Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01

sea had broken up for us, and so save our
selves the trouble of breaking up the hulk.
The work was eXhausting and fatiguing,
and found to my chagrin that Beggs
surpassed me in strength and endurance.
My illness had shaken my constitution,
and | suffered very severely from pain in
the leg that had been fractured but |
made up mymind to preseyere and do my
best
So far our search had been UNI
successful At last | observed something
that made me suspect that Bleggs was
| playing me tricks, Happening to make
my descent after him somewhat more
rapidly than usual, found him emerging
from the hulk. He assured me afterwards
that he had only gone there for mussels,
of which he was very fond, and which
were very fine on the hulk.
A day or two afterwMd-Bleggs having
meantime obtained leave to ego ashore" as
we called visiting the main-land-I obser-
we'd that man was constantly hanging
about the reef fishing in an open boat. 1t
was not very good fishing ground, and it
was some distance from the shore for an
open boat. But | noticed that this stran-
ger always remained at his moorings bill
after dark. He was not communicative
indeed he growied at our manmuvres,
saving that we drove the fish away. AT
the same time discovered he was not
native, for he did not speak the local dia-
lect, but what, for want of better defni-
ton, may call it LOndon-English.
My suspicious were aroused at last, when
turning round suddenly one day while we
were preparing to descend, saw Bleggs
signaling to the solitary fisherman. I said
nothing but determined to investigate
without delay.
All that nj ght | lay awake thinking over
this matter rose in themorning with
matured plan. When BIeggs and | had
finished cur midday meal, which was
cooked upon the boat, | ordered him to
take off his diving dress, and go to the main
land and get some paper, under the pre-
tense that | had none in store, and must
write my report to Mr.. Turton that night
BleggS did not seem to like the idea, but
be was obliged to 90. ! sent one of the
crew with him IN one of our small punts
and as soon as | saw him disappear behind
the island | jumped overheard to prosecute
my search.
And made my way to the hulk and
entered it, A very short survey sufiiced
to show me that its hold had been visited,
and that the contents Of its hold had been
recently disturbed. Making my way
down, was speedily engaged in clearing
the sand and weed, beneath which soon
came upon some large wooden cases, so
rOtted and decayed that a very few blows
of my ak shiyered the lid of one, and re-
vealed the contents.
There lay masses OF what, in spite Of
being so oxdized and, as it were, fused to-
gether by the action of saltwater, could
see were gold and silver coins. The sight
at first surprised and delighted me and
then came a thought Of rage at the treach-
cry of Blcggs, who had, it is clear, con-
cealed the treasure from me, and was evil
IDENTIFY helping himself to the contents Of
the chest--somehow, though how ! knew
not.
began to search the hold narrowly for
some trace of the manner in which he re
moved the coin. In a remote corner |
came on bundle of raw hide, and several
coils of thin but strong line. Beside these
lay knife which | identified as his, and
therefore took possession Of as bit OF
evidence againt him. Then assembled to
the deck again, and looked about him.
| could see place where the bulwarks
had evidently been cut away quite late
ly, and beyond it in the sand, which had
drifted up almost level with the deck,
could see trail as if heavy bodies had
been dragged along. followed it, and
was guided to a nook in the upright wall
of rock, wherein found two large pack
ages, consisting of raw hide, and evidently
full of coins. A line was attached to them.
| followed it with my eye as it went up
up toward the surface Of the water as far
as could see. was just about to pull
it, in order to discover whether it was at
tached to some fishing buoy, when | made
out through the green haze of heaving
water a dark object, which | Immediately
guessed was the boat of the uncommunlca
tive fisherman.
Well might that morose parsonage cast
line after line into the sea ii this was the
sort Of catching he made ! saw at once
why he stad out sntil after dark. 1t was
to haul in his prize unobserveI. / deter
mined he should have his labor Tor nothing
this once, at any rate. would tie his
lines to a mass ofrocks, land let him pull that
up! ! should want some cord for this pur-
pose, and remembering the coil in the
hold oil the vessel, went back to seek
it.
While was CROPPING my wayin the hold
| felt sudden jerk at my signal line,
which, as you are aware, is attached round
divers waist, J supposed it must have
caught on some projection on the wreck.
The next minute | found it must have
broken, for it hung loose
AS put my hand behind me to the knot
of the signal line to make sure that it was
the case | experienced a violent push from
behind, which flung me down on my face.
Before | could recover myself or even
wonder what vas amiss, felt my hands
caught in a slip-noose, drawn forcible to-
gether behind, and bound fast by the
wrists.
BY this time had guessed who was my
assailant. Bleggs had managed somehow
to return very much sooner than he should
have done, and had come down and sur
prised me.
As soon as he had finished tying my
hands he turned me over on my back, and
putting his foot on my chest, stood looking
at me for minute or two. Even at that
moment it struck me how strange we must
look-one man looking at the other with
triumph and hatred, the other gazing at
him with alMm and anxiety, but the coun-
tennce Of each hidden from the other
by the strange eXpressionless dving-hel-
NETS.