The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-08-29
CHAPTER XIV.
TREASURE,


the shore.
CHAPTER XIV.
TREASURE,
1t was long past noon when the pirate re.
turned to his island home, and the day was
hot, for the sea-breeze had not made, and
tho tropical sun was pouring down its
burning rays until tho sand was roasting as
in furnace; the very rocks throwing off n
trembling mirage of heated air, and the Ia
COON almost boiling under the fiery infiu-
ence. The sailors, with aching heads and
parched mouths, were swinging in their
grass hammocks beneath the sheds; and
save the watchful vigilance of the men Mt
the look-onts and battery, the little island
was wrapped in repose. Captain Brand.
however, was rs cool as u cucumber: and
regardless of the heat, and Indifferent
about the siesta, he drew the curtains of the
saloon, and took some active exercise,
First, however, he desired his faithful Ba-
bette to get out some camphor trunks and
pack the contents of his splendid ward
robe. The operation was performed under
the critical eye of Captain Brand himself,
to which he personally lent his aid by stow
ing away. here and there, his caskets, trink-
ShoB oho NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. WIlCu Decu
presented to him by the unfortunate people
who had the ill luck to make his acquaint-
ance ON the high sens, or in midnight TO-
rays on shore. Then the captain opened
and rummaged cabinets, bureaux, and book
cases--making liberal presents to his trusty
and turning from That occu-
patton, he had all of his table furniture
spread before him, when he made careful
estimates of the value Of the silver, and
china, and glass. This concluded, Captain
Brand ordered Babette to furnish him a
slight repast; and while it was being pre-.
pared-the captain taking the precaution to
bolt his handmaiden in her kitchen-he
went quietly into his bedroom, and when
he came out he bore heavy burdens in his
muscular arms, all of which he laid con-
venicntly near the trap in the floor. Then
letting the hatch swing softly down, he
lowered the heavy articles by the silk rope.
rs no had Muster Gibbs, though not so sud
denly; going down himself rs nimbly as a
rat after them. In the vault beneath Cap
tain Brand struck light and set fire to q
torch, which blazed out luridly, and illu-
mined the dark excavation and passages like
day. Going slowly on, with his burdens in
his arms, by the path by which we traced
the padre, he came to the outer door, which
opened into the assure in the crag; and after
q vigorous effort tho beam was raised and
he passed out Once outside he felt his
way cautiously, stepping clear of the stag
nant pools beneath, and guarding his head
from the jagged rocks above; and then,
lighting his way over the stones which had
upset the equilibrium of Don Ricardo, no
crept slowly into an aperture on the right
No serpents or venomous reptiles disturbed
tho pin.e s progress; for though there were
plenty Of them coiled or crawling near, vet
their instinct probably taught them that he
was monster of more deadly poison than
themselves, and whose fnngs were sharper,
though his tongue did not hiss note Of
warming. Captain Brand put down his bur-
den and crept forward on hands and knees.
the blazing torch lighting up the damp and
dripping rocks. all green and Shiny from
the tracks of the snake and lizard. Where
the narrow tissure seemed TO end by wall
of natural rock the pirate rolled aside n
large stone Mt the base, and scratching away
the sand, large copper lock WIS displayed,
in which, after pushing aside the hasp, Cap
tain Brand touched spring, audit opened.
Then, exerting all the force of his power
full frame, rough slab of unhewn rock
yielded nthe effort, and rose like a vertical
door slung bv q massive hinge ut the ton.
Placing the large stone at the opening, so
rs to prevent the slab falling to its place,
the captain placed the torch within the
opening, and went back for his burden:
then he returned, and squeezed himself
with it intoa small excavated, uneven cham.
Der where he sat down.
Nasty work, communed the pirate with
himself, "but safe place to lay up n penn;
for rainy day! Let me see. These two
bags Of doubloons, and the small one nv
Gibbs brought me with those three there
of guineas and those sacks of dollars, will
make about ten thousand pounds. That
will make me nest-egg when retire from
the profession and return to Scotland. They
will have forgotten all my boyish foliles by
that time"
Captain Brand alluded to forging his fa-
theirs name, and other little peccadilloes of
a similar nature.
"And may be elected to Parliament
who knows? 1t is something of risk, per-
haps, to leave all this pretty coin here; but
then it's greater risk to carry it in the
schooner" argued both ways-"and
then. again, damp does not decay pure
metal. But" thought Captain Brand a sup
pose somebody should discover this little
casket i'll the rock. All! that's not probable.
for no soul besides myself knows Of it, and
even the very man who made the door did
not know for WHAT it was intended; besides,
he died and was buried long ago"
Captain Brand had forgotten, in this con-
nection, that the man who cut out the stone
chamber and door, and fashioned the hinge
and lock. took too much sugar in his coffee
the morning tho job was finished, and died
i'll horrible commissions before night. Oh,
yes! that incident had entirely escaped his
memory!
Captain Brand having now thoroughly
reasoned the matter out, gave each of the
Lays lying ON the sanda gentle kick to get a
responsive echo from the coin; and then
creeping out of the treasure chamber. he
withdrew tho torch. removed the stone, and
the heavy slab fell again into its place,
Then clasping the lock. covering it over
with sand, and rolling back the stone, he
seized the torch, and quickly returned to
the vault beneath his saloon. There, nut
ting out the torch by rubbing it against the
stone pavement until not spark was left.
by the sunlight, streaming through the
loopholes around, no passed to one side,
aud began removing the cases Of cochineal,
silks, ahd what not, near to the strongly.
barred portcullis door, which opened to-
ward the basin fronting his dwelling, 1t
WAS hard work, but Captain Brand Seem
cd to enjoy 1t; and even after he had ar
ranged the packages intended for ship
ment in his compadre's felucca, lie began
again. Going to the farther corner of the
vault, he stopped before strong mahog-
any door, and taking key from his pocket.
he unlocked aud threw it wide open. II
was as black rs night inside, aoored and
lined with wood, and emitting choking
atmosphere of charcoal and sulphur. Piled
around the wallis were some fifty or hun
dred small barrels with copper hoops and
branded Oh the heads with the word Pow
der" Unmindful of the odor and the
rather combustible material around MIN.
Captain Brand again resumed his work,
ana rolled large number Of the little bar
Iels toward the doorway nearthe merchan-
disc already there, saying to himself the
while
u think that will aboutfl the schooner's
magazine. and We must make proper dis
position Of the remainder"
Hereupon Captain Brand, actively bent
upon the pleasure Of disposing of his treas
ures, rolled out dozen or two moro of the
little barrels. Strange to So among the
very few articles that we're never presented
to him, but actually bought Of Senior Nor
emo, was this highly useful material OF
powder; and he therefore set much store
by it. And it was with sigh that the
pirate placed the little barrels on their ends
In line across the great vault Of the build.