The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-06-29

With fan es of the treasure In this ship. Inc
Frcnchma had told me that they had been
well enough pleased with their hauls In the
South sea to resolve them upon heading
round the Horn for their haunt, wherever 1t
might be, in the Spanish Main; and had too
good an understanding of the character OF
pirates to believe that they would have
quilted a rich hunting field before they had
handsomely lined their pockets What, then,
was the treasure in the run, if indeed it were
there's
was mechanically stirring the saucepan
full of broth l had prepared, lost in these
golden thoughts, when the Frenchman sud
denly sat up on his mattress.
"Han cried he, shifting vigorously, VI
smell something good-something am ready
for. There is no physic like sleep;" and with
that he stretched out his arms with q great
yawn, then rose very agilely, kicking the
clothes and mattress on one side, and bring
ing a bench close to the furnace. "What
time is it, sirf'
Something after II by the captains
watch, said l, pulling it out and looking at
it. "But tits guesswork time"
"The captains watchl" cried he, with q
short loud laugh. "You are modest, Mr.
paul Rodney" said l, seeing he stopped
for my name.
"Yes, modest, Mr.. Paul Rodney. That
watch is yours, sir; and you mean it shall be
yours"
"Well, Mr.. Tassard," said l, coloring in
spite Of myself, though he could not witness
the change in such light as that, 81 felt
this, that if l left the watch in the captains
pocket it was bound to go to the bottom ul-
timately. and"-
"Bah" he interrupted, with violent
flourish of the hand 'Let us save the
schooner if possible; there will be more than
one watch for your pocket, more than one
doubloon for your purse. Meanwhile, to din
nerl My stupor has converted me into an
empty hogshead, and it will take me a fort
night of hard eating to feel that have broken
my fast"
With blow of the chopper he struck OFF
a lump of the frozen wine, and then fell to
eating perhaps as a man might be expected
to eat who had not had a meal for eight-and-
forty years.
"There are two of your companions on
deck" said I.
He started.
"Frozen," l continued; 'they'n be the
bodies of Trentanove and joan BarrosF'
He nodded.
"There is no reason why they should be
deader than you were. 1t is true that Barros
has been on deck while you have been be-
low; but after you pass a certain degree Of
cold fiercer rigors cannot signify"
"What do you proposeF' said he, looking
at me oddly.
"Why, that we should carry them to the
fire and rub them, and bring them to if we
can"
"Whyp
was staggered by his indifference, for /
had believed he would have shown himself
very eager to restore his old companions and
shipmates to life. I was searching for an
answer to his strange inquiry, "Whyg"
when he proceeded: First of all, my friend
Trentanove was stone blind, and Barros
nearly blind. Unless you could return them
their sight with their life they would curse
you for disturbing them. Better the black
ness of death than the blackness of life"
''There is the body of the captain" said L.
He grinned.
"Let them Sleep" said he. "Do you know
that they are cutthroats, who would reward
your kindness with the poniard that you
might not tell tales against them, or claim a
share of the treasure in this vessel? OF all
desperate villains l never met the like of
Barros He loved blood even better than
money. He'd quench his thirst before an
engagement with gunpowder mixed in
brandy. | once saw him choke a man-tut
he is very well-leave him to his repose."
In the glow of .the fire he looked uncom-
monty sardonic and wild, with his long
beard. bald head, flowing hair, shaggy brows,
and little cunning eyes, which seemed in
tE'i :nallness to share in his grin, and yet
di.' ",.; and though to be sure he was some
OF. ak to and to make plans with for our
e.,'. yet felt that if he were to fall into
stupor again it would not be my hands that
should chafe him into being.
"You knew those men in life," said l. 'If
the others are of the same pattern as the
Portuguese, by all means let them lie
frozen"
but, my friend" said he, calling me mon
ami, which translate, that's not it either.
Do you know the value of the booty in this
schooner?'
answered, "No;' how was ] to know it, I
had met with nothing but wearing apparel
and some pieces of money and few watches
in the forecastle. He knit his brows with a
fierce, suspicious CLEAN in his eyes.
"But you have searched the vesselg" he
cried.
II nave searcned, us you call lt-tnat Is, i
have crawled through the hold as far as the
powder room"
"And farther aftP
''No, not farther aft"
His couDtenance cleared.
"You scared met" said he, fetching deep
breath. 81 was afraid that some one had
been beforehand with u.s. But it is not con-
ceivable. No! we shall look for it presently,
and we shall find it."
To be Continued.)