Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-04-28

1..SzAl.lD
"You are your old seif."
Well, I need not detain you by reciting all
tho civilitics and congratulations which he
and I exchanged. He and wilkinson had
arrived at Deal at 8 o'clock that afternoon,
and after hurried meal had hired . luggsr
and started at once .cr Beachy Head. II WAS
now o'clock in the morning; and what
naay consider q truly extraordinary circum-
stance is, that they had sailed - true Q
course for the schooner as II she had lain
plain to the gaze at the very start; that since
the night had drawn down they had met no
vessel Of any kind or description until they
came up to us; that in all probability they
would have run stem on into US II they had
not seen our lights, and that their seeing our
lights had caused them to hail us, their "Ship
ahoyl" being instantly answered by Crom-
well.
"Well," said I, "there are stranger things
to tell of than this, even. Now, Wilkinson,
and you, Billy and Cromwell, get US a good
supper and mix proper bowl How many
more Of you are in the luggerr
''Four, sir" said one of the boatmen.
"Then fetch as many as may safely leave
the boat" said l. "Billy, get candles and
make good light here. Throw on coal,
hpys; there's enough to carry US home"
lsaw Mason gazing curiously about him.
''Tislike tale out Of the Arabian Nights
Paul." he exclaimed.
"Ay," said I, "but written In bitter prose,
and no hint Of enchantment anywhere. But,
thank God, you are come! have passed q
dismal time Of expectation, promise you"
added, softly, 81 have something secret; we
will sup first; man, I 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 brswed, and In little time
we had all fallen to. Whispered Wilkinson,
who sat next me: "These boatmen know
nothing Of our business; shall have to take
Mr.. Mason ,apart and arrange with him.
These fellows may not be flt for our service
Let no hint escape you"
fright, sir" said he.
This said to disarm his suspicious should
he see me talking alone with Mr. Mason. He
entertained US with an account Of his excur-
sion to London, and then, partly to appeass
the prQDpnd curiosity of the boatmen and
partly to save time when should come to
confer with my relative, gave them the
story Of my shipwreck, and told how had
met with the schooner and how had man
aged to escape with her.
"And now, Mason" said I, "whils our
friends here empty these bowls, como 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 yearsf'
YES" replied.
"Surely you dreamr
II think not"
"What we have been eating and drinking,
is that forty-eight years old, toor
GAY, and older"
swell, such thing shall make me crsdu-
lous enough to duck old women for witches
But what brandy-what brandy! Never had
spirit such O bouquet. Every pint is worth
its weight in guineas to a ricn man. To think
Of Deal boatmen and niggers swilling such
nectarp
Mason" said I, speaking low, "give me
now your attention. In the run Of this
schooner are ten chests loaded with money,
bars of silver and gold, and jewelry. This
vessel was pirate, and her people valued
their booty at 900, 900 to gl0O,OOO."
His jaw fell. He stared as if he know not
whether it was he or l that was mad.
"Here is evidence that speak the TRUTH
said I. "a little sample only-but look at
tt!' And I put the pirate captains watch
into his hand
He eyed it as though he discredited the In
telligence Of his sight, turned it about and
returned it to me with faint Heaven pre-
serve me-" Then said be, still family; "You
found some Of the pirates alivsf"
"No."
"Who told you that the people Of ths YES
eel valued their piupder at that amountp
answered by giving him the story of the
recovery of the Frenchman.
He listened with a gaze Of CONSERVATION.
saw how it was; he believed my sufferings
had affected my reason. There was only one
way to settle his mind; took lantern, and
asked him to follow me. As we passed
through the cabin whispered to Wilkinson
that meant to show my relative the lading
below, and bade him keep the Deal men about
him. I had the keys Of the chests In my
pocket; lifting the after hatch, We entered
the lazarette, and Mason gazed about him
with astonishment. But was in too great
q hurry to return to suffer him to idly stand
and stare. ! opened the second hatch and
descended into tho run, and crawling to the
jewel chest opened it, removed few Of the
small arms, and bade him look for himself.
"Incrediblel incrediblel" he cried. 'Is it
possiblel is it possible! Well, to be suren
And for some moments he could find 10 more
to say, so amazed and confounded was he.
Iquickly showed him the gold and silver
ingots, and then returned the fire arms and
locked the chests.
These" said !, emphatically, pointing to
the cases, have been my difficulty; not the
lading, though there is value there too. Ny
crew knew nothing Of these chests--of their
value, mean; they believe them cases Of
small arms, How am to get them ashore,
II tell the truth, they will be seized as
piratical plunder. II Itequivocate, may
tumble into pit of difficulties. burst not
carry them to the Thames-the river swarms
with thieves and custom house people I
am terrified to liDger here, lest l be boarded
and the booty discovered. There Is but one
plan, think; we must hire some Deal smug-
glers 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 own price"
My relative had regained his wits which
the sight OF the treasure had temporarily
scattered, and surveyed me thoushtfully
while spoke, and then said, LET US return
to the fire; think l have better scheme
than yours"
The men still sat around the table talking.
Some liquor yet lay in one Of the bowls, and
the fellows were happy enough. ! smiled at
Wilkinson as passed, that he 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.
"Paul," said Mason, sitting down and fold
ing his arms, "your smuggling plan will not
do. 1t would be the height Of 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 donef'
"Tsl me your lading," said he.