Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-04-22
ICE BOUND
By W. CLARK RUSSELL.
AutaOr Of "TaS Wreck aftAs GrosvaaOr." Jacks
COurtSaip," M RateA Belos,'
"ThS Lady Mould" Ee.
(coNTINUED1
CHAPTER XVI.

oNSay - ANNAS 4GNAO VIZ ~ ecASN
he had given me the exact truth 50 far as
his relation of IL went. As it was certain
then that the Boca del Dragon las she was
cslled) had been fixed in the ice for hard
upon fifty years, the conclusion 1 formed
was that she had been blown by some hun
dreds of leagues farther south than the
point to which the Laughing Mary had
been driven; that this ice in which she was
entangled was not then drifting northUard,
but was in the grasp Of some polar current
that trended it southeasterly; that in due
course il was carried to the sntartic main
of ice, where it lay eompaeted; after which
through stress OF weather or by the
agency Of particular temperature, great
mass Of il broke away aud started on that
northward course which berges Of oil mag,
nitude take when they are ruptured from
the frozen continent.
Now that had companion should
be able to escsps from this horrid stu
alton? He had spoken of chests of silver.
Where was the treasure-in the run? There
might be booty enough in the hold to make
q great man, 3 fine gentleman, Of me,
ashore. 1t would be noble ending to an
amazing adventure TO come off with IS
much money as would render me indepen-
dent for life, and enable me to turn my
back for ever upon the hardest calling 10
which the destiny of man can wed him.
OF such were the faneies which hurried
through my mind.
wished TO see how the schooner lGy,
and what change had befallen the ice in
the night, and went on deck. 1t was blow
ing a whole gale of wind from the north
west. The sea was swelling very furiously,
aud could divine its tempestuous charac-
ter by CLUBS of spray which spread like
volumes Of steam under the sullen dusky
heavens high over the mastheads. The
schooner lay. with list Of about 10 deg4
and her bows high cooked. looked over
the stern and saw that the ice had sunk
there, and that there were twenty great
rents and yawning seams where had be-
fore noticed but one. A vast block OF les
had fallen on the starbosrd side, and lay
80 close on the quarter that could have
sprung on to it. No other marked changes
were observable.
WAS about TO 90 below again, when my
eve was taken by the two figures lying
upon the deck No dead bodies ever look
ed more deSd; but after the wondroGs res
toration of the Frenchman / could not
view their forms without fsneying that
they were but rs be had been, and thst if
they were carried to the furnace, and
treated with brandy and rubbing and the
like, they might be brought to. Full of
thoughts concerning them / stepped into
the cabin, aud going to the cook room found
Tassard still heavily sleeping The coal in
the corner was low, and as it wanted an
hour of dinner time took the lantern and
q bucket and went into the fore peak, and
after several journeys stocked mp good
provision of coal in the corner. made
noise enough, but Tsssard slept on. When
this was ended / boiled some water to
cleanse myself, and then set about getting
the dinner ready.
The going into the fore peak had put my
mind upon the treasure, which, as l had
gathered from the Frenchmsn's narrative,
was somewhere hidden in the schooner
in the run as doubted not; mean in the
hold, under the lazarette-fOr you will re-
collect that, being weary and half persisted
with the cold, had turned my back on
that dark part after having looked into the
powder room. All the time was fetching
the coal and dressing the dinner my imsgi-
nation was on fire with faneiss of the treas
ure in this ship. The Frenehman bad 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 it might be, in the
Spanish Main; and had too good an I'M
Outstanding of the character of pirates to
believe that they would have Quilted q
rich hunting field before they bad hand
sOmely lined their pockets. What, then,
was the treasure in the ruu, if indeed 1t
were there?
Twas mechanically stirring the saucepan
full Of broth had prepared, lost in these
golden thoughts, when the Frenchman
suddenly sat up on his mattress.
Hap cried he, shifting vigorously, 81
smell something good-something 1 an
ready for. There is no physic like Sleep"
end with that he stretched out his arms
with a great yawn, then ross very agilely,
kicking the clothes and mattress on one
side, and bringing bench close 20 the fur
mace. What time is il, sir?"
Something after IL by the esptain's
watch" said |, pulling il ont and looking
ut il. "But tis guesswork time"
THE captains watehm cried he, with
a short loud laugh. "Yoa are modest,
Mr."-
Paul Rodney" said /, seeing he stop
ped for my name.
''Yes, modest, Mr.. Paul Rodney. That
watch is yours, sir; and you mean il shall
be yours"
well, Mr.. Tassard," said /, eoloring
in spite Of my cell. though he could not
witness the change in such light as that,
ST felt this, that If left the watch in the
captains pocket il was bound to 90 to the
bottom ultimately, and"-
"Bahw he interrupted. with q violent
flourish Of the hand. "Let rs save the
schooner If possible; there viii be more
than one watch for your pocket, more than
one doubloon for your wurse Meanwhile,
to dinner Ny stupor has converted me
into an empty hogshead, and it viii take
me fortnight of hard eating to feel that i
have broken my fast"
With blow Of the chopper he struck
off a lump of thu frozen wine, aud then
fell to eating perhaps as man might be
expected to eat who had not had q meal for
sight-snd-forty years.
There ara two of your companions on
deck" said /.
He started.
sfFrozsn." / continued; they'll be the
bodies of Trentanoye and JOAN Barroeso
He nodded.
sSThere Is no reason why they should be
seader than you were. 1t is true that Bar
ros has BEEN on deck while you have been
below; but after ron pass = certain degree
AZ cold asrcer rigors cannot signify"
.sWhat do You PROPOSE" said he, look
ssWhv. that we should carry them TO the
fra and rub them, and bring them to five
can
I~as staggered By his indifference, for
= ii .41 g. -->~Ir raro ahnWn him.