The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-06-21
ST ALBANS, VII, FRIDAY, JUNE 81. 1867.

And this Is the way he accomplished
it: Every day that he climbed the
palm tree, he took u diamond with
him in his mouth After sitting on
his favorite limb for moment, he
would cut slit in the bark aud slip it
in. This he would ingeniously fastcn
until the place grew up, when the
place of incubation healed over and
there was valuable diamond grown
up in the limb. BY keeping up this
practice through nearly all of ten
years, the branch became crammcd
with jewels, and Jack thus carried
away fortune that would have made
a grandco's eyes sparkle with pleas
urc.
This proceeding of Jacks can hard
ly be called honest, and yet when we
bear in mind that tho Brazilian Gov
ernnent most uniustly and cruelty OK
torted ten Of the best years of his life
from him, rcaping the reward itself,
there is some paliati)n for the act
Jack had been gone but few days,
when queer suspicion entered the
head of the governor of the mine. ~
Going to tue tree, which had been
such Il favorte with the convict, he
climbed in and made an examination.
In the stump of the limb which re-
manned, he picked out diamond
His suspicious were confirmed. He
understood all
Descending, he called one of his
subordinate officers to him, acquaint-
ed him with the facts, and directed
him to make all haste after the gov
eminent party, accompany it to Rio r
taking care that no one should sus-
pect his intention-t have Jack
arrested for crime, the punishment
OF which would be labor in the mines.
This agent, who was trustworthy
servant, understood the secret, and
faithfully did he carry out his instruc-
tons. He travelled with all speed, and
sometimes far into the night, but it
happened that the government train
/ iourneyed at good rate of speed, and
they reached Rio Janeiro Just thirty
six hours in advance of the police Off
GER
The latter made all haste to the au-
thorities, and inquired whether Jack
Ford had left the city. He was in
formed that he had obtained pass
ports for himself and wife that same
! day, and was then on board the Sea
/ Witch which was lying in the harbor.
Accompanied by a single police Off
cor, the agent was at once rowed
J down tho hov q, fho Thin
You have passenger by the name
of Jack Ford, said the police officer
as he came on board, addressing the
captain.
That's my name, said Jack him
self, stepping forward.
81 arrest you i'll the name of the
government"
Further utterance was checked by
a tremendous blow in the mouth, that
lald the policeman fiat upon the deck.
"Nou tried that game ten years ago,
said the captain. his face liyid with
fury, addressing the other officer; "you
succeeded then, but you don't
do it again
And collaring the officer, he forced
INN Duch TO Ine SunWale, ana then
unceromoniously pitched him over
board.
''Be jabers, yees had better keep
him company, said Jack, catching up
the policeman, who had just recover
ed; and follow him he did, going oy-
erboard with tremendous splash,
where the two were picked up by the
oarsmen.
The anchor was Immediately weigh
ed and half hour later the Sea-
Witch was setting saucily out toward
the blue sea- When the discounted
officers returned to the city, and re-
ported their grievances, the Sea- Witch
and its passengers were beyond the
reach Of the Brazilian Government
Jack reached "Ameriky' in safety,
and it need scarcely be said that he
never again visited the southern half
of the western continent. He did not
forget handsomely to reward the cap
tain, who stood SO calamity by him IN
the last moment of danger.