Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-07-29

! 1891 - nioht III lle cooler
voice of Ella, "what is the use of our
thinking of it? We might as well be
children again, and cry for the moon.
as to dream that we should succeed
where so many have failed"
81 know it is foolish, - replied Mary.
but there is no harm in wishing we
might find the money or in guessing
where it is, and l am going TO think
the matter over.
Notmng more was said upon the
subject for a few days, as the weather
was rainy, and the girls were confined
III doors; but Ella noticed that Mary
was thoughtful and preoccupied, and
that she devoted much of her time to
reading such books in the small town
library, as told of shipwrecks and
marine disasters.
AT last one morning, the shone out
bright and clear again, and after break
fast the girls started on a much desired
constitutional. Mary at once led the
way to the beach and wreck.
ella, l have been thinking over the
story of these old timbers, and believe
have solved the mystery. If this ship
was indeed Captain Kids L believe
that the treasure she contained, instead
Of being buried a mile or more awav,
is at this very moment far down in the
sand beneath our feet. When this YES
sci was wrecked it must have been
during heavy storm, and at time of
mortal peril men always think far
more of saving their lives than their
money. Being criminals and pirates,
they naturally hurried away as soon
as they reached the shore to escape be-
ing tried and executed for their crimes.
Of course the vessel was ransacked by
the people living near, and everything
of value carried away; but it is just
here that my theory comes in. In an
old book read yesterday that favor
| lite place of concealment among sailors
was hole followed out of the very
keel of the vessel itself. Now | be-
lieve the treasure is hid there, if any
where, and L propose that you and /
shall go into the digging business, and
see what we can discover. If we don't
find any money we shall come across
some beautiful shells, no doubt, and
the exercise will be beneficial to both
If people should be curious and ask
why we were digging, we can say we
re looking for shells"
Mary drew a long breath as she fin
ished her short speech, and then en-
ioyed the wonder and pleasure that ex-
pressed themselves in Elias face.
ooh, Mary!" she said. sPerhaps
you have stumbled upon solution of
the mystery, after ali! Anyway, as
you say, it will do no harm to make
the experiment"
81 am glad that you fall in with nv
ldea so readily, Ella. L was afraid you
would think it very foolish one"
f'No, indeed!' And we will make
a beginning as soon as possible"
The girls walked to the village that
morning and purchased two strong
wooden scoops, with which they could
r,ni+a aasil,- handle tba f,o eo,,l ,,,l
after dinner repaired to the old wreck
and begun operations. They worked
manfully, but soon discovered that they
had larger undertaking on their hands
than they had anticipated. A short
distance below the surface the sand
lost its fine, loose character, and be-
came damp and hard-packed. The
wind also annoyed them by blowing
the dry seaweed and surface sand into
he excavation. But this difficulty
they obviated by making a canvas
screen.
They found it necessary 10 frequent
Iy change their wooden scoops for iron
trowels in digging around the large
stones, and Mary showed her ingenui-
ty in whiting a serviceable crowbar
out of a broken oar that had been
washed ashore.
They had several days of fine
weather, and made good progress in
their work. At last, after digging
twelve feet from the surface, they
reached the oaken keel, and at once
began to sound the portion exposed,
but with no result. No alternative
but to dig their way through
its entire length. This was a dis
couraging prospect, but both girls felt
that they had gone too far and worked
too hard to relinquish their search
now; and so, rolling up their sleeves,
with renewed courage, they 5egar
their arduous labor.
As they uncovered the keel they
it with their wooden mallets,
and at last, at the close of an August
day, just rs the sun was sinking below
the horizon, 4 stroke of the hammer |
upon the oak gave forth a hollow |
Both girls started as the wei
come echo fell upon their ears, and Ellie
said
''Can it be possible, Mary, that yon
were right, and that we shall find the |
treasure after alp
Mary was now the cooler of the two, |
and calling her friends attention to
the sinking sun, proposed that further |
labor should be suspended until the |