Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-02-15

would have fair supply Of water, might
live for weeks-months, even"
BllSover's countenance fell; this was a
view of the matter that had not occurred
TO him.
And how do you know" | went on.
''thst the Santa Anna did not get TO
EuSland-or somewhere elSe--atter all,
Even in the DoldrumS Gains don't last for
ever"
well, l think do know that she didn't
set to England" said Tom, quietly. MY
father he thou u-ht OF that, ami he went 10
a lawyer chap and pretended AS there WAS
somebody on board the 'Hecate' as be-
lonSei 10 hiru-a great uncle by his moth
er'S Siie-ani that he wanted TO find out
what had become of him-a proof of his
death-aud h got the lawyer chap TO write
TO the Admiralty"
And did the lawyer chap set an an
swer?"
YES, after waiting long time, and
writing i've or six letters-it cost my faith
er Il matter of two or three pounds, one
way and another. Well, the answer was
rs the 'Hecate' sailed from Portsmouth on
such a date i'll 114S revictualed at Nassau.
and touched at Jamaica; but as after that
nothing more had been heard of her. she
must undoubtedly have perished with all
on board. Now, dOeSu' il stand to reason
that as nothing has been heard Of the
'Hecate,' none of the Crew-and all of 'em
went on board the Santa Anna yOu know
that none of her crew ever got to laudf-
because the first thing they'd naturally do
would be to inform the Admiralty and
claim their pay. As for the officers, they
would of course report themselves, and tell
how the 'Hecate' was lost"
''Of course; and the fact that nothing has
been heard of her or any of her crew shows
in my opinion, that the fate which the Ad-
miralty think overlook the 'HcCate' over
took the Santa Auna'-She perished with
all on board, perhaps in cyclone; or she
may have struck on a suukeu rock or got
burned. Your suppoSition, Bolsovcr, that
every man-jack of her crew Gied Of thirst.
and that she is either afloat or aground
with all her treasure on board is-eNcuse
me for saying it-all bosh: and the sooner
you get the idea out of your head, the bet
ter it will be for your peace of mind"
II am sorry to hear you say so, Mr. Erie"
answered the hoatswain. with the air Of a
man who, though shaken in his opinion,
refuses TO be convinced. Il am sorry to
hear you say so. | cannot argufy like n
man of 'ead and education. and facts is,
may be, against me. Well, don't care a
hang for the facts; and | am as cOck-sure
as II | saw her this minute as the gaIleon
Is ship yet, or leastways the hull of one,
and as l shall set eyes on her afore | die,
and carry off as much of that there treas
ure as will make me as rich as jew. II
you won't so shares with me, so much the
worse for yOu-that is all as can say"
Though ! saw that it was useless to con-
tinue the discussion, wanted to put one
more question.
Did your father say anything to the
Admiralty about the chaplain's statemeutp
asked.
mo, he didn't" answered Tom, almost
sayagely; "he wasn't such a darned fooli
He had too much white in his eye, my
father had, to put the Admiralty on the
track of that there treasure-ship; and as it
was nigh on hundred years after she dis
appeared, it would have done no manner
of good to anybody"
The subject then dropped, and it was not
resumed until several rather strange things
had come to pass, and Bolsover was in
more placable mood.