Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-04-02
ICE BOU N D.
Bv V. CLARK RUSSELL,

Author of "Ihe WTecE oJ the 0roSUe"Ws
 "JocE's Courtship," 'tMy Watch Be-
 lo,o, The Lady Maud Etc. will not have been more It is impossible. Never mind about your 1901" showing his fangs in sarcastic grin; ia week is long enough, friend. Then this is what mean to say that the breaking away of a quarter of mile of ice in a week is fine work, full of grand promise; the next wrench-which might come now as speak, or tomorrow, or in week-the next wrench may bring away the rock on which we are lodged, and the rest is matter of patience-which we can afford, hey? for we are but two-there is plenty of meat and liquor, and the reward afterward is a princely independence, MT. Paul Rodney"
 I was struck with the notion of the bed of ice on which the schooner lay going af1oat, and said: :'Are sea and wind to be helped, think youl If the block on which we lie could be detached it might beat a bit against it's parent stock, but would not unite again. The schooner's canvas might be made to help it along-though suppose it capsizedT
 ''We must consider" said he; sthere is no need to hurry. When the wind falls we will survey the ice"
 He warmed himself afresh, and after re- maining silent with the air of one turning many thoughts over in his mind, he suddenly cried, Dye know I have mind to view the plate and money belows What say you!"
 His little eyes seemed to sparkle with sus- picion as he directed them at me- I was con- fdent he suspected had lied in saying knew nothing of this treasure, and that he wanted to see if had meddled with those chests. One of the penalties attached to a man being forced to keep the company of liars is, be himself is never believed by them. I an- swered, instantly, Certainly; I should like to see this wonderful booty. It is right that we should find out an once if it is there; for, supposing it vanished, we should be no better than madmen to sit talking here of the fine lives we shall live if ever we get home."
 He picked up the lantern, and said, 1T must go to your cabin; it was the captains. The keys of the chests should be in one of his boxes"
 He marched off, and was so long gone that I was almost of belief he had t,,mbled down in a fit. However, I had made up my mind to act very wary part; and particularly never to let him think l distrusted him, and so 1 would not go to see what he was about. But what did was this: the arms room was next door; I lighted candle, entered it, and swiftly armed myself with sort of dagger, a kind of boarding knife-a very murderous little two-edged sword, the blade about seven inches long, and the haft of brass. There were some fifty of these weapons, and took the first that came to my hand, and dropped it into the deep side 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 mo one place was the same as an fbo,. ho al mi foSti there were no witnesses in this white and desolate kingdom. What resolved me to go 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 yearsAthe Frenchman, who was persuaded his stupor had not lasted above a 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 pirate fall upon and entleavor to kill me.
 It might be that he was long because of having to seek for the keys; but my own conviction was that he found the keys easily and stayed to runmage 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 to the cook house, saying briefly, ''I have the keys" and jim gling them, and after warming himself said, "Let us go."
 was moving toward the forecastle.
 ''Not that way for the run," cried he
 ''Is there hatch aft?' I asked.
 ssCertainly-in the lazarette."
 q wish I had known that" said I; "I should have been spared a stifling scramble over the casks and rafhe forward"
 He led the way, and coming to the trap 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, 'sAy, there plenty of stores here We reckoned upon provisions for twelve months, and we were seventy of & crew."
 A strange figure he looked, just touched by the yellow candle light, and standing out upon the blackness like some vision of a dis tempered fancy ill 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 and the like till we were right aft, and here there was a small clear space of deck ill which lay a hatch This he lifted by it's ring, and down through the aperture did he drop, I follow ing The lazaPtte deck came low that we had to squat when still or move upon our 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 it seems that this run went clear to the fore hold bulkhead, that is to say, under the powder room, to where the fore hold began-were slowed the spare sails, ropes for gear, and great vari- ety of furniture for the equipment of ships yards and masts. But immediately under the hatch stood several small chests and cases, painted black, slowed side by side so that they could not shift.
 Tassard ran his eye over them, counting. ssRight!" cried he; ''hold the lantern, MT. Rodney"
 took the light from him. and, pulling the
 keys from his pocket, he fell to trying them
 at the lock of the first chest. One fitted; the
 bolt shot with hard click, like cooking a l trigger, and he raised the lid. The chest was
 full of silver money picked up couple
 of the coins, and bringing them to the candle
 perceived them to be Spanish pieces of l739.
 The money was tarnished, yet it reflected a
 sort of dull, metallic light. The Frenchman grasped handful and dropped them, as though, like child, he loved to hear the chink the pieces made as they fell -