The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-20

can ar,ord1ney. FOR we arc but t~o-tnerc .
plenty OF meat and liquor, and the reward
aftcrward is princely independence, NJ
Paul Rodney"
Twos struck with the notion OF the bed OF
Zoo ON which the schooner lay going aloat'
and said. Ara sea and wind TO be helped
think you'll II the block ON which we lie
could H. detached it might boat bit against
its parent stock, but would not unite again.
The schooner's canvas might he made to belp
it along-though suppose it capsized|
1--WE must consider" said he; there IL no
need TO hurry. When the wind falls we VIII
survey the ice"
He warmed himself afrcsh, and after re-
naming silent with the air of one turning
riany thoughts over in his mind, he suddenly
: cried, Dye know have mind 10 view the
plate and money below What say you"
His little eyes seemed TO sparkle with sus-
] picion a. he directed them a. me. was CON
| Ident he suspected had lied in saying knew
nothing OF this treasure, and that ne wanted
70 see if | had mcddled with those chests
| One Of the penalties attached To man being
! forced TO keep the company of liars Is, Re
| himself Is never believed by them. l an
swercd Instantly, Certainly, should like
to 20 this wonderful booty. II is right that
we should find out an once if il is there; for,
surprising it vanished, we should Ike 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, u
mrst 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
l was almost of belief he had tlmbled down
in fit. However, had made up my mind
to act a very wary part; and particularly
never to let him think | distrusted him, and
so would not 20 10 see what he was about.
But what did was this: the arms room was
next door; lighted a candle, entered 1t, and
swiftly armed myself with "A sor: 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 10 my hand, and dropped
it into the deep side pocket of my coat, and
returned to the cook room 1t was not that
was afraid of going unarlned with this man
into the hold: there was no more danger 10
me there than here; should he ever design TO
dispatch me one place was the same rs an
other. for the dead above could not testify
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 who was 10 swear that the
schooner had never been visited once in eight
and forty vearS@the Frenchman who was
persuaded his stupor had not lasted above IA
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 plav. and in the barbarous rage Of a
pirate fail upon and endeavor 10 kill me.
Il might be that he was long because of
having 10 seek for the keys; but my own
conviction was that he found the keys easily
and stayed TO rummage the boxes for such
Jewels and articles Of value as lie might there
find | think he was gone near half an
hour he then returned TO the cook house,
saying briefly, II have the keys" and jim
Cling them, and after warming himself said,
LET us.,o.'
he'lcd Ne way, and coming so 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 "Ay, there are 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 dis
tempered fancy, in his hair cap and flaps,
and with his long nose and beard and little
ewes 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 small clear space Of deck III which lay
a hatch. This he lifted by its ring, and down
through the aperture did he drop, follow
ing. The lazarctte deck came so 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 ii was possible for my
ewes to pierce the darkneSs-for ii 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-werc slowed the
spare sails, ropes for gear, and great yari-
ETY. of furniture for the equipment of a 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.
Tassar1 ran his eye over them. counting
"Rightl7 cried he; hold the lantern, Mr.
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 u hard click, like cooking q
trigger, and he raised the lid. The chest was
full of silver money. picked up a couple
Of III, coinS and lrinpinp them IN the caudle
perceived them to lie Spanish pieces of 1889
The money was furnished, yet 1t reflected a
sort of dull, metallic light. The Freedman
grasped a handful and droppul them as
though, like child, he loved 10 hear the
chink the pieces made as they fell
A