Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-03-22

'Tis like tale out Of the Arabian Nights,
Paul" he exclaimed.
"Ay," said |, "but written in bitter prose,
and no hint of enchantment anywhere. But,
thank God, you are come! | have passed
dismal time of expectation, | promise you"
L added, softly, 81 have something secret; we
will sup first; man, I shall amaze you! We
must talk apart presently"
He bowed his head.
Three more boatmen arrived, giving us the
company of five of them Soon there was u
hearty sound of frying and smell of good
things upon the air. Pitt put plates and
glasses upon the cabin table, two great bowls
of punch were brewed, and in a little time
we had all fallen to. Whispered Wilkinson,
who sat next me: "These boatmen know
nothing of our business / 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.n
Bright, SIR said he
This | 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 should come to
confer with my relative, l gave them the
story of my shipwreck, and told how had
met with the schooner and how had man
aged to escape with her.
"And now, Mason" said l, "while our
friends here empty these bowls, como you
with me to the cook room" And with that
we quilted the cabin.
Dye mean to tell me, Paul" was tho first
question my relative asked, ''that this vessel
was on the ice eight-and-forty years."
Eyes" replied
"Surely you dreamF'
81 think not
"What we have been eating and drinking,
is that forty eight years old, too9"
CAY, and older"
'Well, such thing shall make mo credu-
lous enough to duck old women for witches.
But what brandy-what brandy. Never had
spirit such a bouquet. Every pint is worth
its weight in guineas to a ricn man. To think
of Deal boatmen and niggers swilling such
nectar!h
"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 800 000 to 900 O00n
His jaw fell. He stared as if he knew not
whether it was he or that was mad
"1ere is evidence that speak the truth"
said l. "a little sample only-but look at
it," And I 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 faint Heaven pre-
| serve me- Then said he, still family: "Eou
found some of the pirates aliveF'
"No."
"Who told you that the people of the YES
sci valued their plumber at that amountw
/ 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 suiTerings
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 the cabin | whispered to Wilkinson
that | meant to show my relative tho 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 astonshment. But was in too great
a hurry to return to suffer him to idly stand
and stare | 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
possible is it possible. Well, to be sure"
| And for some moments no could find no more
| to say, so amazed and COMPOUNDED was he.
quickly showed him the gold and silver
| ingots, and then returned the fire arms and
| locked the chests
"These" said |, emphatically, pointing to
the cases, have been my difficulty; not the
ladng, 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 | 10 get them ashorel
| If | tell the truth, they will be seized as
piratical plunder. Ii liequivocate, | 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 be boarded
| and the booty discovered. There is but one
| plan, think; we must hire some Deal Snug
| giers 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
tho sight of tho treasure had temporarily
scattered, and surveyed mo thoughtfully
while spoke, and then said, LET us return
TO the fire; think | have a better scheme
! than yours"
Tho men still sat around the table talking
Some liquor yet lay in one of the bowls, and
the fellows were happy enough. smiled Mt
| Wilkinson as passed, that he might suppose
| our inspection below very satisfactory. and