Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-28
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GaIes a1lo Skeifkes.


job that was. and wouldn't speak of it
to q stranger. only that it's matter Of
forty-tbree years since it happened. The
man / was prentice to want very
particular sort of chap in the way of max.
| ing bit of money cross-ways when It
want easy to get 1t straight ways, and
more than once he come so close tn getting
into trouble that perhaps it was good
thing tor me that he made himself scarce
and never was heard of again when had
as yet year and half OF my seven years
to serve him. / was about seventeen
when in the winter time we had job that
| took US a good bit to and fro between Shad-
we'll and Limehouse, and was pulling
along one evening while he was smoking
his pipe. when. says he, Easy. you Billy !;
you see that bit of driftwood yonder?
noticed it yesterday and the day BEFORE
say he, and it ISIS rum 'un TO me why
it should stick there. and not go one way
or rother. Pull toward it and we'll have
it over board did so. and he put his
arm over the side. and made grab at it.
why, dash nv eyes. Billy he SAYS swear
ing. if it isn't made fast with line; and
| if it is buoying something at the bottom
it's strange TO me-" 1t was a short and
4 liIlth SDuuCh vi WoDu. 1hA
not likely to be picked up by anybody
who happened to pass close to where it
was floating. and the line that held it was
not tied. but fastened with nail. Lend
a hand he SAYS, and we both tried at it,
but we were more likely to break the line
than to move what was at t'other end of
it. so we gave over. We might have
managed it had the boat been steady. but
the water was rough and the wind blow
| ing. | was as good as most lads OF my
age at any thing in the water, and he knew
it. This is a rum CO. says he; there's
nobody about, Billy; tumble in If you've
got pluck to do il, and find what it is
hitched to. and if it is worth fishing
up we will go fair halves in it,
ut was November weather, and didn't
care about the job. but rather than he
should think funked it slipped of my
clothes and in went. 1t is deepish water
Whereabouts, but l let the line slip loose
through my hand. and at t'other end. half
buried in the mud. there was something
wooden and square and no doubt box.
1t wasn't more than a couple feet square,
but, excepting the cord tied around it.
there was nothing to lay hold of, and !
couldn't move 1t, let alone bring it to the
surface Well, when he heard what l
had to say about it, he was in rare way.
We had another haul at it. but it wOr OF
no use Wen have it somehow says
he. 1T is no use to night. but we'll drop
down here early in the morning. and
well think it over And mind yOu,' he
SAWS, not a word about it to anybody.
Good or bad whatever's in that box we
GO fair halves on, and only you and me
will know anything about it. So we
talked it over when we got home, and he
went out and bought some strong gear. |
was awake pretty nearly all night think
ing about it, and next morning before
day break we were off. and at Llmehouse
before there was light enough to make
out our bnoy easy. There it was, though
Just as we lett, and in | got again, taking
the sling down with me. | found the
wooden box, and took a turn or two around
it, and then came up for breath, and do wn
again two or three times. until I'd got the
thing well hitched. | had something to
lay hold of now, and with him hauling
too, we got it up easy enough, and pretty
soon put it aboard. We had brought a
sack with US to slip it into, and before
breakfast time we were back home with
it, and, with nobody but his wife there
and the door locked and the blind pulled
down, we broke the box open with the
tongs and poker. and what dye think was
inside il Silver plate sir-church plate,
cups and candlesiicks, and salvers, and
all manner of things. as many as weighed
almost a quarter of a hundred weight.
as should reckon. and everything bright
| 'cept for the dirty water that had got into
the box.
1T was such stunning sort of find that
blest if any one OF us could say hardly a
word for a minute or two. and then says old
Javois: Look here. Billy. this is mat
ter to be kept dark as pitch. This is a
church robbery. that's what this is, and
shall have to be precious careful. But
don't you fear about the halves promised
YOU says he. Well whack what it
ietches to the last farthng. Keep your
mouth shut for day or two and You shall
see.' Well, l was wicked young var
mint then, dye see, and ] didn't say Il
word; no more did he. till the end of the
week, when he comes to me with a face
as serions as an undertaken, and Billy
he says. we're in a mess about that silver
| find that it is what they call sacrelidge.
and that it is a hanging job to be found in
possession Ol U,nO matter VINO IL was that
stole it. So, my lad. the safest way for
us will be to put the lot back where we
found it. I've nailed the lid on again. >
says he. and you and me must take it
aboard after dark, and heave it into the
river And was so precious scared at
what he said that was only too glad to
help him with the job" "And did YOU
really throw the silver plate back into the
Thames ?" Well" returned nv old
waterman. with queer grimace, II can
answer for the box, and for its being
heavy enough 10 have all the silver things
in it. That's all know about it. 'cep,
that, very short time alterward, .Javois
bought new boat. and lot OF new
clothes for himself and his mssus, and
that they went, logged out. to spend Q
fortnight at Christmas at his fathers at
Gravesend." "Ihat certainly looked
suspicious. You remarked to him to the
same effect, have no doubt" ''Yes. /
mentioned it; but he had an answer ready
Tor me. My present prosperity. Billy
he says, Il owe to doing vIrtuous action.
did whatever was my duty regarding
that silver plate, and I've got on nicely
ever since. Let it be lesson to YOU
through life never to let your avericious-
ness overcome your principals LON