Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-05-12

Il
came up to us; that in all probability they
would have run stem on into US il they had
| not seen our lights, aud that their seeing our
| lights had caused them TO hail US, their "Shp
ahoylu being instantly answered by Crom-
well
"WelI,n said |, ''there arc stranger things
TO tell of than this even Now, Wilkinson,
and you, Billy and Cromwell, get us good
supper and mix proper bowl How many
more of you are in the luggorp
"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,
| boys; there's enough to carry us home"
saw Mason gazing curiously about him.
"Tls like tale out of the Arabian Nights,
Paul. he exclaimed.
SAY" said l, "but written in bitter prose,
and no hint of enchantmcnt anywhere. But,
thank God, you are comet | have passed
dismal time of expectation, l promise you"
added, softly, 81 have something secret; we
will sup first man, shall amaze you'll 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
of punch were brewed, and in u little time
we had all fallen to. Whispered Wilkinson,
who sat next me: "These boatmen know
nothing of our business; l shall have to take
Mr.. Mason apart and arrange with him
These fellows may not be fit for our service
Let no hint escape you"
Fright, sir said he
This 1 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 appease
the profound curiosity of the boatmen and
partly to save time when l should come to
confer with my relative, l gave them the
story of my shipwreck, and told how | had
mot with the schooner and how had man
aged to escape with her.
'And now, Mason" said I, "while our
friends here empty these bowls, come you
with me to the cook room.n And with TINT
we quilted the cabin.
Dye mean to tell me, Paul" was the first
question my relative asked THAT this vessel
was on the ice eght-and-forty yearsE'
YES" replied
"Surely you dreamn
81 think not"
"What we have been eating and drinking,
is that forty eight years old, tooP
"Ay, and older"
w ell, SuCll Il Iilinp Snttll Hike cTclu-
lous enough to duck old women for witches
But what brandy-what brandy! Never had
spirit such IA bouquet. Every pint is worth
its weight in guineas to "A ricn man. To think
of Deal boatmen and niggers swilling such
nectar!'
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 100000 to Gl00,000.n
His jaw fell. He 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 1 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 a faint "Heaven pre-
serve me-" Then said he, still family: "You
found some of the pirates alives"
"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 |
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; l took a lantern, and |
asked him to follow me- As we Passed |
through tho cabin | whispered to Wilkinson |
that meant to show my relative the lading |
below, and babe him keep the Deal men about |
him. / had the keys of the chests in my |
pocket; lifting the after hatch, we entered |
the lazarette, and Mason gaZed about him |
with establishment. But was in too great |
a hurry TO return to suffer him to idly stand |
and stare. 1 opened the second hatch and |
descended into the run, and crawling to the |
jewel chest opened it, removed few of the |
small arms, and babe him look for himself |
"Incrediblei incredible!" he cried. SIS it |
possiblel is it possible Well to be sure!" |
And for some moments he could find no more |
to say, SO amazed and COMPOUNDED was he.
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, "have 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 l to get them ashore9
If I tell the truth, they will be seized as
piratical plumber. If Iequivocate, 1 may
tumble into pit of difficulties burst not
carry them to the Thames-the river swarms
with thieves and custom house people.
~ itSt tS |
and the booty discovered. There is but one
plan, l think; we must hire some Deal SNUG
glers to run these chests and the cargo for
us. The boat now alongside might serve,
and l don't doubt the men are to be had at
their own price"
My relative had reganed his wits, which
the sight Of the treasure had temporarily
and surveyed me thoughtfully
while spoke and then said, "Let us return
to the fire; think l have a 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 l smiled at
Wilkinson as passed. that he might suppose
our inspection below very satisfactory, and l
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 donem
"Tel me your lading," said he.
I gave it to him as accurately as l could.
"Why," he exclaimed, "a single boat would
take long time to discharge ye; observe the
perils-several boats would mean a large
number of men; they would eat you up;
they would demand so much you would have
nothing left. And suppose they opened the
,hestsI No, your scheme is worthless"
whats to do, then, in Gods nameE'
an tell you!" he exclaimed, smiling with
he complacency of a man who is master of
great fancy. II shall sail to Dover at once
It's now quarter past A. Give me twelve s
hours to make Dover; shall post straight to !
London and be there by early morning Now, i
Paul, attend you to this Today is Wednes-
lay; by tomorrow night you must contrive /,
o bring your ship to an anchor off Barking !.
+ II u