Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-03-31

after several journeys stocked up a good nro vision of coal in the corner. made noise enouoh. but Tassard slept on. When this was ended I boiled some water to cleanse myself. and then set about getting the dinner ready.
 The going into the fore peak had put my mind mon the treasure, which, as I had gathered from the Frenchman's narrative. was somewhere hidden in the schooner-in the run as doubted not; mean in the hold. under the lazarette-for you will recollect that. being weary and half perished with the cold, had turned my back on that dark part after having looked into the powder room All the time was fetching the coal and dress ing the dinner my imagination was on fire with fancies of tho treasure in this ship The Frenchman had told me that they had been well enough pleased with their hauls in the South sea to resolve them upon heading round the Horn for their haunt, wherever it might be, in the Spanish Main; and had too good an understanding of the character of pirates to believe that they would have quitted a rich hunting field before they had handsomely lined their pockets. What, then, was the treasure in the run, if indeed it were theres
 I was mechanically stirring the saucepan full of broth I had prepared, lost in these golden thoughts, when the Frenchman sud- denly sat up on his mattress.
 "Ha!" cried he, snif1ing vigorously, "I smell something good-something am ready for. There is no physic like sleep;" and with yawn, then rose very agilely, kicking the clothes and mattress on one side, and bring ing bench close to the furnace "What time is it, sir?'
 Something after 12 by the captains watch, D said I, pulling it out and looking at it. "But 'tis guesswork time"
 "The captains watch!" cried he, with 8 short loud laugh. "You are modest, Mp
 "Paul Rodney" said I, seeing he stopped for my name.
 "Yes, modest, MT. Paul Rodney That watch is yours, sir; and you mean it shall be yours.''
 "Well, Mr. Tassard," said I, coloring in spite of myself, though he could. not witness the change in such light as that, "I felt this, that if left the watch in the captains pocket it was bound to go to the bottom ul- timately. and"--
 "Bah!" he interrupted, with violent flourish of the hand. "Let us save the schooner if possible; there will be more than one watch for your pocket, more than one doubloon for your purse. Meanwhile, to din- ner! My stupor has converted me into an empty hogshead, and it will take me fort night of hard eating to feel that have broken my fast"
 With blow of the chopper he struck off lump of the frozen wine, and then fell to eating perhaps as a man might be expected to eat who had not had a meal for eight-and- forty years.
 "There are two of your companions on ieck," said I.
 He started.
 "Frozen," continued; 'they'u be the bodies of Trentanove and Joam Barrosa'
 He nodded.
 ''There is no reason why they should be deader than you we're. 1tt is true that Barros has been on deck while you have been be- low; but after you pass certain degree of cold fiercer rigors cannot signify"
 "What do you propose?" said he, looking at me oddly.
 "Why, that we should carry them to the fire and rub them, and bring them to if we cann
 ''Why?"
 I was staggered by his indifference, for had believed he would have shown himself very eager to restore his old companions and shipmates to life I was searching for an answer to his strange inquiry, "Whyg" when he proceeded: "First of all, my friend Trentanove was stone blind, and Barros nearly blind. Unless you could return them their sight with their life they would curse you for disturbing them. Better the black ness of death than the blackness of life."
 ''There is the body of the captain" said l.
 He grinned
 "Let them sleep," said he. Do you know that they are cutthroats, who would reward your kindness with the poniard that you might not tell tales against them, or claim a share of the treasure in this vessel! Of all desperate villains l never met the like of Barros He loved blood even better than money. He'd quench his thirst before an engagement with gunpowder mixed in brandy. l once saw him choke man-tut! he is very well-leave him to his repose."
 In the glow of the fire he looked uncom- monly sardonic and wild, with his long beard, bald head, flowing hair, shaggy brows, and little cunning eyes, which seemed in their smallness to share in his grin, and yet did not; and though to be sure he was some one to talk to and to make plans with for our escape, yet felt that if he were to fall into stupor again it would not be my hands that should chafe him into being. tYou knew those men in ife," said l. eff the others are of the same pattern as the Portuguese, by all means let them lie frozen"
 "But, my friend" said he, calling me mon ami, which translate, "that's not it either Do you know the value of the booty in this schooners'
 Unanswered, ''No;" how was to know it7 I had met with nothing but wearing apparel and some pieces of money and a few watches in the forecastle. He knit his brows with a fierce, suspicious gleam in his eyes.
 ''But you have searched the vesselY' he cried.
 s'I have searched, as you call it-that is, I have crawled through the hold as far as the powder room"
 ''And farther aft?' 'No, not farther aft." His countenance cleared. 'You scared mel' said he, fetching deep | breath. ''I was afraid that some one had | been beforehand with us But it is not con- ceivable. No! we shall look for it presently, and we shall find it."
 "Find what, MT. Tassards" said I. | He held up the fingers of his right hand: ''One, two, three, four, five-fve chests of plate and money; one, two, three-three cases of virgin silver in ingots; one chest of gold ingots; one case of jewelry. In all'- he paused to enter into calculation, moving his lips briskly as he whispered to himself