Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-05-27
"You are uour old self"

Wilkinson, and you, Billy and Cromwell,
get us a good supper and mix proper
bowl. How many more Of you are IN the
lugger?"
-Four, sir" said Of the boatmen.
Then fetch as many as may safely
leave the boat" said I. "Billy, get can
dies and make q good light here.
Throw on coal, boys; there's enough to
carry US home" -.
saw Mason gazing curiously about him,
"Tis like a tale out Of the Arabian
Nights Paul." he exclaimed.
"Ay," said /, "but written in bitter
prose, and no hint of enchantment any
where. But thank God, you are come! !
have passed a dismal time of expectation,
promise you" l added, softly, III have
something secret; we will sup first; man,
/ shall amaze you! We must talk apart
presently"
He bowed his head.
Three more boatmen arrived, giving us
the company of five of them. Soon there
was 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 little time
we had all fallen to. l whispered Wilkin'
son, who sat next me: These boatmen
know nothing OF our business; l shall have
to take MIR. Mason apart and arrange with
him. These fellows may not be iii for OuI
service. Let no hint escape you"
Fright, sir" said he.
This l said TO disarm his suspicious
/ II I, talk oil vDIth r
Mason. He entertained Us with an account
of his excursion to London, and then,
partly to appease the profound curiosity Of
the boatmen and partly to save time when
l should come to confer with my relative,
gave them the story of my shipwreck and
told how l had met with the schooner and
how l had managed to escape with her.
"Aud now, Mason" said /, ''while oul
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
years."
EYES," / replied.
''Surely you dream?'
81 think not"
"What we have been eating and drink
ing is that forty-eight years old, too?"
"Ay, and older"
"Well, such q thing shall make me
credulous enough to duck old women fol
witches But what brandy-wbat brandy
Never had spirit such a bouquet. Every
pint is worth its weight in guineas to 8
rich man. To think Of Deal boatmen and
niggers swilliDg such nectar"
Mason" said /, speaking low, "giyt
me now your attention. In the run o.
this schooner are ten chests loaded with
money, bars of silver and gold jewelry,
This vessel was a pirate, and her people
valued their booty at 800, 600 to El00, 600
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" said |. "a little eample only
but look at itr And put the captain:
watch into his hand.
He eyed it as though he discredited the
intelligence of his sight, turned it about
and returned it to me with faint "Heav.
en- preserve me-" Then said he, still faint
ly: "You found some OF the pirates aliye?'
l. mo"
"who told you that the people of the
vessel valued their plumber at thai
amount?'
/ answered by giving him the story O
the recovery of the Frenchmsn.
He listened with gaze OF CONSERVATION
I saw how it was; he believed my suffer
ings had affected my reason. There wa
only one way to settle his mind; took 8
lantern, and asked him to follow me. As
we passed through the cabin whispered
to Wilkinson that l meant to show my
relative the lading below, and babe hin
keep the Deal men about him. l 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 / was in too grea'
hurry to return to suffer him to idly
stand and stare. / opened the second
hatch and descended into the run, anG
crawling to the jewel chest opened it, re
moved few of the small arms, and badt
him look for himself.
Incredible! incrediblen he cried. SIS
it possible is it possible! Well, to be suren
And for some moments he could find ne
more to say, so amazed and COMPOUNDED
was he.
Iuuickly showed him the gold and sill
yer ingots, and then returned the fire arms
and locked the chests.
"These," said /, emphatically, pointing
to the cases, "haye been my difficulty; moi
the lading, though there is value there too.
My crew knew nothing Of these chests-oi
their value, mean; they believe them cases
of small arms. How am / to get them
ashore? III tell the truth they will beseized
as piratical plumber. III equivocate may
tumble into pit Of difficulties. dursi
not carry them to the Thames-the river
swarmes with thieves and custom house
people. / am terrified to linger here lest
| be boarded and the booty discovered.
There is but one plan, think; we must
hire some Deal smugglers to run these
chests and the cargo for Us. The boat
now alongside might serve, and don't
doubt the men are to be had at their OWE
price"
NV 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 re-
turn to the fire; think have q better
scheme than yours"
4 IThe men still sat around the table talk.
ing. Some liquor yet lay in one of the
bowls, and the fellows were happy euough.
I smiled at Wilkinson as passed, that be
might suppose our inspection below very
satisfactory, and saw him look meaningly
and pleasantly at Washington Cromwell,
who sat with laced hat on his head.
"Pasl," said Mason, sitting down and
folding his arms, ''your smuggling plan
will not do. 1t would be the height oil
madness to trust those chests to the risks Of
running and to the honesty Of the rogues
engaged in that business"
"What is to be done?"
''Tell me your lading,n said he.
gave it to him as accurately as could.
"Why," he exclaimed, 20 single boat
would take long time to discharge We,
observe the perils-seyeral boats woEld