The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-07-19

actions which were imputed to him. confirmed them il
their natural prejudices and served to keep his fam
in sort of coventry. We shall call his name Carr
Roger Carr-which not his true name; and, indeed
shall avoid giving the real names OF any of our fu
ture dramats persona, for the simple but suiicen
reason that though the events relate took place be
fore the Revolution, yet in spite of the vcisstudes
time the descendants of all the parties to this true
history are yet living, and be traced in severa
portions of Carolina to this day. 1t is only proper
therefore, that we should conceal the names of rea
persons, in narrative which yet deliver as SO much
veritable truth.
The night after the burial of Mathew Hornsby, our
planter, Roger Carr and his two sons Roger and Elias
safe up late in close consultation the hall of their
summer-houSe, at the place which we shall call
after the Indian name of Copahee Very serious, and
pregnant with interest the faces of the three.
The subject matter of their consultation the buried
treasure.
If this fellow spoke sense father, and truth, then
| our fortunes made forever"
yes if we can only find where the treasures
| buried"
"And if nobody's been before u.s."
"Theres no chance of that" quoth the father ''For
Blackboard and all his people were cut off as the el-
low said. He said, more than dozen times, that he
i was the last of them living"
''Yes; but somebody may have found the treasure
by accident The island, you know, belongs to Col
HQls9mbei" rs nj 7 = nim,n cried tho ,n.or,n,,, -
Elias dark savage sullen-looking cub whose tones
and looks at this moment, particularly bitter and
| venomous.
"But it's pretty certain tnas he hasn't found It or
he'd have paid of that mortgage to Kershaw upon ms
plantation. No! no! he's never got hold OF IT. or ne
| wouldn't be borrowing wherever he can.
| s"That's true Iias" answered the father, he $
deeper in the mire than ever. look to general
breakup there before very long Let US only get this
/ treasure and d-n him, we'll buy up the mortgage
Then let him look to it, Lias. He'll not be Che man,
| tLo bic -lary to so
bring down his PRIDE and we'll pull dow" her high top
| knot tool She shall"
'"Twant her fault, father 'fecEon susan Hoicombe
would have answered :" "sheu' Sie Decn let nave
.,n"n .,N Lias, said the elder brother Roeer,
uIor, "ilnk it, my boy. She's no more love for YOU
,adn for me- No! no. Her eyes set eastward, on
the handsome person and property young Broughon
Don't hater yourself that she straw for YOU
This said with some malignity, and with sneer
that cased fierce retort from the younger brother.
The father inerposed.
'Whether she cares for Charles Broushton or not,
than for Iias, 'twculdn't help her much to get
him. for his fathers Just much in debt old Hol-
combc, and there's more than mortgage upon his
acres I'll be sworn. Let get the treasure of this
pirate, and we can buy 'em all. Then w6ll see II
Susan Holcombe will refuse of mine rather
think not. Wen have 'em all in pockets, and
you'd then see the difference Of treatment we'd have
at their hands il thought fit to ask for shake-or
wife. Their doors would open to ALL of their
accord whenever rode up to the steps. know all
these naughty folks. They duck to a rich man,
Just meanly as the poorest swamp sucker in the
country. Wen buy em all, tell you boys, and sell
'em too whenever want to"
cave; but before talk of buying and selling thcm
let's be get the treasure. We're beginning to
count the chickens before we've found the eggs, put
in the elder brother.
That's true Roger" answered the father. 'and
now let's see how to get the eggs. First then,
thp jS a hppD
called Pirate Island Now know where that is,
lust across the creek aud through the marsh; we've
been it thousand times"
OoIenoe BY the way, gentle reader, the true
name. This too, we have thought proper to conceal
under another title
"Ycs" returned the elder son. "and 0olcnOe belongs
to old Holcombe. How you venture dig his
grounds without permission? You'll have to buy the
island, or buy the mortgage to get at the island"
'Fslaw!' answered the younger ''who's to know
where Dig we'll dig by night. Wen go there by
night at least We three can do the business Well
carry no negroes Holcombe never goes there himself
does not plant it, and VIC work there for week
without being suspected"
"Thats as thappeHs, 'Lias, answered Roger. "Ned
Hocombe and Charley Broughton are frequently there
for hunting and fishing; The woods are full of DEER
aud the waters Of fish"
"Oh you're always finding difficulties Roger; you're
always throwing cold water upon everything"
Su5an Holcombe likes that sports little also good
tions."
"No more of that, Roger" iHerboscd the father
''Caut you BOYS be at peace when there's only two of
you and Just now, when we're working in the common
cause Let's talk of this business that we've got in
hand Now there's two plans proposed. Either we We
to buy the island from Holcombe or make the scarGh
secretly BY night I'm for the night search. 1t would
take time buy the property, and have not got the
money for the purchase. Besides, don't think that
Holcombc will sell. He'd never part with an acre of
his land while he can help it."
81 don't much relish that night work said the elder
brother "What horrid story did this pirate tell of
the murder of the boy upon the treasure that his ghost
might haunt and protect it,"
"And you believe all that nonsense? snecrcd Elias
Carr.
''Why not, if we believe the rest of his rawlings
For my part think the whole story very suspicious
II can believe that they murdered the boy but not
that his ghost will do anything to protect the treasure
I'm not so sure that there ghosts at ALL"
''WelI ann" answered the elder. 'I've seen one
myself"
And the remark was made with shulder The old |
man and Elias looked about them. The light was
burning very dimly upon the table. It was a home
made candle dipt, and of common tallow.
''Wherc did you ever see ghost?" demanded the |
father in subdued accents
"Never mind That's my secret, which I'll never
tell to mortal. But I've scent ! believe in ghosts"
you're big fellow to be such a coward Roger
said Elias, scornfuly. II suppose you'll to back
out from the search:7
"No! I'll go You can't well do without me; but I'd
rather the thing should be done in broad daylight. -
No night work for me"
'What? That we may be discovered and ordered
off the island, and the treasure found by somebody
else Don't you suppose that doctor Bishop has told
everybody what he heard the pirate say?'
ole heard very little
ole heard enough to be curious and he asked me
about the matter-if had heard anything more
said the old man. Luckily when the pirate talked
before him. he never let on where the treasure hid
care YOU sure, father2'
"Quite"
because Bishop is sure to bab, and he's so thick
with the Hocombes."
'Tm sure That secrets safe! And we mustn't
risk it. The search must be made by night We