Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-02-06

for half an hour to think about it, and said
that at any rate he should have to return
on board for his tool-chest. They granted
his request, and sent two men with him to
watch his movements. Soon afierward,
he was suddenly taken with pretended
cramp or collie, and in great seeming
agony rushed into the cabin for medicine;
there he found Phips, and in a few rapid
words revealed the plot In less than two
hours the mutineers would be marching
on the ship. Not an instant was to be lost.
Immediately the guns were loaded and
trained to command the shore and all the
approaches to the stores; the bridge was
taken in,and when The mutineers appeared
they found themselves caught. In tones
of thunder, Phips babe them not to stir or
he would NOW them down with his bat
teries; nor did they dare to disobey. The
bridge was again laid down, and the eight
loyal men brought back the stores to the
ship. When all was safely on board again,
the mutineels were told that they were TO
be left to the fate they had intended for
their commander. In despair at so terri
BILE prospect, the miserable men threw
down their arms, and protested their will
ingncss to submit if Phips would but re-
lent and not sail away without 'em. After
a long parley, he agreed to let them come
on board, they having first given up their
arms. But with such II crew, further
search after the treasure was useless.
Phips therefore, sailed for jamaica,
changed the crew, and again weighed an
Choir for IIispaniola. There he was lucky
enough to find an old Spaniard who told
him that the wreck was somewhere about
a reef few leagues north of Puerto de la
Plata Phips Immediately went to the
spot But his search for the wreck was
unayailing, the season was changing, and
the " Rose Algier," now but half manned
and in unseaworthy condition, was unfit to
prowl around dangerous reef in the hur-
ricane season. So, without having accom-
plished the object of SO much exertlon and
anxiety, Phips was obliged to return to
England, batlled, but not discouraged
man.
Very naturally, it was impossible for
our adventurer to obtain another ERgIlsh
ship-of-war, although he received much
credit for the courage and skill shown IN
controlling the mutineerS, and one would
conclude that the treasure of the old Span
ish galleon would after this have remained
ut the bottom Of the sea, the exclusive
possession of the sharks, the turtles and
the barracudas. But with rare pertlnaclty
Phips returned to the charge. and at last
persuaded the Duke of Albemarle and sew
eral other wealthy noblemen to his views.
They formed Il company and obtained Il
patent from King James H., giving them
the sole right to all wrecked treasure they
might find during II certain number OF
years Then they fitted out ship and
tender, the latter to cruise in coyes and
shoal water. and Phips invented several
rude contrivances for dragging and div
ing, far inferior to the means now used for
such purposes. Thus prepared, he sailed
once more to llispaniola. There small,
stout boat was built, and with it and a
crew of Indian divers the tender was des-
patched to the reef where the wreck was
said 10 be. The tender was anchored in
good holding ground at = safe distance
from the reef, and the men then rowed
slowly in the boat around it, carefully eX-
aiming the depths below for signs OF the
wrecked galeon. The waters in the West
Indies are very clear, and during calm
objects can be seen ut n considerable depth
The rocks were Of singular form, rising
nearly to the surface, but with sides SC
steep that any vessel striking them would
be liable to 60 down many fathoms below
the reach of the most expert diver. The
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