Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-04-14

| from Iuc filElH anu hte2AilHB HOTlnt 30 tlldt
/ what might have taken thirty years to ac-
complish in 20 dogs Of south latitude might
, be performed in a day on the parallel of 90
/. degs in the summer season in these seas
Tassard continued speaking with tho pam
nikin in his hand and his eyes shut as IL to
get the picture Of the schooner's position fair
before mis- minds vision: There vas
quarter of mile OF ice beyond the ship,
have it very plain in my sight; it was great
muddle of hillocks, for the ice pressed thick
and hard, and raised us, and vomited up
peaks and rocks to the squeeze, Suppose
have been asleep week." Here lie opened
his eyes and gazed ot me.
"Wellr said /.
~ say" he continued, in the tone of one
| easily excited into passion, "a week. It
will not have been more. 1t is impossible.
Never mind about your 1901" showing his
fangs in a sarcastic grin; "a week Is long
enough, friend. Then this is what / mean to
say: that the breaking away of a quarter OF
a mile of ice in u week is fine work, full of
grand promise; the next wrench-which
might come now as l speak, or tomorrow,
| or In a week-the next wrench may bring
| away the rock on which we are lodged, and
| the rest is a matter of patience-which we
| can afford, heyi for we arc but two-tEere is
plenty of meat and liquor, and the reward
afterward is "a princely independence, Mr..
| Paul Rodney"
was struck with the notion Of the bed Of
ice OH which the schooner lay going ahoat,
| and said: Are sea and wind to be helped,
think youl If tho block on which we lie
| could he detached it might beat a bit against
its parent stock, but would not unite again.
The schooners canvas might be made to help
it alons-though suppose it capsizedln
1--WE must consider" said he; there is no
| m hurry Nban tla nd faIl a,xti11
| survey the ice"
| lie warmed himself afresh, and after re-
4 manning silent with the air of one turning
/ many thoughts over in his mind, he suddenly
cried, "D'ye know have a mind to view the
| plate and money belowl What say your
| His little eyes seemed to sparkle with sus-
| picion as he directed them at me. was CON
tident he suspected had lied in saying knew
| nothing of this treasure, and that ho wanted
to see if l had meddled with those chests
One of the penalties attached to a man being
forced to keep the company of liars is, be
himself is never believed by them. l an
swered instantly, Certainly; should like
| to sec this wonderful booty. 1t is right that
| we should find out an once if it is there; for,
| supposing it vanished, we should be no better
| than madmen to sit talking here of the fine
| lives we shall live if ever we get home"
He picked up the lantern, and said, 81
| must go to your cabin; it was the captains.
| The keys of the chests should be in one of his
boxes"
He marched Off, and was so long gone that
| was almost of belief he had tumbled down
| in fit. However, had made up my mind
to act a very wary part; and particularly
never to let him think l distrusted him, and
so would not go to see what he was about.
But what did was this: the arms room was
| next door; lighted a CANDLE entered it, and
swiftly armed myself with a sort of dagger,
kind of boarding knfe-a very murderous
little two-edged sword, the blade about seven
inches long, and the haft of brass There
were some fifty of these weapons, and l tool,
the first that came to nay hand, and dropped
it into the deep side pocket of my coat, and
returned to the cook room. 1t was not that |
1 was afraid of going unarmed with this man
into the hold; there was no more danger to
me there than here; should he ever design to |
dispatch me one place was the same as an
other, for the dead above could not testify |
there were no witnesses in this white and |
desolate kingdom. What resolved me to go |
armed was the fear that should the treasure |
be missing-and who was to swear that the |
schooner had never been visited once in eight |
and forty yearss-the Frenchman, who was |
persuaded his stupor had not lasted above a |
week, and who was doubtless satisfied the |
chests were in the hold down to the period |
when he lost recollection, would suspect me |
of foul play, and in the barbarous rage of a |
pirate fall upon and endeavor to kill me.
1t might be that he was long because of |
having to seek for the keys; but my own |
conviction was that he found the keys easily |
and stayed to rummage the boxes for such |
jewels and articles OF value as he might there
find. l think he was gone near half an
hour; he then returned to the cook house,
wiz hpin In ha lTayr ~ nd
Cling them and after warming himself said,
LET us go.n
was moving toward the forecastle.
mot that way for the run, ~ cried he
as there a hatch aftP 1 asked.
"Certainiy-in the lazarette."
81 wish l had known that" said l ~ |
should have been spared sitting scramble
over the casks and rattle forward
He led the way, and coming to the trap
hatch that conducted to the lazarette he
pulled it open and we descended. He held
the lantern and threw the light around him,
and said 'Ay, there are plenty of stores
here We reckoned upon provisions for
twelve months, and we were seventy of |
crew"
A strange figure he looked, just touched
by the yellow candle light, and standing out
upon the blackness like some vision of dis
tempered fancy, in his hair cap and flaps,
ana with MS long nose ana beard and Little
eyes shining as he rolled them here and there
We made our way over the casks, bales and
the like till we were right aft, and here there
was small clear space of deck in which lay
n hatch. This he lifted by its ring, and down
through the aperture did he drop follow
ing. The laZarette deck came so low that
we had to squat when still or move upon our
knees AT tho foremost end of this division
of the ship, SO far as it was possible for my
eyes to pierce the darkness-for it seems that
this run went clear to the fore hold bulk head, |
that is to say, under the powder room, to
where the fore hold began--were slowed the |
spare sails, ropes for gear, and a great vari-
ETY. of furniture for the equipment of a ships
yards and masts. But immediately under
the hatch stood several small chests and /
cases. painted black, slowed side by side SO
that they could not shift. ,
Tassard ran his eye over them. counting.
"Right!" cried he; 'hold the lantern, Mr.. |
Rodney"
took the light from him, and, pulling the {
keys from his pocket he fell to trying them i
at the lock of the first chest One fitted; the
bolt shot with hard click, like cooking q
trigger, and he raised the lid. Tho chest was t
full of silver money. Ipicked up couple s
of the coins, and bringing them to the candle
perceived them to be Spanish pieces of 1899
The money was furnished, yet it reflected
sort of dull, metallic light. The Frenchman i
grasped handful and dropped them, as b
though, like a child he loved to hear the e
chink the pieces made as they fell n