Produced by Al Haines. [Illustration: Cover art] [Illustration: THE _BUNDER ABBAS_ COMES UPON A LARGE ARAB DHOW IN THE VERY ACT OF LANDING GUNS. _Page_ 105] Gunboat and Gun-runner A Tale of the Persian Gulf BY SURGEON REAR-ADMIRAL T. T. JEANS, C.M.G., R.N. Author of "John Graham, Sub-Lieutenant R.N." "On Foreign Service" "Ford of H.M.S. Vigilant" &c. _Illustrated by C. M. Padday_ BLACKIE & SON LIMITED LONDON AND GLASGOW 1914 BLACKIE & SON LIMITED _50 Old Bailey, London_ _17 Stanhope Street, Glasgow_ BLACKIE & SON (INDIA) LIMITED _Warwick House, Fort Street, Bombay_ BLACKIE & SON (CANADA) LIMITED _1118 Bay Street, Toronto_ _Printed in Great Britain by Blackie & Son, Ltd., Glasgow_ *Preface* For many years the fierce, unruly tribes beyond the north-west frontier of India have only been able to obtain rifles from the Arabian coast. Arab dhows bring them across the Persian Gulf and adjacent waters, and caravans of camels convey them to their destination through the mountain passes of Baluchistan. Ships of the Royal Navy and the Royal Indian Marine, armed launches manned by officers and men lent from the Royal Navy, and ships’ armed cutters cruise and patrol these waters from one year’s end to another, overhauling dhows, landing men to search villages suspected of concealing arms, and ceaselessly striving to put a stop to this trade. My story describes the conditions of service in one of these armed launches, and is based on actual occurrences which took place some ten years ago. Most of the incidents have been described to me by participators in them. The proof-sheets have also been revised by officers who have themselves taken part, during more recent years, in the suppression of "gun-running". As a result, the story is, I trust, free from errors and improbabilities. T. T. JEANS, Surgeon Rear-Admiral, Royal Navy. *Contents* CHAP. I. A Splendid Appointment II. The Story of the "Twin Death" III. Skipper of the "Bunder Abbas" IV. Adrift in a Dhow V. My First Capture VI. The Edge of Civilization VII. The Battle of the Paraffin Can VIII. Ugly Rumours IX. Trapping a Caravan X. The Fight in the "Coffee-Cup" XI. The Cobra Bracelet Again XII. Mr. Scarlett Bares his Arm XIII. Rounding up a Prodigal XIV. We Deal with Jassim XV. A Tragedy of the Telegraph XVI. The Siege of Jask XVII. Jassim Takes his Revenge XVIII. To the Rescue XIX. The Grey-Eyed Lady Decides