The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1888-12-14

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and he stood before me pale-faced and
trembling. When be had made sure
that had not said anything to any Of
the crew, be took me aft and locked me
up in a statsroom designed for the super
cargo. Next morning was taken TO
the cabin and questioned BY the Cap
tain and mate and returned 70 nv prison
They were not harsh with rue. but on
the contrary. promised that should GO
IN the Captains own boat, and that /
need not work any more. was made
cabin boy, and WAS warned, that If
dropped one single word TO any person
] should be hung TO the sharks ~ once
] hey could trust me- simple Simon
that was, ! cared only to save myself
when the hour came ! could not real
iee that the seuttiing Of a ship was any
thing more than a sharp trick. For all
! knew, II was practised every day in
the year
One day when we had been out about
two weeks, IS near as can remember.
was sent 10 help the second mate look
sor something wanted from the lazarefte
his name was EldersOn, and he was the
only one aboard who had a friendly look.
lie had spoken 10 ne kindly two OF
three time, and felt that he was
friend We were scarcely alone when
be- took from his pocket a box OF sulphur
natehei, a ishiine and several hooks.
and large pocket knife. lie handed
them 10 me aud said
Ben. take these and stow them away
in your pocket, AMI on your life say
nothing to any one. Be sure 10 keep
them about you
He turned from me as il he did not
want TO be questioned, and | pocketed
the articles without a word. / was in a
state Of wonder, hewever, and nothing
was made pain until the next day. At
10 O'Clock ia the forenoon the ship was
hove 70 about a mile from a small island.
boat ordered lowered. and then all
hands were called aft. when they had
assembled the Chaplain said
''AieH, discovered two DAYS ago that
this boy was a leper. He has got il bad,
and is 10 be pitied Ny duty in the
case Is plsin. lie must be maloOned
Aye. ave. SIR chorused the crew.
Il shall 1T him out and set him ashore
here, he continued, .'and you are my
witnesses that il Is a step necessary for
the safety Of all "
There Was a ready assent, aud before
fully understood what was going on I
was in the boat with Mccoy and being
pulled toward the island by two sailors.
Even when ] knew that was 70 be left
] did not raise an objection. supposed
the island 10 be inhabited, perhaps there
was city there, and / was not sorry for
the change We ran in so close that
could wade ashore. aud the mate handed
me several bundles which the men sup
posed contained food. clothing and con
As soon as / had everything
out Of the boa; the three gave NE curt
good by, End sat down on the sand and
them return The boat was
loisicd up, the Aibatross made sail. and
Nas marooned upon an uninhabited
Stand Till fact Was not fully realized .
anti toward Aight ard was so simple
.naf II was several hours before / had
igured II out why had been set ashore.
was IN possession Of the plot to scuttle
De ship. and must be got rid Of. The
'spiain had called me a leper % Justify
iis action with the crew, and It was
Manned that / should not live long
shore When | came TO undo the bun
Hes ] found them 10 be composed Of
mpfy bottles, oakun and bits Of can
ass There was not particle Of food
not an article Of clothing nothing
'ut rubbish. II was then realized the
indne Of the second mate. He mIst
ave overheard them plotting to maroon
le' aud he went as far as it was safe for
i'm 20 90
When, al about noon, / rose up and
nderstood nv position, felt that she
rst thing TO do was 10 explore my island
am writing Of the year 1872. At that
Ime many Of the islands in the Carib-
eau Sea had not been charted or
aimed. ] was, as ! afterward dscer-
lned. on a key or isle TO the north Of
r iEi,lad. and 70 tsvaise,4 years NO &
as down on the charts as Little Coco. "
Il was about three miles long by one
ID half wide, aud fairly wooded.
here were various birds, tro 4Ds Of
onkeys, and numerous snakes, but no
I'D animals 10 put one in fear | had
cen landed ia the little bay on the ives
IN side Of the island. found a spring
water a quarter Of a mile inland, with
enty Of wild fruit all around me. and
D the first night Of my stay ! slept on
ie open beach. il was three days be-
re fully realized ny position and saw
az ] must depend entirely upon myself.
hen ] walked clear around the island
ID across il, aud decided that nv hest
cation was near where had
me ashore Had gone TO the east end {
the island aud raised a signal should
iye been taken off in a week. as there !
a. n channel between that and the next
land north much used, but this / had
) means Of knowing. When / found I
yseif the sole inhabitant, made up my
nd that escape was impossible, and !
al ! was 10 live out nv years right !
,ere. The Captain had called me 4 ,
per Ihad never heard the name before. !
e had sent me ashore because | en- {
ingered the safety Of the crew. While l
suspected that this was a subterfuge, I
as not quite satisfied about it. II / c
as something to be Stunned and afraid !
. why should / desire 10 escapei II
ken of ] had no home 10 90 TO, no
ends 10 welcome me / was lonesome y
ID somewhat afraid here, but was.
enjoying the novelty OF the
iuation.
built me rude shelter, wandered n
FER the island. fished, set snares and ].
ptured parrots and monkeys. aud e
ter the first week was quite content.
bad been on the island three weeks be o
re the second mystery occurred. A /
.ninsula or neck on the western end Of s.
e island was composed of sand. and u
Ire Of tree OF bush. 1t was about 300 Il
ct long. There had been a heavy blow n
ON the south. with big sea rolling r
and after this had lasted two DAYS
ere was an unusually low tide.
ught sight Of timber heaved up on
e spit, and went out TO inspect it, and r
bile surveying the banks which the 0
be had uncovered / caught sight Of b
me queer little boxes half buried in
e sand. dug one out, to fiud it so b
Any that could hardly drag it away. il
ley were Of wood. hoped with iron, s
ID ten OF twelve inches long by eight fl
ten inches high had little curiosity S,
10 the contents, and the idea that
ey contained treasure never crossed G.
= mind. got out four before the tide Il
rned, and there were several more in G,
ght. After l had them all together b
'0re high water, began to woader o