The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-07-06

away the rock ON which we are lodged, and
the rest Is a matter Of patisnce-which we
can afford, heyi for we are hut two-there II
plenty Of meat and liquor, and the reward
afterward is princsly Independence, Mr..
Paul Rodney
was struck with the notion Of the bed Of
ice ON which the schooner lay going ahoat,
and said: "Are sea and wind to be helped
think you'll II the block on viii. we lie
could be detached IL might beat ~ against
It's parent stock, but would not unite again.
The schooner's canvas might be made TO help
IL along-though suppose IL capsizsdp
1--WE must consider" said he; ''there Is no
need TO hurry. When the wind falls we win
survey the Ice"
He warmed himself afresh, and after re-
naming silent with the air Of one turning
many thoughts over In bis mind, he suddenly
cried, "D'ye know have mind to view the
plate and money belowi What say your
His little eyes seemed 10 sparkle with sus-
picion as he directed than at me- was con-
f1dent he suspected I had lied In saying / knew
nothing Of this treasure, and that he wanted
TO see IL I had meddled with those chests.
One Of the penalties attached to q man being
forced to keep the company of liars Is, be
himself Is never believed by them. an
swered, instantly, "Csrtainly; ! should like
to see this wonderful booty. It Is right that
we should find out an once II it Is there; for,
supposing 1t vanished, we should be no better
than madmen to sit talking here Of the fine
lives we shall live II ever we get home"
He picked up the lantern, and said, 81
must 60 to your cabin; It was the captains.
The keys Of the chests should be In one OF his
boxean
He marched of, and was 20 long gone that
was almost Of belief he had tIImbled down
In fit. However, had made up my mind
to act very wary part; and particularly
never to let him think distrusted him, and
so would not go to see what he was about.
But what did was this: the arms room was
next door; lighted candle, entered it, and
swiftly armed myself with q sort Of dagger,
kind Of boarding knife-a very murdsrous
little two-edged sword, the blade about seven
inches long, and the lsaft Of brass There
were some fifty Of these weapons, and took
the first that came to my hand, and dropped
it into the deep hide pocket Of my coat, and
returned to the cook ROOM It was not that
! was afraid Of going unarmed with this man
into the hold; there was no more danger to
me there than here; should he ever design to
dispatch me one place was the same as an
other, for the dead above could not testify
there were no witnesses In this white and
desolate kingdom What resolved me to 60
armed was the fear that, should the treasure
be missing-and who was to swear that the
schooner had never been visited once In eight
and forty yearsHthe Frenchman, who was
persuaded his stupor had not lasted above q
week, and who was doubtless satisfied the
chests were In the hold down to the period
when he lost recollection, would suspect me
of foul play, and in the barbarous rage of a
pirate fall upon and endeayor to kill me.
It might be that he was long because OF
having to seek for the keys; but my OWL
conviction was that he found the keys easily
and stayed to rummage the boxes for such
jewels and articles Of value as he might there
find. I think he was gone near half an
hour; he then returned 30 the cook house
saying briefly, 81 have the keys" and jim.
Cling them, and after warming himself said,
"Let 6s CO."
Twas moving toward the forecastle.
"Not that way for the run" cried ha
sis there hatch aftP asked.
"Certainly-in the lazarette."
81 wish had known that" said I; "a
should have been spared q sitting scramble
over the casks and rattle forward"
he led the way, and coming to the traI
hatch that conducted to the lazarette he
pulled it open and we descended. He held
the lantern and threw the light around him
and said, "Ay, there are plenty Of stores
here. We reckoned upon provisions fol-
twelve months, and we were seventy of q
| crew."
A strange figure he looked, just touched
by the yellow candle light, and standing ou
upon the blackness like some vision of dis
tempered fancy, In his hair cap and flaps
and with his long nose and beard and LITTLE
eyes shining as he rolled them here and there
We made our way over the casks, bales anc
the like till we were right aft, and here ther'
was a small clear space Of deck In which lay
a hatch. This he lifted by its ring, and down
through the aperture did he drop, follow
ing. The lazarette deck came so low tina
we had to squat Hhsn still or move upon oul
knees At the foremost end Of this division
| Of the ship, so far as it was possible for my
eyes to pierce the darkness-for 1t seems tina
this run went clear to the fore hold bulkhead
that is to say, under the powder room, II
where the fore hold bsgan-wsre slowed thu
spare sails, ropes for gear, and a great vari
| e4V Of furniture for the equipment Of ship
yards and masts But Immediately undel
the hatch stood several small chests anC
cases, painted black, slowed side by side 81
that they could not shift
Tassard ran his eye over them. counting
"RightI" cried he; "hold the lantern, Mr.
Rodney"
| To be Continuedl