Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-03-22

have had IL but for Mr.. Turton's tact and
energy, aud the respect the other adventur-
ers felt for him.
Bleggs knew this for the first time we
met, he said something about my luck in
having friends at court to get me above the
heads of better men. "well," he contin-
ued gruffly, "its no odds. We shall soon
see who does best for the company, skip
per or man; and then perhaps a meddling
secretary may get a wiggling''-meaning
Mr. Turton, who had been honorary secre-
tary pro tem didn't wish, in the inter-
ests of the adventure, to quarrel with
Bleggs but gave him to understand that
wouldn't have such language, and that
once on Spanish Island, as our location was
called, should expect implicit obedience
TO orders.
In due time the island was reached, the
stores were landed, and tho huts built We
had a goodsized steam-launch to take
us out to the reef. She was fitted with two
powerful air-pumps. Our diving-dresses
,sese of the best and newest pattern. Ev-
etything looked well for success. The on
ly thing that presented an obstacle was the
frequent occurrence Of bad weather. We
could only take the launch among the
rocks when the sea was pretty smooth, and,
indeed, could not have made n descent
without great risk when it was very rough.
Selling every opportunity 1 began the
search. We were not long in discovering
the remains of the wrecked ships. 1t was
impossible to tell how many vessels there
had been, for they had broken up and fall
en- to pieces, and the winter storms had
spread dire havoc among them. Only one
hulk, which lay comparatively sheltered
between two perpendicular walls of rock,
retained any semblance of ship.
We explored the ocean bed carefully. 1
meant to examine the hulk first, but in
weak moment allowed myself to be dis
suaded by Bleggs, who urged that as what
we wanted was to learn as quickly as pos
sible if there was gold, we had better ex-
anime the ships which the sea had broken
up for us, and save ourselves the trouble of
breaking up the hulk.
The work was exhausting and faiguing,
and found to my chagrin that B!eggs sur
passed me in strength and endurance. My
illness had shaken my constitution, and 1
suffered very severely from pain in the leg
that had been fractured; but I made up
my mind to persevere and do my best.
So far our search had been successful.
At last I observed something that made me
suspect that Bleggs was playing me tricks.
Happening to make my descent after him
somew hat more rapidly than usual, found
him emerging from the hulk. He assured
me afterward that he had only gone there
for mussels of which he was very fond,
and which were very fine on the hulk.
day or two afterward-Bleggs having
meantime obtained leave to Ego ashore"
as we called visiting the main-land-I OBJ
served that man was constantly hanging
about the reef fishing in an open boat. 1t
was not very good tishing-ground, and it
was some distance from shore for an open
boat but noticed that this stranger al
ways remained at his moorings till after
dark. He was not very communicative
| indeed, he growed at our mannuvres say
| ing that we drove the fish away. At the
same time l discovered that he was not a
native, for he did not speak the local dia-
| lect, but for want of better definition,
may call English.
My suspicious were aroused at last, when
turning round suddenly one day while
we were preparlngt to descend, saw Beggs
signaling to the solitary fisherman. 1 said
nothing, but determined to Investigate
without delay.
All that night lay awake thinking over
this matter. [ rose in the morning with n
matured plan. When Bleggs and had fin
ished our midday meal, which was cook ed
in the boat, ordered him to take off his
diving dress, and go to the mainland to
fetch some paper, under the pretence that
I had none in store, and must write my re-
port to Mr.. Turton that night. Bleggs did
not seem to like the idea, but he was oblig-
ed to go. l sent one of the crew with him
in our small punt; and as soon as I saw
him disappear behind the island jumped
overheard to prosecute my search.
made my way to the hulk and entered
it, A very short survey sufliced to show
that it had been visited, and that the con-
tents of its hold had been recently disturb
ed. Making my way down, | was speedi-
ly engaged in clearing the sand and weed
beneath which l soon came upon some
large wooden cases, so rotted and decayed
that very few blows of my axe shiver-
ed the lid of one, and revealed the con
tents.
There lay masses Of what, in spite oi
their being so oxydized and, as it were
fused together by the action of the salt wa
ter, could see were gold and silver coins
The sight at first surprised and delighted
me then came an access Of rage at the
treachery of Bleggs, who had, It was clear
concealed this treasure from me, and wal
evidently helping himself to the contents
of the chest-somehow, though how knew
not.
/ began to search the hold narrowly 70
; Some trace of the manner in which he re
moved the coin. In a remote corner l cam
, on q bundle OF raw hide, and several COLL
of thin but strong line. Beside these lay
t | knife which identified as his, and there
, | fore took possession of as bit of evidence
| against him. Then / assembled to the decl
| again and looked about me. 1 could see
place where the bulwarks had evidentl
been cut away quite lately, and beyond
( In the sand, which had drined up almos
D | level with the deck, l could see trail as
Q heavy bodies had been dragged along.
0 followed it, and was guided to a nook i
f the upright wall of rock, wherein l foun
! two large packages, consisting of raw hide
and evidently full of coins. A line was at
y tached to them. followed 1t with my ey
Q as it went up-up toward the surface of tn
4 water as far as could see. ! was just q
= bout to pull 1t, in order to discover whetf
f er 1t was attached to some floating buoy
a when / made out through the dim gree
haze of heaving water dark object, whic
o l Immediately guessed was the boat of I'll
= uncommunicative fisherman.
o Well might that morose parsonage cai
It line after line into the sea If this was til
| l,n IaI 4 nj