing could a rash man desire than those eight brass cannon at the rail? 02:30.720 --> 02:32.640 Aye, they're fair guns, all right. 02:32.640 --> 02:34.240 But it's a flag I'm speaking of. 02:34.240 --> 02:38.060 Do these unworthy eyes not see a pinnacle there at the masthead? 02:38.060 --> 02:40.960 The bunning of Salem swings no weight out here. 02:40.960 --> 02:43.560 In the south, it's the Dutch who call the turns. 02:43.560 --> 02:46.680 On the coast, the British, and here in Manila, it's the Spanish. 02:46.680 --> 02:48.640 Ah, man had... 02:48.640 --> 02:53.280 Yang Po, there she comes now in the second carriage there. 02:53.280 --> 02:55.600 That's the fourth time since high noon she's come past. 02:55.600 --> 02:58.820 Ah, four fine horses and two footmen. 02:58.820 --> 03:00.160 She rides in style. 03:00.160 --> 03:01.160 Watch, watch. 03:01.160 --> 03:02.320 She'll look up at the ship. 03:02.320 --> 03:03.320 She has every time today. 03:03.320 --> 03:04.320 Ha, there you see. 03:04.320 --> 03:05.320 Ah, that one. 03:05.320 --> 03:09.840 The little caged bird. 03:09.840 --> 03:10.840 You know her? 03:10.840 --> 03:11.840 I know of her. 03:11.840 --> 03:17.000 She is wife of Don Narciso Crispo, the Spanish nobleman who is captain general of the island 03:17.000 --> 03:18.600 south of Zamboanga. 03:18.600 --> 03:21.920 He is in residence here in Manila. 03:21.920 --> 03:24.720 She looks very sad. 03:24.720 --> 03:26.760 Why she called the little caged bird? 03:26.760 --> 03:32.640 One glimpse of Don Narciso would answer your question better than a thousand words. 03:32.640 --> 03:34.600 She's very beautiful, too. 03:34.600 --> 03:37.720 I'll swear she looks back and smiles just then. 03:37.720 --> 03:43.680 Captain Arad, once in pity I set free a parakeet which I had found caught in a net. 03:43.680 --> 03:46.800 I still bear scar from its beak. 03:46.800 --> 03:49.040 Some things may be worth taking chances for. 03:49.040 --> 03:55.520 Ah, me, I find it so much simpler to go to sleep and dream of maidens on the moon. 03:55.520 --> 03:57.200 Ah, but the moon's too far away. 03:57.200 --> 03:58.760 Hey, Arad, where are you? 03:58.760 --> 04:01.400 Ah, oh, up here, Michael, on the quarter deck. 04:01.400 --> 04:04.520 Then the honorable redheaded one is still your first mate? 04:04.520 --> 04:06.120 Aye, that he is. 04:06.120 --> 04:07.120 What's the matter, Michael? 04:07.120 --> 04:08.120 Matter indeed. 04:08.120 --> 04:10.280 Haven't you heard all the excitement in town? 04:10.280 --> 04:11.280 I've been looking... 04:11.280 --> 04:14.880 Well, young poor, haven't they hung you yet? 04:14.880 --> 04:18.800 This unworthy one is touched by your concern, Mr. O'King. 04:18.800 --> 04:19.800 What do you mean by excitement? 04:19.800 --> 04:20.800 I've been on board all day. 04:20.800 --> 04:21.800 I know. 04:21.800 --> 04:25.160 Last night, with all their soldiers on guard and the stone ramparts and all, a band of 04:25.160 --> 04:28.040 pirates slipped ashore down coast and got through into the city. 04:28.040 --> 04:29.040 Pirates? 04:29.040 --> 04:30.040 Aye. 04:30.040 --> 04:31.160 Ten thousand bushels of misfortune. 04:31.160 --> 04:32.760 They may possibly think it was me. 04:32.760 --> 04:34.800 Oh, they have no clue as to who it was. 04:34.800 --> 04:36.480 Got away scot-free, they did. 04:36.480 --> 04:39.440 And they almost abducted the Captain General of Zamboango himself. 04:39.440 --> 04:40.440 What? 04:40.440 --> 04:41.440 Aye, aye. 04:41.440 --> 04:44.440 An important grandee by the name of Don Narcisco something or other. 04:44.440 --> 04:46.040 His guard finally heard them. 04:46.040 --> 04:47.040 Ah, pity. 04:47.040 --> 04:49.520 Fortune not with you, Captain Arad. 04:49.520 --> 04:52.080 Ah, but here's the part that'll stop you. 04:52.080 --> 04:57.120 There is no one in Manila that knows who they were, except yours truly, Michael O'King. 04:57.120 --> 04:58.120 Go on. 04:58.120 --> 05:00.560 Here, have a look at that. 05:00.560 --> 05:03.160 Hmm, well, it's a Manchester Cutlass. 05:03.160 --> 05:06.680 Aye, and there's a mark on the handle. 05:06.680 --> 05:08.920 Aye, it's one we traded to Serif. 05:08.920 --> 05:11.560 Aye, aye, the bandit king of North Bonio. 05:11.560 --> 05:15.960 And it was me found this morning on the beach where the pirate boat came ashore. 05:15.960 --> 05:16.960 You found it? 05:16.960 --> 05:17.960 No, no, no, no, not quite. 05:17.960 --> 05:20.760 A melee by the name of Zambo brought it to me. 05:20.760 --> 05:25.040 Zambo, ten thousand sempans filled with spoiled fish. 05:25.040 --> 05:26.040 You know the fellow? 05:26.040 --> 05:27.880 I have used him as interpreter. 05:27.880 --> 05:34.520 Many speak Dayak, but in some former incarnation he undoubtedly was ill. 05:34.520 --> 05:35.520 Hmm. 05:35.520 --> 05:40.440 You know, I think this may be exactly what I need. 05:40.440 --> 05:41.440 Need? 05:41.440 --> 05:42.440 For what, I read? 05:42.440 --> 05:43.440 Hmm. 05:43.440 --> 05:45.160 To make fortunes for the three of us. 05:45.160 --> 05:47.960 I certainly remember an unexpected appointment. 05:47.960 --> 05:52.000 Aye, aye, Young Poe, it's a plan that won't work without you. 05:52.000 --> 05:53.820 I'm not talking of bare profits. 05:53.820 --> 05:54.820 This means a fortune. 05:54.820 --> 05:57.120 I am amazed. 05:57.120 --> 06:01.960 There is much talk of money and yet very little talk of Spanish lady. 06:01.960 --> 06:05.880 I've heard rumors on shore about these Spanish lasses. 06:05.880 --> 06:08.320 For one thing, they wear no stockings. 06:08.320 --> 06:09.320 Huh? 06:09.320 --> 06:12.240 And how's a man to know it, Michael? 06:12.240 --> 06:13.720 You can't count too much on hearsay. 06:13.720 --> 06:15.960 Well, now it was a Spaniard that told me. 06:15.960 --> 06:17.360 All right, now listen, lads. 06:17.360 --> 06:18.360 Let me tell you the plan. 06:18.360 --> 06:22.780 And if we're all agreed, I'll go ashore and talk to this Don Narciso. 06:22.780 --> 06:27.040 After I have heard it, I think I shall go and sacrifice White Rooster to Queen 06:27.040 --> 06:30.200 of Heaven, though I doubt it will do a great deal of good. 06:30.200 --> 06:34.480 The only thing I can't understand is why this jam-boo didn't take the cutlass to Don Narciso 06:34.480 --> 06:35.480 in the first place. 06:35.480 --> 06:39.380 It is quite possible he did take it there in first place, Captain Harrod. 06:39.380 --> 06:42.440 It is point worth consideration. 06:42.440 --> 06:49.120 It took a bit of talking right enough, but finally the others agreed to the plan. 06:49.120 --> 06:55.560 And no more than two hours later, I was talking to the Captain General of Zamboango himself. 06:55.560 --> 07:01.040 He turned out to be a little monkey of a man, yellow as a faded sunflower, and much older 07:01.040 --> 07:02.040 than I expected to find. 07:02.040 --> 07:03.040 Thank you quite well. 07:03.040 --> 07:08.000 I'm satisfied regarding your identification of those who perpetrated the outrage, Captain 07:08.000 --> 07:09.000 Harrod. 07:09.000 --> 07:15.280 But my dedications and fatalities, I have also heard the stories of this pirate, Serif. 07:15.280 --> 07:20.000 I think a broadside of my 32 ponders can furnish him enough fatalities, Excellency. 07:20.000 --> 07:22.440 It's not that simple. 07:22.440 --> 07:26.880 The safe quarters on the Borneo coast is nothing less than a fortress. 07:26.880 --> 07:31.000 Ah, there's only a bamboo stockade lying at the mouth of the river, and it's in range 07:31.000 --> 07:32.840 of the guns on my brig. 07:32.840 --> 07:34.880 My friend, Yung Po, has been there. 07:34.880 --> 07:39.800 But hard against the mouth of the river is the blue chalaka. 07:39.800 --> 07:41.960 Miss Fortune's Isle, huh? 07:41.960 --> 07:47.320 And on it, limestone caves filled with bird's nests worth $50 a pound in Canton. 07:47.320 --> 07:52.600 That may well be, Captain Harrod, but there is also the yu pas tree. 07:52.600 --> 07:53.600 You must have heard of it. 07:53.600 --> 07:57.400 Aye, but I count a little on hearsay, Excellency. 07:57.400 --> 07:59.280 It is not hearsay. 07:59.280 --> 08:03.680 The dyak headhunters poisoned the spears and arrows with its juices. 08:03.680 --> 08:09.560 I have seen men scratched by them, die like that. 08:09.560 --> 08:11.240 Some things are worth taking chances for. 08:11.240 --> 08:15.440 I must say that I quite agree with you, D'Arcito. 08:15.440 --> 08:20.920 Captain Harrod, may I present my wife, Dona Delfina de Crispo. 08:20.920 --> 08:21.920 Captain Harrod. 08:21.920 --> 08:22.920 I'm honored. 08:22.920 --> 08:24.520 Martiso, I have heard it all. 08:24.520 --> 08:26.000 You must agree to this expedition. 08:26.000 --> 08:28.400 You know the King's offer? 08:28.400 --> 08:33.040 Any man who reads these islands of pirates to be made a conde with lands and titles. 08:33.040 --> 08:37.160 I have both lands and titles, my dear. 08:37.160 --> 08:40.840 What is it you may expect from this, Captain Harrod? 08:40.840 --> 08:42.880 Of fortune, Excellency. 08:42.880 --> 08:46.080 The bird's nest themselves should be worth a half million Yankee dollars. 08:46.080 --> 08:48.400 And there's golden antimony in the river. 08:48.400 --> 08:50.400 And trade with the dyaks. 08:50.400 --> 08:53.880 Precisely, what is the plan of yours? 08:53.880 --> 08:58.880 Well, fifty of Seraph's men are Chinese who once served Yang Po. 08:58.880 --> 09:01.360 They'll come in with us if he can get word to them. 09:01.360 --> 09:02.360 That'll make things easier. 09:02.360 --> 09:04.880 And how do you expect to get word to them? 09:04.880 --> 09:09.040 Yang Po and I will sail in ahead of his junk and try to contact them. 09:09.040 --> 09:13.080 My mate will bring up the water witch twenty-four hours later and then we'll attack. 09:13.080 --> 09:17.560 And exactly why have you come to me? 09:17.560 --> 09:22.200 Were I to do it without official support, I'd be judged a pirate myself, wouldn't I? 09:22.200 --> 09:23.760 I don't know. 09:23.760 --> 09:27.080 It would be a great thing if it could be done. 09:27.080 --> 09:28.080 Martiso. 09:28.080 --> 09:29.080 Si? 09:29.080 --> 09:33.080 Why not think of it tonight and decide in the morning? 09:33.080 --> 09:35.040 I think that may be a wise suggestion. 09:35.040 --> 09:37.640 May I allow me to show you out, Captain Harrod? 09:37.640 --> 09:38.640 By your leave, Excellency. 09:38.640 --> 09:39.640 I'll see you tomorrow then. 09:39.640 --> 09:40.640 Good day, Captain. 09:40.640 --> 09:41.640 This way, please. 09:41.640 --> 09:42.640 He will agree. 09:42.640 --> 09:45.640 You may depend on it. 09:45.640 --> 09:46.640 Good. 09:46.640 --> 09:52.640 I hope also that His Excellency will accompany us personally. 09:52.640 --> 09:53.640 He will. 09:53.640 --> 09:55.440 You can be certain of it. 09:55.440 --> 09:57.760 You seem quite sure of that. 09:57.760 --> 10:01.960 Who do you think it was who had the cartilagin sent to you? 10:01.960 --> 10:02.960 You? 10:02.960 --> 10:05.680 Here is the door, Captain. 10:05.680 --> 10:09.280 I will say adiosito now. 10:09.280 --> 10:14.240 In our language it means goodbye for a little while. 10:14.240 --> 10:16.240 For a little while, huh? 10:16.240 --> 10:28.560 Well, in that case, adiosito. 10:28.560 --> 10:30.520 Delfino was right. 10:30.520 --> 10:33.360 The next morning he agreed to it. 10:33.360 --> 10:36.480 And two days later we sailed out of Manila harbor. 10:36.480 --> 10:42.160 Don Narciso accompanied me on Yung Po's junk and Michael O'Kane followed at the helm of 10:42.160 --> 10:44.040 the water witch. 10:44.040 --> 10:51.360 Our luck deserted us as we rounded the Corregidor and sailed square into the tail end of a typhoon. 10:51.360 --> 10:54.780 There was little wind but a heavy sea was running and it took us on the port bow for 10:54.780 --> 10:56.720 all that night and the next day. 10:56.720 --> 11:01.880 We lost sight of the water witch and the leaky old junk pitched and rolled like a dory. 11:01.880 --> 11:06.160 Yung Po stayed mostly below in his bunk and dreamed peacefully of the maidens on the moon 11:06.160 --> 11:09.520 while I stayed on deck and skippered her through it. 11:09.520 --> 11:13.960 It was late the second night before I had a chance to go down to my cabin. 11:13.960 --> 11:15.960 Buenas noches, Capitán. 11:15.960 --> 11:20.440 Delfino, what in the name of the devil are you doing aboard? 11:20.440 --> 11:21.440 Being fast about mostly. 11:21.440 --> 11:24.240 It is a very unsteady ship you have, Capitán. 11:24.240 --> 11:28.000 There should be a lot more unsteady when a hundred dyak head hunters start trying to 11:28.000 --> 11:29.000 board her. 11:29.000 --> 11:30.000 How did you arrive here? 11:30.000 --> 11:31.000 Any sack of feathers. 11:31.000 --> 11:34.000 It is really all that saved me during the storm, you know. 11:34.000 --> 11:38.880 Oh, confounder, don't you realize your husband is on board sleeping in the deck cabin? 11:38.880 --> 11:40.480 Suppose he should come down here for something. 11:40.480 --> 11:41.480 He did once. 11:41.480 --> 11:42.480 I hid in the wardrobe. 11:42.480 --> 11:44.480 Oh, all the fool tricks. 11:44.480 --> 11:49.600 But you did, Seoriocito, for a little while. 11:49.600 --> 11:51.880 Yes, but it wasn't an invitation. 11:51.880 --> 11:53.880 Who could tell? 11:53.880 --> 11:57.320 Anyway, I shall prove quite valuable to you. 11:57.320 --> 11:58.320 I doubt it. 11:58.320 --> 11:59.320 You will see. 11:59.320 --> 12:01.440 Narciso will become frightened at the last moment. 12:01.440 --> 12:02.440 He always does. 12:02.440 --> 12:03.440 And what will you do? 12:03.440 --> 12:06.440 Whatever is required at the time. 12:06.440 --> 12:08.120 I am not afraid of fighting, my Capitán. 12:08.120 --> 12:09.120 I have seen it before. 12:09.120 --> 12:13.280 Oh, confounder, we had a fortune in our reach and now you come along and ruin it. 12:13.280 --> 12:14.280 You underestimate me. 12:14.280 --> 12:15.920 Well, I won't do that again. 12:15.920 --> 12:16.920 You are very rude. 12:16.920 --> 12:18.920 I meant to be. 12:18.920 --> 12:23.960 Why did you marry him? 12:23.960 --> 12:25.960 I had no choice. 12:25.960 --> 12:28.120 My father was ambitious. 12:28.120 --> 12:30.400 Narciso was influential. 12:30.400 --> 12:32.400 And did your father realize his ambition? 12:32.400 --> 12:39.120 Si, he became a colonel and was killed at Santiago de Chile. 12:39.120 --> 12:42.600 Oh, I'm sorry. 12:42.600 --> 12:46.800 And now if you'll remove yourself from my bunk, I need some sleep. 12:46.800 --> 12:51.880 If you are going to move in here, then what am I going to do? 12:51.880 --> 12:53.760 Oh, you'll think of something. 12:53.760 --> 12:56.240 You made all your own plans so far. 12:56.240 --> 12:59.520 Oh, thank you. 12:59.520 --> 13:03.280 But if my husband sees me, then he may think you brought me on board. 13:03.280 --> 13:06.840 Well, in that case, I shall be forced to kill him in a duel. 13:06.840 --> 13:07.840 Good night. 13:07.840 --> 13:11.960 You, you are going to sleep? 13:11.960 --> 13:14.680 I hope to. 13:14.680 --> 13:16.760 Try the Shrine of the Queen of Heaven. 13:16.760 --> 13:18.760 It's the last cabin in the stern. 13:18.760 --> 13:23.560 No one goes there but Young Po and he'll have to be told about you anyway. 13:23.560 --> 13:24.560 Good night. 13:24.560 --> 13:34.560 Even when you are rude to me, your mouth is so very sweet. 13:34.560 --> 13:37.560 Buenas noches. 13:37.560 --> 13:44.760 Well, woman or no woman aboard, it was too late to turn back now. 13:44.760 --> 13:48.960 And so two days later, we dropped anchor at the mouth of Serif's River. 13:48.960 --> 13:53.000 Off the port rail a quarter mile away lay the pirate's stockade. 13:53.000 --> 13:56.680 Backed up by the dark green mass of jungle. 13:56.680 --> 14:00.680 And on the opposite side of the junk, across a hundred yards or so of water, was the beach 14:00.680 --> 14:06.880 of Misfortune's Isles, sloping back to break sharply on the foot of the limestone cliffs. 14:06.880 --> 14:11.440 On the upper shoulders of those cliffs were the caves with a fortune and edible bird's 14:11.440 --> 14:13.320 nests. 14:13.320 --> 14:23.360 And between the cliffs and the water stood the Eupus tree. 14:23.360 --> 14:26.200 A hundred legends were told about the Eupus tree. 14:26.200 --> 14:28.560 How its shadow could kill a man. 14:28.560 --> 14:34.160 How the spirit of a white goddess was prisoned in the thick dark foliage of its top. 14:34.160 --> 14:39.080 And how birds that lighted on its branches fell dead to the ground. 14:39.080 --> 14:41.600 But one thing at least was true enough. 14:41.600 --> 14:45.840 The dikes made a horrible poison from the juice of its bark. 14:45.840 --> 14:54.480 And they worshiped the tree. 14:54.480 --> 14:57.640 Yang Po took the renegade interpreter, Jambu, with him. 14:57.640 --> 15:01.280 And went ashore to pay his respects to Serif. 15:01.280 --> 15:06.240 And at the same time was to pass the word to his Chinese friends. 15:06.240 --> 15:10.960 It was late afternoon when he came back and I'd become nearly as uneasy as Don Narciso. 15:10.960 --> 15:14.440 Yang Po came aboard alone and motioned me to follow him below. 15:14.440 --> 15:16.920 Saying nothing until we were alone in my cabin. 15:16.920 --> 15:22.280 It is my humble opinion, Captain Harald, that heaven favors us with the sighted lack 15:22.280 --> 15:23.280 of fortune. 15:23.280 --> 15:24.280 Why? 15:24.280 --> 15:25.280 What happened? 15:25.280 --> 15:27.000 Serif most polite, I most polite. 15:27.000 --> 15:31.560 We enjoy most friendly conversation while we both held our knives beneath our robes. 15:31.560 --> 15:32.560 All very polite. 15:32.560 --> 15:34.720 Well, did you get word to your men? 15:34.720 --> 15:39.240 Serif blessed with presence of two hundred dikes and fifty melees. 15:39.240 --> 15:43.360 My own brethren are unfortunately down the coast for two days. 15:43.360 --> 15:45.320 Oh, that's a bad piece of luck. 15:45.320 --> 15:47.880 But I have news of much worse one. 15:47.880 --> 15:51.600 Jambu, that son of ten thousand devils has deserted us. 15:51.600 --> 15:52.600 Deserted? 15:52.600 --> 15:54.600 He has joined Serif. 15:54.600 --> 15:57.160 Oh, he'll tell him exactly what we're planning. 15:57.160 --> 15:59.680 Do not believe Jambu would do such a thing. 15:59.680 --> 16:01.840 Dolphina, I told you to stay out of this cabin. 16:01.840 --> 16:02.840 Jambu worships me. 16:02.840 --> 16:03.840 He's my slave, White. 16:03.840 --> 16:06.520 It was he who helped me sleep on board. 16:06.520 --> 16:09.080 Oh, so that's why he's done it. 16:09.080 --> 16:10.080 He has not deserted. 16:10.080 --> 16:12.800 What could he hope to gain by it? 16:12.800 --> 16:13.800 You probably. 16:13.800 --> 16:19.640 This unworthy one offers suggestion that we stand out to sea until water which come tomorrow. 16:19.640 --> 16:22.000 A fine idea, except for one thing. 16:22.000 --> 16:24.880 Your sleepy little sons of heaven left the cable slack. 16:24.880 --> 16:29.840 We're grounded on a mud bar with no chance of moving before the tide tomorrow morning. 16:29.840 --> 16:32.520 We'll have to stand and fight. 16:32.520 --> 16:34.920 Ah, yes, they are so careless. 16:34.920 --> 16:40.120 I forgot to tell you they even neglected to cover powder during storm. 16:40.120 --> 16:42.320 The water ruined it. 16:42.320 --> 16:44.120 Then we'll not even have the four cannon. 16:44.120 --> 16:46.360 Really matter of slight importance. 16:46.360 --> 16:48.140 They only ornaments. 16:48.140 --> 16:51.800 They would blow up if we fired them. 16:51.800 --> 16:54.640 You could hardly have picked a more suitable time to tell me. 16:54.640 --> 16:58.360 Well, we'll fight without them. 16:58.360 --> 17:01.120 The impetuosity of youth. 17:01.120 --> 17:05.920 I think I sleep for a while and dream of maidens on the moon. 17:05.920 --> 17:09.080 Young Poe, you'll stay on your feet and start your men boiling kettles of oil and piling 17:09.080 --> 17:10.080 rocks by the rail. 17:10.080 --> 17:13.280 It would be so much pleasanter to die in one sleep. 17:13.280 --> 17:16.920 If I know, sir, if you'll not attacked until nearly midnight. 17:16.920 --> 17:19.520 Tell Fina, can you swim? 17:19.520 --> 17:20.840 I can do anything. 17:20.840 --> 17:23.520 Primarily, I want to know if you can swim. 17:23.520 --> 17:24.520 I can. 17:24.520 --> 17:25.520 Good. 17:25.520 --> 17:28.040 Young Poe, I'll be back and help you in an hour. 17:28.040 --> 17:30.460 But I have a job to do first. 17:30.460 --> 17:33.960 Come along, Kondesa. 17:33.960 --> 17:41.680 It was dark when we slipped into the water and struck out for the island. 17:41.680 --> 17:45.440 If I had tried to lower a boat, they might have seen us from the shore. 17:45.440 --> 17:47.920 I could see no other way to keep her out of it. 17:47.920 --> 17:50.200 The rest of us had no chance. 17:50.200 --> 17:53.040 I knew how the dikes fought. 17:53.040 --> 17:54.720 We could expect no help. 17:54.720 --> 17:58.640 And on board, she would have been the only one of us left alive. 17:58.640 --> 18:05.120 Aye, Jambu would see to that. 18:05.120 --> 18:09.560 We made the beach safely, crossed it and worked our way up the steep path on the face of the 18:09.560 --> 18:10.560 cliff. 18:10.560 --> 18:13.440 Finally, we reached the ledge in front of the caves. 18:13.440 --> 18:17.600 It is so dark here. 18:17.600 --> 18:18.600 It frightens me. 18:18.600 --> 18:20.480 Well, there's nothing to harm you. 18:20.480 --> 18:23.000 That's in the caves, perhaps, but nothing else. 18:23.000 --> 18:25.160 I am to stay here alone then? 18:25.160 --> 18:28.440 Aye, until the water which comes into anchor tomorrow. 18:28.440 --> 18:30.480 Light this torch then and signal them. 18:30.480 --> 18:33.120 They'll come ashore and take you off. 18:33.120 --> 18:34.120 Tomorrow? 18:34.120 --> 18:37.680 Where will you be tomorrow, Arendt? 18:37.680 --> 18:41.440 You are going back there to die with him, aren't you? 18:41.440 --> 18:42.800 You will have a fighting chance? 18:42.800 --> 18:46.040 You have no chance at all and you know it don't go. 18:46.040 --> 18:47.040 Stay with me, Arendt. 18:47.040 --> 18:48.040 You know that's impossible. 18:48.040 --> 18:53.240 No, this man, young Po, is no better than a pirate himself and you cannot help him by 18:53.240 --> 18:55.920 losing your own life or stay with me. 18:55.920 --> 18:58.960 And what of your husband? 18:58.960 --> 19:03.960 I will not go back. 19:03.960 --> 19:07.920 I beg you, please, Arendt. 19:07.920 --> 19:13.440 Delphina, you have a deadlier poison than the upas tree itself. 19:13.440 --> 19:21.480 Will you force me then to stay here in safety and watch you die on those decks there below 19:21.480 --> 19:22.480 us? 19:22.480 --> 19:26.320 Will it make so very much difference to you? 19:26.320 --> 19:31.920 So much that I would not care to be alive tomorrow. 19:31.920 --> 19:33.920 In Manila I hated my life. 19:33.920 --> 19:37.920 I prayed for earthquakes, pirates, death, anything. 19:37.920 --> 19:43.880 But now I pray only that you may live through this night. 19:43.880 --> 19:52.000 Delphina, Delphina, there's nothing can be said. 19:52.000 --> 19:56.560 Leave then if you must. 19:56.560 --> 20:01.560 But before you do, kiss me. 20:01.560 --> 20:03.560 Delphina. 20:03.560 --> 20:11.240 When is not just pretty or something? 20:11.240 --> 20:13.240 Adiosito. 20:13.240 --> 20:15.240 Adiosito. 20:15.240 --> 20:18.240 For a little while. 20:18.240 --> 20:31.480 Had I stayed there one moment longer, I should never have left her. 20:31.480 --> 20:36.160 Back aboard the junk I found Yang Po rushing preparations for the hopeless fight that stood 20:36.160 --> 20:37.520 ahead of us. 20:37.520 --> 20:42.280 Don Narciso was shivering on the quarter deck and I saw no reason to tell him his wife had 20:42.280 --> 20:44.600 made the trip with us. 20:44.600 --> 20:49.520 The Chinese crew had piled stones and smoke pots at the rail ready to throw down on the 20:49.520 --> 20:54.160 heads of the diacs who had tried aboard us and kettles of oil were being heated over 20:54.160 --> 20:57.280 a brick hearth by the mast. 20:57.280 --> 21:00.940 Paper lanterns had been lighted and hung about the rigging. 21:00.940 --> 21:05.040 But outside the narrow limits of the deck we could see nothing. 21:05.040 --> 21:09.520 Nothing but the black wall of the Borneo night. 21:09.520 --> 21:14.600 That same dark wall shut off any sight of the upas tree and of the cliff face where 21:14.600 --> 21:16.760 Delphina lay hidden. 21:16.760 --> 21:22.340 But I knew from the ledge she could see us moving about on the lighted deck. 21:22.340 --> 21:26.440 I loaded my pistols with the only dry powder aboard and we waited. 21:26.440 --> 21:31.760 There was no light on shore and no sound. 21:31.760 --> 21:39.880 And three hours went past. 21:39.880 --> 21:45.000 Senoris, have all possible measures been taken? 21:45.000 --> 21:50.180 My venerable Captain General, I have offered incense and rice to Queen of Heaven. 21:50.180 --> 21:55.880 If our enemies prevail after that, then we have mistreated them in some former life. 21:55.880 --> 21:57.880 I go below to sleep. 21:57.880 --> 21:58.880 Sleep? 21:58.880 --> 22:00.760 And who is to give orders to your men? 22:00.760 --> 22:03.040 They give them to one another, Excellency. 22:03.040 --> 22:05.840 They are all commanders in their own right. 22:05.840 --> 22:12.120 We may perhaps meet later in third or fourth heaven with powder, dry powder aboard and 22:12.120 --> 22:13.440 the ground of the sheep. 22:13.440 --> 22:16.560 I might warn you before the attack starts, Your Excellency. 22:16.560 --> 22:20.880 Stay away from the rail, at least until after the smoke parts are thrown. 22:20.880 --> 22:24.640 The dikes use bamboo poles with iron hooks on the end. 22:24.640 --> 22:29.400 They can reach up and drag a man over the rail easier than picking coconuts. 22:29.400 --> 22:37.000 Captain Arad, perhaps we could surrender and make peace somehow. 22:37.000 --> 22:38.400 We'll take no surrender. 22:38.400 --> 22:39.400 They want our heads. 22:39.400 --> 22:40.400 Look! 22:40.400 --> 22:41.400 They're on us! 22:41.400 --> 22:42.400 Young Pawn, deck, here they come! 22:42.400 --> 22:43.400 Watch the rails, Your Excellency. 22:43.400 --> 22:48.400 Use your cutlass if a head comes over the side and look out for the hooks. 22:48.400 --> 22:49.400 On side! 22:49.400 --> 22:53.720 Tarriffs, dikes, warriors that run their boats in against the sides of the junk and 22:53.720 --> 22:56.560 now we're pushing their murderous hooks over the rail. 22:56.560 --> 23:00.680 The Chinese crew is fighting like madmen, tossing over smoke pots, smashing those heavy 23:00.680 --> 23:06.080 rocks down on the heads of the pirate mob, pouring up smoking kettles of boiling oil 23:06.080 --> 23:10.680 and the whole curtain of night was torn by the screams of agony. 23:10.680 --> 23:17.360 Captain Arad, we find ourselves suddenly without smoke pots or soothing oil and rocks are nearly 23:17.360 --> 23:18.360 gone. 23:18.360 --> 23:19.880 Aye, they'll be swarming aboard us in another two minutes. 23:19.880 --> 23:21.520 Where's the Captain General? 23:21.520 --> 23:23.680 He has retired to cabin. 23:23.680 --> 23:26.680 It would be uncharitable to say he hides there. 23:26.680 --> 23:29.920 Well, a lot of good it'll do him. 23:29.920 --> 23:30.920 What happened? 23:30.920 --> 23:34.120 Young Pawn, they're on the island. 23:34.120 --> 23:35.120 Look! 23:35.120 --> 23:41.320 It would appear top of secret Yuppas tree has burst into flame. 23:41.320 --> 23:46.640 The great flaming torch of the tree spread into full bloom and leaped up to the heavens, 23:46.640 --> 23:51.520 lighting the whole sea around us and everywhere about us screaming in hoarse terror the dikes 23:51.520 --> 23:56.120 drew off in their boats and stared at the blazing death of their sacred tree. 23:56.120 --> 24:00.080 And then in full view on the glaring face of the cliff, the beautiful and weird figure 24:00.080 --> 24:06.280 of a woman, hair streaming behind it, swung slowly out from behind the flame and up and 24:06.280 --> 24:10.800 up and then disappeared over the ledge in front of the caves. 24:10.800 --> 24:15.440 And at the sight of their white goddess escaping from her prison in the tree, the dikes broke 24:15.440 --> 24:19.480 in panic and turned their boats and raced for the shore. 24:19.480 --> 24:24.600 And while I thought of the signal torch I'd left with Delphina, suddenly the battle was 24:24.600 --> 24:25.600 over. 24:25.600 --> 24:28.400 Ten thousand bushels of unexpected good fortune. 24:28.400 --> 24:31.000 The little pair keep her saved our worthless lives. 24:31.000 --> 24:32.640 All right, then you recognize her. 24:32.640 --> 24:36.160 These vulnerable eyes have never looked upon sight more fair. 24:36.160 --> 24:40.760 I shall address her hereafter as Princess of Heaven. 24:40.760 --> 24:44.960 And I think perhaps another recognized her also. 24:44.960 --> 24:47.440 Rambo, did you not see it? 24:47.440 --> 24:48.440 That was Delphina. 24:48.440 --> 24:50.240 It was my wife. 24:50.240 --> 24:51.720 I know. 24:51.720 --> 24:52.720 She was aboard with us. 24:52.720 --> 24:53.720 Aboard with us? 24:53.720 --> 24:56.720 By your permission, senor? 24:56.720 --> 25:01.480 No, she stowed away and asked that the knowledge of her presence be kept from you. 25:01.480 --> 25:06.520 I have no doubt she found you quite agreeable to such a plan. 25:06.520 --> 25:07.520 Take care, excellency. 25:07.520 --> 25:08.520 Take care? 25:08.520 --> 25:10.520 I will see you hang, senor. 25:10.520 --> 25:14.080 And as for her, I shall whip her through the streets of Vanilla. 25:14.080 --> 25:15.080 We will discuss that later. 25:15.080 --> 25:17.080 I do not discuss my decisions. 25:17.080 --> 25:21.360 In fact, it may be better that I bring her aboard at once and perhaps beat her to death 25:21.360 --> 25:22.360 on this very deck. 25:22.360 --> 25:23.360 You pardon me. 25:23.360 --> 25:28.360 It is my humble opinion that elderly men should learn to control their emotions. 25:28.360 --> 25:29.360 Wait, wait. 25:29.360 --> 25:31.560 There's a dyke warrior hiding there by the rail. 25:31.560 --> 25:33.560 The boats have gone and left him. 25:33.560 --> 25:35.560 Excellency, excellency, away from that rail. 25:35.560 --> 25:37.560 I take no orders from you, senor. 25:37.560 --> 25:38.560 Get back. 25:38.560 --> 25:39.560 Look out. 25:39.560 --> 25:40.560 Silence, dogers. 25:40.560 --> 25:41.560 Wait, young man. 25:41.560 --> 25:44.280 Very commendable shooting, Captain Aran. 25:44.280 --> 25:45.280 Aye. 25:45.280 --> 25:47.560 I'm a little used to the Captain General, I'm afraid. 25:47.560 --> 25:48.960 See what you can do from Yung Po. 25:48.960 --> 25:51.460 I'm going ashore to look after her. 25:51.460 --> 25:53.160 See what I can do for him. 25:53.160 --> 25:59.000 Now, how can I be expected to replace man's head on his body, especially when head seems 25:59.000 --> 26:11.160 to have rolled overboard? 26:11.160 --> 26:14.720 There's not the least bit of use in giving me a poet's blindie or reprobate. 26:14.720 --> 26:18.240 It was nothing but pure luck that kept me from sailing in here this morning and finding 26:18.240 --> 26:20.720 nothing but your heads, all are smoking in a row. 26:20.720 --> 26:23.960 A little dreams of Queen of Heaven, Mr. O'Kane. 26:23.960 --> 26:27.600 Not to mention, of course, those of a princess. 26:27.600 --> 26:29.960 Oh, that Spanish lad, eh? 26:29.960 --> 26:31.720 And quite a one she's turned out to be. 26:31.720 --> 26:38.160 I plan to devote remainder of my unworthy life to rescue of small birds from nests. 26:38.160 --> 26:39.600 Now that's advantage time. 26:39.600 --> 26:41.000 Oh, oh, come in, A-Rat. 26:41.000 --> 26:43.040 I've been wondering where to find you. 26:43.040 --> 26:44.920 I was charting the course. 26:44.920 --> 26:46.760 Well, we can sail in the morning. 26:46.760 --> 26:48.000 Both ships are nearly loaded. 26:48.000 --> 26:49.000 Good. 26:49.000 --> 26:50.000 We'll head for Kent. 26:50.000 --> 26:54.840 Yung Po, this friend of yours there, this Hong Kua, some good quality of silk to trade. 26:54.840 --> 26:55.840 It is possible. 26:55.840 --> 26:57.840 Ah, silk is it now. 26:57.840 --> 27:00.840 And what will you be wanting silk for, A-Rat? 27:00.840 --> 27:03.800 Well, uh, well, it's not silk. 27:03.800 --> 27:04.800 I mean, not exactly. 27:04.800 --> 27:05.800 Oh, come, man, come, man. 27:05.800 --> 27:06.800 It's what? 27:06.800 --> 27:07.800 What? 27:07.800 --> 27:10.760 It's not silk, A-Rat, then what is it, hmm? 27:10.760 --> 27:12.520 Oh, all right, Michael. 27:12.520 --> 27:32.160 If you have to know everything, I want to trade with them for a dozen pair of silk stockings. 27:32.160 --> 27:35.040 Escape is produced and directed by William N. Robeson. 27:35.040 --> 27:39.680 And tonight brought you Misfortune's Isle by Richard Matthews Hallett, adapted for radio 27:39.680 --> 27:45.960 by Les Crutchfield, with Paul Fries as Captain A-Rat, Virginia Gregg as Dona Delfina, Bill 27:45.960 --> 28:13.200 Conrad as Yung Po, Barry Kroger as Don Narciso, and Tony Barrett as Mike O'Kane.