San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-29
CHAPTER XII.
1 MAKE FURTHER DISCOVERIES.

MANI FURTHER DlSCoN EhlES.
So long as [ moved about and worked
did not feel the cold, but if stood or sat
couple of minutes felt the nip of it in my
very marrow Yet, fierce as the cold was
here, it was impossible it could be compare
bic with the rigors of the parts in which this
schooner had originally got locked up in the
ice No doubt if l died on deck my body
would be frozen as stiff as the figure on the
rocks; but, though it was very conceivable
that might perish of cold i'll the cabin by
sitting STILL was sure the temperature be-
low had not the severity to stonify me to the
granite of the men at the table.
Still, though a greater degree of cold
cold as killing as if the world had fallen sun
less-did unquestionably exist in those lati-
tudes, whence this ice with the schooner in
its hug had foated, it was so bitterly bleak
in this interior that twas scarce imaginable
it could be colder elsewhere; and as / rose
from the cask, shuddering to the heart with
the frosty, motionless atmosphere, my mind
naturally went to the consideration of a fire
by which l might sit and toast myself
1 put bunch of candles in my pocket
they were as hard as a parcel of marlne
spikes-and took the lantern into the passage
and inspected the next room. Here was
cot hung up by hooks, and large black chest
stood in cleatS upon the deck some clothes
dangled from pins in the bulkhead, and upon
q kind Of tray fixed upon short legs and
serving as a shelf We're miscellaneous
bundle of boots, laced waistcoats, three
corner hats, couple of swords, three or four
pistols, and other objects not very readily
distinguishable by the candle light There
was a port which tried to open, but found
it so hard frozen l should need handspike
to start it. There were three cabins besides
this-the last cabin, that is, the one in the
stern, being the biggest of the lot. Each had
its cot, and each also had its own special
muddlc and litter of boxes, clothes, firearms,
swords and the like
Indeed, by this time l was beginning to
see how it was. The suspicion that the
watches and jewelry I had discovered on
the bodies of the men mad excited was now
confirmed, and | was satisfied that this
schooner had been pirate or buccaneer, of
what nationality | could not yet divine
methOught Spanish from the costume of the
first figure i had encountered; and was also
convinced, by the brief glance l directed at
the things in the cabin, particularly the wear
ing apparel, and the make and appearance
of the firearms, that she must have been in
this position for upward of fifty years.
The thought awed me greatly-twenty
years before | was born those two men were
sitting dead in the cabin! He on deck was
keeping his blind and silent lookout; he on
the rocks, with his hands locked upon his
knees, sat sunk in blank and frozen contem-
plation
Every cabin had its port, and there were
ports in the vessels side opposite; but on re-
hection | considered that the cabin would be
the warmer for their remaining closed, and
so | came away and entered the great cabin
afresh, bent on exploring the forward part
must tell you that the mairimast pierre
ing the upper deck came down close against
the bulkhead that formed the forward wall
of the cabin, and ON approaching this parti.
tion the daylight being broad enough now
that the hatch lay open on top, remarked
sliding door on the larboard side of the mast
l put my shoulder to it and very easily ran
it along its grooves, and then found myself
in the way of direct communication with
all the fore portion of the schooner. The ar
rangement indeed was so odd that l sus-
pected piratical device In this uncommon
method of opening out at will the whole
range of deck. The air here was as vile as
in the cabins, and had to wait bit
On entering discovered little compar+