Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-03-15

regain It'll Deserti No man could swim
long in those chilly Maine waters and live
much less one in Fairfax's condition.
As Heaven would have it, the wind
changed and he saw the boat about quar-
ter Of q mile southeast of the island, drift
ing back; but, evidently, so that it would
pass by, and not touch the shore.
When the opportune moment ar
rived, in he jumped and swan slowly and
heavily out towards it, making but poor
progress, indeed, with his broken arm and
tired muscles. Worn and utterly exhausted.
as he was, it was a most foolhardy attempt
and nothing but his tremendous Will kept
him up. Little by little the distance was les
sened, but so was his strength, for he was
barely able to pull himself up over the stern
into which he fell headlong, GREATNESS and
chilled through and through to the very
marrow, stiff Gad benumbed with the cold,
his head aching as if it would burst.
But no man, buoyed up by the mighty
hope that inspired Fairfax. had time or place
to nurse his ailments or for falling i'll. He
quickly recovered himself, and, being shut
notch in the stern and SO propelled himself
toward Mt. Desert.
Three kilograms left Bar Harbor the same
afternoon. The first was addressed to Fair
fax's brother, Dana, bright young clerk in
New York shipping-house. 1t read thus:
"Secure passage, ETC., for two, City Of
Rome, and be ready to sail with me, to-
morrow. On no account fail me. Let all
else go to the winds"
The second was intended for Mr.. James
Godron Nebbitt, and ran as follows:
Please, without fail, cable me at once,
where can meet you when 1 arrive, City
Of Rome, also telegraph Oxford place and
time Of meeting. Be ready to sail at once.
Let every thing else go. Business OF the
utmost Importance"
The third to his friend Oxford was this:
"Look for telegram from Nebbltt Drop
everv thing, and hold yourself in readiness
to act at once"
Just as it was leaving, he caught the 4:30
p. m. boat to Mount Desert Ferry, where he
took the night express to Boston. Next
morning, at 500, he was in that city and,
by 80 that same afternoon, grasped his
brother Dana's hand in the Grand Central
depot at New York. When the clock
struck six Dana had resigned forever one
Of the best business positions ever held by
young New York clerk, and the two
brothers were pacing the decks Of the
City of Rome, which, in few hours, was
far at sea.
Dana showed it to Arthur this
interesting little item, among others;
"a Mystery.
Portland, Me-. Oct. -. The fishing smack
Polly arrived tonight with the bodies of two
men, picked up near Schoodic Point. Papers
in their clothing identify them as captain
and first mate of the Italian tram steamer,
Vampa, bound to this port from Leghorn,
via Tangiers. The bodies were horribly
mutilated, leading to the inference that the
men were killed by mutinous crew. No
tale nor tidings have been heard of the
Vampa. The affair has been creating much
excitement here"
Thirteen days afterwards, in the hours of
early morning a steam yacht was nearing
the extreme northwest coast of Africa. The
spacious harbor of Tangiers opened well to
view on the left, and the white roofs and
minarets of the city cleaned family on the
high ground in the distance.
There is FL Baba," said Fairfax. pointing
to lofty tower, three or four miles to the
right.
Nebbitt scanned the shore with his tel
escope.
1tNot soul in sight, either on water or
landw
The two men then continued their prone
made on the deck, Nebbitt occasionally
pausing to admire and pat two polished brass
cannon that stood in the bow.
"Ah, my Beauties" quoth he, ''the thun-
der of your voices can not fail 70 terrify
those Italian thieves.
BOON Ln0 raLllo Oh the dnCuOr-CnalnS was
heard and the yacht swung around, head on
to the Atlantic.
A hasty survey Of the horizon rev ealing
no vessel, the boats were at once lowered
and the two cannon placed, one in each.
Away they sped to the shore, Nebbitt, OK
ford, the two Fairfaxes and Roger, the
valet. The water shone like a FURNISHED
mirror and the 'Namovna'' rode almost mo-
tionless upon the scarce-heaving sea.
pnrho ror1cl 0onI f-Oy1 ha ar and
stood Ell Bahia, on gentle elevation. Behind
it, at possible distance of more than 100
growth of bushes.
to plant his cannon.
The five men then spent the afternoon
thoroughly inspecting the tower and its
surroundings within a radius of half to
three-quarters of mile, but found nothing
that might indicate recent visitors or hidden
treasure.
There is nothing to do but wait" said
Fairfax. ''If we attack them on board ship,
they will destroy the papers and we will be
no better off than we are now, as regards
the hiding-pl of the treasure. We must
wait behind those bushes until they have
discovered it to US. Then we can attack
them. They can't fail to be here soon.''
FAIRFAX said Nebbitt, taking him
aside, 'those trGmT-steamers generally carry
small crews. l suppose seven or eight of
them may come ashore, leaving the other
half-dozen to look after the vessel. Now,