The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-02-03

OI Two ldtSi.
"Oh. I don't thing we've got any
thing to fear" returned Chase; ''and T,
for one, would like to see what the
| scoundrels are up to. Who knows but
they're going to bury money OF some
thing! Such things have been done,
you know, before to-day"
ga good while before to-day I reck-
on chimed in Claymore. ''These
fellows amt hardly likely to have so
much money they can't carry it with
EN-. But, anyhow, I think with you
there won't be much danger in staying
here if we're cautious, and I'm for see
| ing the thing out-or, at least, till I
get something to get scared at in ear
| nest"
The highest point of land on the lit
tie island occupied by the turtlers was
covered with trees and bushes, which
would have been sufficient to effectually
| conceal them in broad daylight; and as
this elevation commanded full view of
the vessel, they now took their station
here, to note the proceedings of the
men they believed to be pirates. As
twilight had already deepened into
| night and the moon had not yet risen,
| they could barely discern the vessel with
the naked eye; but, by the aid of their
glass, they could not only see her some
what distinctly, but the shadow forms
of men grouped together, or moving
| about the decks. Presently, one boat
| after another was lowered iuto the wa
ter and quickly filed with human beings
and then long box was let down with
| great care and unusual silence, orders
were given fin low tones, and several
| boats moved off in concert toward the
nearest shore, where a landing was soon
| effected and numerous lights display
| ed.
s'What's the meaning of all this2"
said Wilson.
81 reckon it's a funeral,' replied
Chase.
s'But it's not usual for seamen to
bury their dead on land ?" rejoined Will
| son.
| "That's true, but then you know, sail
ors often take strange, superstitious no
| tions into their heads, and it's Just as
| like as not this here's the result OF some
| thing of this kind. I wouldn't wonder,
now if the Captain, or some other Off
| Ger, before he died, had made the crew
premise to bury him on one of these is
lands, and they've come here to do it. 4"
| cit looks like something of that kind,
that's a fact" said Claynore, who was
| now using the glass. 'The box is long
enough to have corpse in it, and
| they're carrying it forward in regular
| funeral style. There" he added, short
| ly after, "they've reached little open
spot, under large tree set it down.
And low there's some men with spades,
that seem to be marking something out
Yes there, they've commenced digging,
| and the others have formed big ring
all round 'em.
"And how many do s'pose there is of
EN-" asked Wilson.
''I can't tell exactly-but shouldn't
think there's less than fifty
81 guess they've pretty much all come
ashore then!
Claymore turned the glass upon the
vessel, and replied:
| "All, [ reckon, I-don't see one
! there"
"By Jove, boysl" cried Chase, with
sudden start, cIapping hand upon the
| shoulders of each of his companions as
| he stood between them, what's to him
der us from capturing their vessel them"
Both Wilson and Claymore turned
| like lightning and looked the speaker
straight in the face, without saying q
word, as if the very suggestion had
surprised them into silence.
81 reckon it might be DONE" pursu-
| ed Chase; ''and if so, it would be the
| best nights work of our lives"
'Failure would be DEATH" said Viii
! son.
"Perhaps; but then, you know moth
ing ventur' nothing have. Besides, if
we'd been men to be scared at trifes,
| we shouldn't be where we are now,
following our risky business
''But we don't know for certain they
are pirates" chimel in Claymore; "that
| craft may be regular man war"
SIN that case we wouldn't be hurt, af-
| ter telling 'em our mistake"
"Perhaps not, unless they took us
for pirates" )"
| ''Tm not afeared of that"
''Slip around there at once in our
boats and reconnoiter, while they're all
busy on shore. If we don't see nobody
aboard, we can get possession right
easy, and two minutes on deck will let
us know what she is. If they've left a
| guard there, which don't believe, we
can put back again, and no harm done. :"
"Fm not so sure of that" returned
the more cautious Wilson. "We'd be
likely to be seen, hailed, and fired into ;
and then, with the whole crew alarm
ed, it wouldn't be easy to get away from
| the villains"
| ''Of course there's risk" rejoined
| Chase ''but how in thunder can we ex-
pect to make big haul without one ?'
I tell yon, boys, here's an opportunity
that don't come twice in mans life !;
and if we let it slip by, it's my opinion
| we'll die poor but if that crafts a