Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-04-26

/ OQ ihlQ
They looked from me to each other.
and smiled in knowing way. Because"
| continued, there can't be a rod of any
of the Bahamas, nor bay, nor
cove on the shores, but what has been
| ex plored over and over
Exactly replied Stebbins, as he arose
70 spit over the rail. "lf anybody has
! found the treasure then No shan't get IT,"
"Of course We shaut," replied The wife
| and that closed the conversation.
| Neither one of them had been t. sea
/ before, and while we were running down
| the Florida coast both we're terribly sea
sick. They were around again "a We
came up with the cape, however, and when
the captain asked Stebbins which one of
the Bahamas he should eer for the man
consulted his sketch afresh, com pared it
| with the captains chart of those waters.
and tinally re lied as he put his finger
down, This is Turks island"
Yes"
~ hats where they get heap of salt?'
eyes,
"Wel, here's an island tC the northeast
OF II, fifteen or twenty miles away"
Yes, that's called the Little Cayos."
We'll, meow, you might bring up
there
During the remainderof the voyege, or
until we sighted the island, she GOODNESS
of Stebbins and his wife WAS remarkable.
The only game they knew how 10 play
was fox and geese, and they played from
morning till night, and far INFO the evt n
ing. We threaded our way among the
various islands to get TO the east, and
sails we're in sight every hour il the day,
but this queer couple conld hardly be in
daced to raise their eyes from the game.
Stebbins was always on hand when the
captain prcked off he days run on the
chart, and it was evident that be was
keeping a sharp lookout to see that we
were headed in the right direction.
In due time we raised Turks island,
coming down from the horth, and tAen
We kept off couple of points until Little
Cayos was sighted. II Is an island lying
much lower than Turks, almost surround
ed with dangerous ehoals and reefs, ard
at the time OF which l write tine Only
settlers were traders, wreckers and fish
ermen. There are harbors on the east
aud west shores, but by order of Stebbns
we ran around TO the south side and
beach. Ii was Just at shutdown when we
came to anchor, and that evening the
captain gave them the use of the cabin
for couple of hours TO look over their
papers. This island with all indications,
as well as the shores, reefs and depth of
the water, was pictured on our chart, and
they compared their pen-and ink sketch
with this, and consulted another paper
which none of us had before seen, until
they came to decision. | was looking
down upon them through the open sky
light from the corner of my eye, and |
saw Stebbins strike the table with his fist,
and heard him whisper:
"We've got it, sure as shooting"
"Hush!" she admonished. "Of course
we've got it. Wa hain't nobody's fools,
Jonas Seebbins. Do You suppose I'd
have consented TO put all our money in
to this venture if there was chance to
lose it?
"By gum! hut wen be rich"
COT course we will"
"Richest folks in tho hull county,
eyes; but don't get excited"
They sat on deck for an hour or two,
Stebbins smoking and his wife knitting,
aud as they we're about to retire for the
night / felt bound to observe:
swell, Mr.. Stebbins here we are in
good shape, and now, as was sent to
manage your business, you'd better ex-
plain matters pretty clearly. | may want
10 make some preparations for to-mor-
row."
How long will it take you to get a
diver ready to go DOWN. he asked.
"Not over half an hour.'
"Weil, that's all the preparations need
ed"
"What is The driver to go down after?"
"Suthin' that won't run away before
morning." answered Mrs. Stebbins, and
with that both went below.
H. was only natural that all of US should
be curious about the expedition, but every
attempt 10 find out anything had thus fan
been cleverly frustrated. The captain
and talked 1t over again for the TWEEN
tieth time, end We came TO the same old
concIusion-that Stebbins had come on a
Wild goose chase after some old wreck
In our pique at his refusal to furnish
particulars we almost hoped he wouldn't
! fud it. Stebbius was on deck at daylight
next morning, and ais wife half an hour
later, and after breakfast, when the cap
| tain eskt d for orders, the Yankee waited
to fill his pipe before replying;
81 guer well jog westward about five
miles" The schooner was got under way
and when she had accom- plished the dis
lance named she vas about mile of
shore, in fifty feet of water, and midway
! between her and the beach was reel
cover, with not more than ten or twelve
feet of water at low tide. As the anchor
went down the schooner's head pointed
! directly toward the land, and Stebblnt
and his wife appeared to make out som'
landmarks, which brought smiles
to their faces. 1t was beautiful morn
ing, with only slight breeze blowing
/ aud AS the anchor went down Stebbiui
came TO me aud said:
I'VE shall have 20 20 into the reef in {
small boat, suppose. Can diver worl
/ from her?'
assured him that it could be done, anC
we got down the boat, put in the puml
and dress, and we're shortly ready to pull
off, Stebbins and mis- wife we're both e
20, making party of six Of "a. w
/ pulled almost straight for the reef, ported
little after crossing it, and then, as VI
anchored in thre5 fathoms OF water