The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-10-05
.sISs like a tale out of the Arabian Nights,

ssAy,n said I, ''but written in bitter prose,
and no hint of enchantment anywhere. But,
thank God, you are comet / have passed a
dismal time of expectation, l promise you"
I added, softly, 81 have something secret; we
will sup first; man, shall amaze you'll We
must talk apart presently"
He bowed his head
Three more boatmen arrived, giving us the
company of five of them. Soon there was a
hearty sound of frying and smell Of good
things upon the air. Pitt put plates and
glasses upon the cabin table, two great bowls
Of punch were brewed, and in n little time
we had all fallen to. Whispered Wilkinson,
who sat next me: "These boatmen know
nothing of our business; shall have TO take
Mr.. Mason apart and arrange with him.
These fellows may not be fit for our service.
Let no hint escape YOU
"Right, sir, said he.
This said to disarm his suspicious should
he see me talking alone with Mr.. Mason. He
entertained US with an account of his excur-
sion to London, and then, partly to appease
the profound curiosity of the boatmen and
partly to save time when / should come to
confer with my relative, l gave them the
story of my shipwreck, and told how had
met with the schooner and how had man.
aged TO escape with her.
Sand now, Mason" said l, "while our
friends here empty these bowls, come you
with me to the cook room" And with that
we quilted the cabin.
''D'ye mean to tell me, Paul." was the first
question my relative asked, ''that this vessel
was ON the ice eight-and-forty yearsp
Eyes" replied.
"Surely you dreamp
az think not"
"What we have been eating and drinking,
is that forty-eight years old, toos"
Gay, and older"
swell, such thing shall make me credu-
lous enough to duck old women for witches.
But what brandy-what brandy Never had
spirit such bouquet. Every pint is worth
its weight in guineas to ricn man. To think
of Deal boatmen and niggers swilling such
nectarl"
Mason" said /, speaking low, ''give me
now your attention. In the run of this
schooner are ten chests loaded with money,
bars of silver and gold, and jewelry. This
vessel was pirate, and her people valued
their booty at 600, 900 to 9lO0,OOO."
His jaw fell He stared as if he knew not
whether it was he or that was mad.
"Here is evidence that speak the truth, n
said l. "a little sample only-but look at
itr' And / put the pirate captains watch
into his hand.
He eyed it as though he discredited the in
telligence of his sight, turned it about and
returned it to me with faint Heaven pre-
serve me-" Then said he, still family: "You
found some of the pirates alivef'
"No..
"Who told you that the people of the YES
sci valued their plumber at that amount"
answered by giving him the story of the
recovery of the Frenchman.
He listened with a gaze of CONSERVATION.
saw how it was; he believed my sufferings
had affected my reason. There was only one
way to settle his mind; took lantern, and
asked him to follow me. As we passed
through the cabin whispered to Wilkinson
that meant to show my relative the lading
below, and babe him keep the Deal men about
him. I had the keys of the chests in my
pocket; lifting the after hatch, we entered
the lazarette, and Mason gazed about him
with establishment But 1 was in too great
hurry to return to suffer him to idly stand
and stare. 1 opened the second hatch and
descended into the run, and crawling to the
JtWel Cucot Olcucu ioilONSu u Ie" VI UIle
small arms, and babe him look for himself.
Incredible! incredibleT" he cried. "Is il
possible is it possiblei Well, to be surer
And for some moments he could find no more
to say, so amazed and COMPOUNDED was he.
Iquickly showed him the gold and silver
ingots, and then returned the fire arms and
locked the chests.
These" said l, emphatically, pointing to
the cases, "have been my difficulty; not the
lading, though there is value there too. My
crew knew nothing of these chests-of their
value, mean; they believe them cases OF
small arms. How am to get them ashorei
If tell the truth, they will be seized as
piratical plumber. If l equivocate, I may
tumble into a pit of difficulties. burst not
carry them to the Thames-the river swarms
with thieves and custom house people.
am terrified to linger here, lest l be boarded
and the booty discovered There Is but one
plan, think; we must hire some Deal SNUG.
glers to run these chests and the cargo for
Us. The boat now alongside might serve
and I don't doubt the men are to be had al
their own price"
My relative had regained his wits, which
the sight of the treasure had temporarily
scattered, and surveyed me thoughtfully
while spoke, and then said, 'Let us return
to the fire; think have a better scheme
than yours"
The men still sat around the table talking
Some liquor yet lay in one of the bowls, and
the fellows were happy enough. l smiled al
Wilkinson as passed, that he might suppose
our inspection below very satisfactory, and
saw him look meaningly and pleasantly al
Washington Cromwell, who sat with laced
hat on his head.
"Paul," said Mason, sitting down and fold
ing his arms, "your smuggling plan will moi
do. 1t would be the height of madness te
trust those chests to the risks of running AND
to the honesty of the rogues engaged in that
business"
"What is to be doneF'
"Tell me your lading," said he.
gave it to him as accurately as / could.
"Why, !" he exclaimed, "a single boat would
take long time to discharge ye; observe the
perils-several boats would mean a large
number of men; they would eat you up
they would demand so much you would have
nothing left And suppose they opened the
chestsl No, your scheme is worthless"
"What's to do, then, in Gods name!"
"rll tell your he exclaimed, smiling with
the complacency of a man who is master of 6
great fancy. II shall sail to Dover at once
IT'S now a quarter past 4. Give me twelve
hours to make Dover; l shall post straight tt
London and be there by early morning. Now
Paul, attend you to this. Today is Wednes
day; by tomorrow night you must contrivt
to bring your ship to an anchor Off Barking
Level"
"The Thamesp l cried.
He nodded.
Hooked at him anxiously He leaned Il
me, putting his hand ON my leg.
81 own lighter" said he. "She will ht
alongside of you at dusk. have people Of
my own whom l can trust. Tho lighter vii
empty your hold and convey the lading to {
ship chartered by me, arrived from the Blacl
sea on Sunday and lying in the pool. Thu
stuff can be sold from that ship as it is
"But the chests-the chests, Mason"
'They shall be lowered into another boat
and taken ashore and put into wagon thai
will be in waiting-I in it-and driven to my
home"
Iclapped him on the shoulder in trans
port.
'Nobly schemed, indeed!n cried. "But
have we nothing to fear from the custom:
peopler
You bring up for convenience, dye see9 MIND
1t is dark when you anchor. A lighter anG
boat shall be awaiting you. 1t is down tn,
river, you know, that all the Jumpers droI
with the lighters they go adrift i'm from ships
sides. There's more safety in smuggling Over
Thames mud than on this coast shingle. One
thought more: You say that Wilkinson be
leves the chests hold small arms!
"Yesn
"Then account to him for sending tn,
chests away separately by saying that have
found purchaser, and that they are goint
to him direct. You have your cue-you sex
alp
GAIL"
LET me hurry, then, Paul. That brandy
should fetch You half O guinea q pint. Yol