Thomas County cat., 1890-07-17

| we caugh sight one day at noon of {
felucca approaching us from the east
having rounded the cape. She flew thu
Spanish flag, and Semyo said that sht
belonged to the Goa st service. She hai
the right to board us and examine om
papers, and while we had no fear of hel
on our own account it was probable
that Semyo would be recognized the
moment they set eye on him. We had
our plans laid before she fired gun as
a signal to us to heave to. Semvo was
hidden in the forepeak, and we burned
sulphur in the fOrecastle behind him
By leaving the scuttle open the fumes
were drawn away from the fugitive.
and could be scented all over the brig
We hove to at the order of the felucca,
and were presently boarded by Spanish
lieutenant. He was a very pompous
chap, and it was probably his intention
to do great deal of bossing around,
but as he came over the rail current
of air carried him the smell of sulphur,
and he exclaimed:
"Good Lord, but is your brig on fire
in the fOrecastle ?"
1t was explained to him that we had
lost man of some maligant but un-
known disease and were fumigating
the brig. Two or three of us were feel
ing badly, but hoped to escape the
disease by steaming in the vapor. We
were trader and offered to open the
matches and show our papers, but he
was in hurry. He didn't even notice
our carronade, but backed to the rail
and descended to his boat, saying:
"Oh. you are doubtless all right, and
hope you will lose no more men. AS
for me, the service does not demand
that run the risks of epidemic"
Two days later we came to another in
the river opposite spot pointed out by
SemyO The bank of the stream was
rough and broken, but thickly wooded.
Forty rods inland was highway rum
ming parallel with the stream, but this
was hidden from us. On the far side
of the highway was the ruin of an old
church, and in this ruin was the treas
ure cache. As many boats were pass
ing up and down it was prudent that
we resort to deception to prevent sus-
picion.
We got down topgallantmast, Stacked
away some of the rigging, got stage
over the side for the carpenter and ap-
pearei to be lying there for the sole
purpose OF making repairs. We were
soon boarded by natives ANXIOUS to fur
nish cargo, and on the second day
government gunbOat passed us without
seeming to take any intrest in our case
Semyo had to lie concealed in the hold
during daylight. as men were coming
who knew him well and it was about
midnight ON the second night after our
arrival that we pull ashore for the
treasure that is, two men pulled Semyo
OA1 W 1AC Vouh w SCC IL AZ W dS tsu CIS1t,
and it did not take him many minutes
to make g. disagreeable discovery. A
party of woodcutters had encamped
close to the ruin. with every indication
of a long stay. SemyO was positive
that he could not get at the cache with
out being discovered, as the party had
two or three dogs in camp and he was
sharply challenged as he secuted around.
Next day, after some conspiring on
our part, the captain and went ashore
to the camp to make bold move.
There was gang of thirty natives
under Spanish boss cutting ebony,
and they had large lot all ready for
shipment. This gang had been sent
from the province of Zebu, where the
owner of the tract resided, and an agent
was daily expected to sell the output.
The boss we found to be an ignorant,
good natured fellow, who could neither
read nor write. While claimed to be
the real owner of the land ON which
they were at work the captain offered
to buy some of the logs on the sly. Be
tween us we got him to remove his
camp mile away and to accept about
$50 for logs. We mot only accomplished
this during the day, but showed our
friendship and good viii by sending
keg of whisky to the camp, and by night
the boss and his gang were as drunk as
lords. As soon as it was dark four of
us pulled ashore with Semyo, and he
led us straight trail to the treasure.
1t was buried in two earthen jars against
a bit of wall, and one of the camp fires
of the gang had been built within ten
feet of the spot. We had the jars out
and on board the brig in half an hour,
and an investigation proved that Semy0
had rather figured under the actual
amount. We had neither seen nor
heard anything to alarm us, but it ap
neared that we had been observed pul