Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-07-26

partly to save time when I should come to
confer with my relative, l gave them the
story of my shipwreck, and told how had
met with the schooner and bow / had man
aged to escape with her
'And now, Mason,n said !, "while our
friends here empty these bowls, come you
with me to the cook room.n And with that
we quilted the cabin.
"D'ye mean to tell me, Paul. was the first
/ question my relative asked, shat this vessel
was on the ice eight-and-forty yearsa"
"Yes,n / replied.
"Surely you dream"
81 think not"
"What we have been eating and drinking,
is that forty-eight years old, too'"
| cay, and older"
"Well, such a thing shall make me credu-
| lous enough to duck old women for witches.
| But what brandy-what brandy Never had
spirit such bouquet Every pint is worth
| its weight in guineas to a rich man. To think
of Deal boatmen and niggers swilling such
nectar!n
'Alason," 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 100000 TO elO0,00O
His jaw fell, lie stared as if he knew not
whether it was he or that was mad
"Here is evidence that speak the truth, !"
said l. "a little sample only-but look at
itr And l put the pirate captains watch
into his hand.
| He eyed il as though he discredited the in
| telugence OF his sight, turned it about and
returned it TO me with faint Heaven pre-
serve me.n Then said nc still family: "You
! found some of tho pirates aliveg"
"No.n
"Who told you that the people of the yes
sci valued their plumber at that amountr
! answered by giving him the story Of the
1 recovery Of the Frenchman.
! He listened with 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 a lantern, ard
asked him TO follow me. AS we passed
| through the cabin l whispered to Wilkinson
that meant to show my relasive the lading
below, and baie him keep the Deal men about
him. / Ind the keys Of the chests In my
| pocket; lifting tho after hatch, we entered
the lazarette, aud Mason gazed about him
with establishment But was in too great
hurry to return TO suffer him to idly stand
and stare. / opened the second hatch and
descended into the run, and crawling to tho
Jewel chest opened it, removed few Of tho
I small arms, and babe him look for himself
"Incrediblel incrediblel' he cried. as it
( possiblel is it pOssible Well, to be surer
And for some moments he could find no more
/ to say, so amazed and COMPOUNDED was he.
1 Iquickly showed him the gold and silver
ingots, and then returned the FIRE arms and
locked the chests.
"These," said l, emphatically, pointing to
the cases, shave been my difficulty; not the
lading, though there is value there too. MY
crew knew nothing Of these chests-of their
value, mean; they believe them cases of
small arms, How am / to get them ashore2
/ If l tell the truth, they viii be seized as
piratical plunder. If Ifequivocate may
| tumble into pit of difficulties. / burst not
carry them to the Thames-the river swarms
with thieves and custom house people.
am terrified to linger here, lest l DO boarded
and the booty discovered. There is but one
plan, think; We must hire some Deal snug
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 slight of tho treasure had temporarily
scattered, and surveyed me thoughtfully
while spoke, and then said, 'Let us return
to the fire; think | have q 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. I 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 a 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'
"Tell me your lading,n said he
gave it 20 him as accurately as could
"Why, p he exclaimed, "a single boat would
take long time to discharge We; observe the
perils-several boats would mean large
number Of men; they would eat you up;
they would demand SO much you would have
nothing left And suppose they opened the
chestsl No, your scheme is worthless
''What's to do, then, in Gods namer
'Ill tell your he exclaimed, smiling with
the complacency of man who is master OF
great fancy. II shall sail to Dover at once.
'Tis now quarter past 4. Give me twelve
hours to make Dover; / shall post straight to
London and be there by early morning Now,
Paul, attend you to this. Today is Wednes-
day; by tomorrow night you must contrive
to bring your ship to an anchor off Barking
Leveln
s'The Thamesln 1 cried.
He nodded
looked at him anxiously. He leaned to
me, putting his hand on my leg.
81 own lighter" said he. "She win he
alongside of you at dusk. have people Of
my own whom can trust The lighter will
empty your hold and convey the lading to a
ship chartered by nae, arrived from the Black
sea on Sunday and lying in the pool. The
stuff can be sold from that ship as it is
"But the chests-the chests, Masonm
"They shall be lowered into another boat
and taken ashore and put into a wagon that
win be in waiting-I in it-and driven tomy
home"
Iclapped him on tho shoulder in trans
pert.
''Nobly schelned, indeedn cried "But
have we nothing to fear from the customs
peoples'
"No, rot low down the river and at dark.
You bring up for convenience, dye see! Mind
it is dark when you anchor A lighter and
boat shall be awaiting you. II is down the
river, you know, that all the Jumpers drop
with the lighters they go adrift in from ships
sides. There's more safety in smuggling over
Thames mud than on this coast shingle. One
thought more; You say that Wilkinson be-
lieves the chests hold small armsF'
ssYes.n
"Then account TO him for sending the
chests away separately by saying that have
found purchaser, and that they are going
to him direct. You have your cue-you see
ALL"
GAIL"
"Let mo hurry, then, Paul. That brandy
should fetch you half guinea a pint. You
are in lucks way, Paul See that you bring
your ship along safely. Till tomorrow
nightl'
He clasped and wrung my hand, and ran
into the cabin.
"Now, lads, of with usln he cried "Of
to Doverl Put me ashore there snartly, and
you shall find your account. OFF now-time
pressesl"
Five minutes afterward the boat was gone.
When fortune falls in love with q man she
makes him a bounteous mistress Every
thing fell out as / could have desired We
got our anchor at 5, and by daybreak were
| off Hastings, jogging quietly along toward
London river, the weather conveniently OBJ
scure, the wind south, and forty hours before
us to do the run in. exactly explained my
relatives scheme 70 Wilkinson and the others