San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-02

forced TO keep the company Of liars is, be
himself is never believed by them. I an
swered, instantly, Certainly; should like
to see this wonderful booty. It 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, ~
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 trlmbled down
in fit. However, had made up my mind
to act a very wary part; and particularly
never to let him think distruSted him, and
so 1 would not go to see what he was about
But what did was this: the arms room was
next door; l lighted candle, entered it, and
swiftly armed myself with sort of dagger,
kind of boarding knife-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 took
the first that came to my hand, and dropped
it into the deep side pocket of my coat, and
returned to the cook room. 1t was not that
was afraid of going unarmed with this man
lIUO Uuc uOlu, bueIc was uo hOiO W
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
IAl hi 81, had lac H@x,
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,
saying briefly, II have the keys" and jim
Cling them, and after warming himself said,
"Let us CO."
Twas moving toward the forecastle.
mot that way for the run" cried he
SIS there hatch afr asked.
"Certainly-in the lazarette."
IL 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 Llackacss like Some vision of dis
tempered fancy, in his hair cap and flaps,
and with his long nose and 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 a small clear space of deck in which lay
a 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 the 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 bulkhead,
that is to say, under the powder room, to
where the fore hold began-were slowed the
opdiC sans iokOo ioi SCoi aliu q SiCdO
ETY. of furniture for the equipment of 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.
"Rightp cried he; ''hold the lantern, Mr..
Rodney"
took the light from him, and, pulling the
keys from his pocket, he fell to trying them
at the lock of the first chest. One fitted the
bolt shot with hard click, like cooking a
trigger, and he raised the lid. The chest was
full of silver money. Ipicked up couple
of the coins, and bringing them to the candle
perceived them to be Spanish pieces of 1879.
The money was furnished, yet it reflected
sort of dull, metallic light. The Frenchman
grasped a handful and dropped them, as
though, like a child, he loved to hear the
chink the pieces made as they fell