Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1888-06-07

we've got it. We hint nobody's fools,
Jonas Stebbins. Do you think I'd
have put all our money into this ven
ture if there was chance to lose it?'
/ by gum. but we'll be rich!
OF course we will
"Riche2t folks in the hull ccun.
ty."
yes but don't get excited
They sat Oh deck for an hour or two,
Stebbins smoking and his wife kitting,
and Us they were about to retire for the
night | felt bound to observe:
Well, Mr.. Stcbbins, here we are in
good shape, and now, as was sent to
manage your business, you'd better ex-
plain matters pretty clearly. | may
want to make some preparations for to-
morrow.
How long will it take you to get a
diver ready to so down p he asked.
Not over hall an hour
Well that IS about all the prepara-
tiona needed
"W hat is the diver to be sent down
after :
'Sunthin' that won't run away be-
fore morning. answered Mrs. Stebbins,
and with that they both went below.
1t was only natural that all Of us
should be curious about the expedition,
but every attempt to find out anything
had been cleycrly frustrated. The cap.
tain aud | talked it over again for the
twentieth time, ard we came to the
same old conclusion--that Stebbins had
come on Wild goose chase after some
old wreck. In our pique at his refusal
to furnish particulars we almost hoped
he wouldn't find it; Stebhin3 was on
deck at daylight next morning, and his
wife halt al hour later, and after break
fast, when the captain asked for orders,
the Yankee waited to fill his pipe be-
fore replying:
Il guess we'll Jog westward about
five miles, The schooner was got un-
der way, and when she mad accomplish
ed the distance named she was about
mile of shore, in fifty teet of water and
midway between her and the beach was
reel covered with not more than ten
or twelve feet Of water at low tlde.--
AS the anchor went down the schooner
head pointed directly toward the land
and Stebbin3 and his wife appeared to
make out some landmarks, the sight Of
which brought smiles to their faces
1t wa3 beautiful morning, with only
a slight breeze blowing, and as the an
cLor went down Stebbins came to me
and said:
ave shall have to 90 into the reef in
a small boat. | suppose. Can driver
work from her.
assured him that it could be done
and We got down the boat, put in the
pump and dress, and were shortly ready
to pull off Stebbns and his wife were
beth to 60 making part Of six Of US.
We pulled almost straight for the reef,
ported little after crossing it, and
then. as We anchored in three fathoms
of water / looked about and discovered
that we were in what might be called a
basin although it was open to the cast.
Eyes that is the spot, said Stebbins
rs lie stood up and looked around.
ia almost know it at midnight ad-
dcd his wife.
what am to look for:o' asked the
diver aS he donned his dress.
Some boxes about the siXe Of them
that axes come in, replied the Yankee
There orter be ten of'em down there,
They are iron bound and purity bubyon
hook on and we'll do the hauling.'
The diver winked at me to express
his increluity and then his helpers
screwed Oh his helmet and got him over
tie eide on the rope ladder. The wa
ter was wonderfully clear, and We
could follow him to the very bottom
and see him move about. He headed |
north and crossed the basin: hence
east to its mouth then around to the |
north, and after being down twenty
five minutes he came up with a she'll
and said, us soon as clear of his head
piece:
"Nothing but shells down there, sir.
The bottom is hard sand and | could
have seen dime down there
didn't see no boxes gasped Steb-
bins"
mo, SIR
Now, Jonas don t get excited,' cau-
toned his wife. Them boxes is lying
alongside o that wall (reeGto the west.
The waves coming in from the east
would shunt'em over there.