The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-07-16


and died there. This wretched outlaw,
with his last breath, had verbally be-
| queathed to Caspar an immense sum of
money, in Spanish doubloons, which he
averred was buried in cave among
Bandore's Ledges," well-known
labyrinth of rocks on the lower coast
How to secure this hidden treasure,
without betraying his secret, puzzled the
rheumatic old miser not little. Atlast
he confided in an old borderer, offering
him goodly sum If he would find the
| Spanish doubloons and bring them to
him. But after searching for two months,
the man came back to report failure.
Caspar then employed another agent,
but with the same result. He kept it
up until dozen men had searched the
rocks in vain. Then it became publicly
known that old Caspar Wolfe was the
unhappy owner of legacy somewhere
in Bandore's Ledges, which he could not
! find.
After awhile 1t was rumored that the
miser had actually offered either or both
of his daughters in marriage to the per-
son or persons who would unearth the
pirates treasure and place it in his pos
session.
Ambitious young knights sprung at
this offer, and plunged into the enter
prise with a vim; but all to no purpose
They invariably returned from the search
baffied and disheartened. Harry Ches-
ter and Jack Sedley, who not only loved
the girls, but had every reason to believe
the attachment was reciprocal, resolved
to try their luck. 1t was like romance
to them-like an old-time fairy tale, in
which an eccentric king offers the hand
of his favorite daughter to the knight
who will overcome certain unheard-of
obstacles, for the attainment of a pet OBJ
jects. Perhaps they might be the for
tunate heroes in this case-the Boots, as
it were.
They first waited upon Caspar Wolfe,
to learn If the report had any founda-
ton in truth. He quickly satisfied them
by promising to give them his daughters
to wed the moment they brought him
the coveted treasure. They then set out,
armed with the crude and very unsatis-
factor map which the dying hand of the
pirate had traced. They preferred to go
by water, as that mode of journeying
promised fewer dangers and difficulties
than any other; so they took their own
sail-boat, in the management of which
both were well skilled, and performed
the voyage to Bandore's Ledge in safety.
There they concealed the craft in cove
and spent week in fruitless search
among the rocks.
With this explanation we will return
to our heroes, whom we left hurrying
along the shore in pursuit of what they
supposed to be wild animal.
They were in the act of passing round
jutting point, that extended almost
into the water, when Jack, who was in
the lead, suddenly recoiled, with low
exclamation of surprise.
What is it ?" asked Harry.
Sh-h-h ~ whispered Jack.
Harry pressed forward and looked
over his companions shoulder, and was
startled half out of his wits at the sight
of-not wild beast, but man, scarcely
ten feet ahead of them. He was des-
perate looking character, huge and mus
cular, and swarthy as Moor. He was
armed to the teeth, and his queer, fam
tastic dress had something Enthusiastically
Spanish about it, not to say brigandish.
AT the moment he appeared SO unex-
pectedly to the young adventures, he
was kneeling on the groundin stealthy,
cautious way, peering up through
dark crevice between the cliffs.
Presently, he placed small silver
whistle to his lips, and blew low,
tremulous blast that reverberated dole
fully among the crags.
Then he rose to his feet, and stood as
If waiting.
Instead of retreating, Jack and Harry
crouched upon the ground, where no
chance glance could discover them, and
watched the actions of them.
In few moments, just as they ex-
pected, second man appeared, coming
down from the dark crevice aforemen-
toned. He was descending long flight
of natural steps--a rude freak of nature,
in the shape of gigantic staircase,
whose upper and ulterior extremity was
lost in the deep gloom between the tow
ering walls that rose on either side.--