San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-03

nlvuou capable or giving one sucn a swoon-
ing, nauseating, terrifying sensation as the
rending Of ice under fixed ship. In few
moments there were several sharp cracks, all
on the starboard side, like the swapping of
musketry, and 1 felt the schooner very
slightly heave; but this might have been a
deception of the senses, for though set q
star against the masthead and watched it
there was no movement. looked over the
side and observed that the split had noticed
on the face Of the cliff had by this new rupt-
ure been extended transversely right across
the schooner's starboard bow, the thither
side being several feet higher than on this
| 1t was plain that the bed on which the YES
Bel rested had dropped so as to bring her up
right, and l was convinced by this circum-
Ttance alone that if used good judgment in
'iisposing of the powder the weight of ths
mass would complete its own dislocation.
The shock did my head good went below
and got into my cot, and after tossing for
half an hour or so fell asleep. ! awoke at
and went to the cook house. where found
Tassard preparing the breakfast and great
| fire burning. l hardly knew what reception
he would give me, and was therefore not q
little agreeably surprised by his thanking
me for covering him up.
"You have a stronger head than mine,"
said he; the punch used you we'll You
made me laugh, though You were very
diverting."
Gay, much too diverting to please myself"
! said I; and sounded him cautiously to re-
mark what his memory carried of my in
suits, but found that he rscollected nothing
more than that danced with vigor and sang
| we'll
l said nothing about my contrition, my
going on deck, and the like, contenting my
self with asking if he had heard the explosion
! in the night.
"No," cried he, staring and looking eagerly.
"Wel them" said l, there has happened
mighty crack in the ice, and do soberly be-
ieve that with the blessing of God we shall
be able by blasts OF powder to free the block
on which the schooner rests"
"Goodl" cried he; "come, let us hurry with
this meal. How is the weather.
"Quiet, believe. l have not been on deck
! since the explosion aroused me early this
morning. -
/ While we ate he said, Suppose we get the
schooner afioat, what do you propose"
"Why," l answered, elf she prove tight
! and seaworthy, what but carry her homer
What! you and | alonei"
| "No," said 1, certainly not; we must
make shift to sail her to the nearest port, and
ship a crew."
| He looked at me attentively and said:
"What do you mean by homer
England" said l.
Ha shrugged his shoulders, and exclaimed
in French: "'Tis NATURAL" then proceeding
in English: "Pray," said he, showing his
| fangs, do not you know that the Boca del
Dragon is a pirate3 Do you want to be
hanged, that you propose to carry her to a
port to ship menF'
| ~ have no fear of that" said I; CATER all
these years she'll be as clean forgotten as if
she had never had existence"
"Look ye here, Mr.. Rodney" cried he, in
a passion, let's have no more of this snivel-
ing nonsense about years. You may be as
mad as you please on that point, but it sha'n't
hang me. 1t needs more than few months
to make men forget a craft that has carried
on such traffic as our hold represents. You'll
not find me venturing myself nor the schooner
into any of your ports for men. No, no, my
| friend. | am in no stupor now, you know;
and Pve slept the punch off also, dye seea
What! betray our treasure, and be hanged
for our generosityr
He made me an ironical bow, grinning
with wrath.
Let's get the schooner aaoat first, said I.
| GAY, that's all very well, :" he cried; "but
better stop here than dangle in chains. No,
my friend; our plan must be very different
one from your proposal. suppose you want
your share of the bootyl" said he, swapping
his fingers.
II deserve II, }" said 1, smiling, that might
softsn his passion
"And yet you would convey the most noted
pirate Of the age, with plumber in her to the
value of thousands of doubloons, to port in
which we should doubtless find ships of war,
a garrison, magistrates, governors, prisons,
and the whole of the machinery it is our bust
ness to give our stern to Ma fol, Mr.. Rod
neyl surely you are out in something more
than your reckoning of timer g.. ..
"What do you proposem said l.
"HaI" he exclaimed, while his little eyes
twinkled with cunning, snow you speak SEN
sibly. What do propose9 This, my friend.
We must navigate the schooner to an island
and bury the treasure; then head for the
shipping highways, and obtain help from any
friendly merchantmen we may fall in with.
Home with US means the Tortugas. There
we shall find the company we need to recover
for us what we shall have hidden. We shall
come by our own then. But to sail with this
treasure on board-without a crew to defend
the vessel-by this hand! the first cruiser
that sighted us would malls a clean sweep