New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-15

but what the Jewels may i'''c- D,cn ~ =. -, 4,
there Not bad hiding-pace, unused, D"'
no. not likely. . a.,
rushing and splash IN ne weH-Housc sal1'eq ui,
been for my old fric.d's heavy loss | should
have persuaded him 10 let me design new machlh-
cry for raising the water supply 49,. =.
BraysOns words had 30 impressed me tla' ~
had grown into a habit to take my glass OF cola
water after my bath, and one was kept OF a
shelf on purpose for my use. one of the men
thrlsting in the winch--tOp when bucket was
level, and filling the ela-S a. q matter 81 coulH
as soon az | seen crossing the yard.
That morning, a. STOOD m we WcI-hous,''
sipping the clear, cold fund. and listening 10 the
trckling and cchong splasA!ne Of TIE failing
water, ! gave quite start, and lnYoluniariY
peercd down into tie horribc-lookins black hole.
Tie next minute ! had tossed of the tcna iIs
Of nv draucht. and hurried away, trembling l'st
my excitement should have been noted ny the
men for. like an inspiration. the thought nag
come 20 me, The jewels are hidden down there
Instead Of turning into the garden, =, | GEN.
orally did | hurried On and up 10 my own room
10 finish dressing, but with my checks burning
man: telling myself that II was impossible, i'm
probable t. II degree: that there were nail ion
more Likely places for the jewels 70 have lecn
TO cast them away FOR ever.
But all these arguments were in vain against
the hourly growing feeling that had az last hi;
upon the spot where the stolen gems were hidden.
Why had | not thought OF that place before ?
don't know. Perhaps It WAS too simple, per,
haps too impossible. Suffice it, never had till
now. and the idea had suddenly become a fever.
which went on increasing for quite week. when.
unable to combat the feeling longer, gave way.
There must lc something in it," ! said
t. this "ys sshon sne4 ns' r a'"
whether 1t is that. or madness; or folly.
shall never rest till have searched that we'll
As soon rs ! had made up my mind t. this my
first thought WAS to consult Lord Gurflcieh, but
| cast that out at OEcc.
He'll ridiculc it,, said, II can't make him
feel as | do; and, although / would have gladly
act alone, and keep my actions hiddcn-no easy
task-from, every one about the place.
II was like fit of insanity, quite monomania :
but | was determined. ana from that hour began
TO think out my plans.
-, The simplest thing would have been to empty
the we'll: but that impossible. No amount
OF drawing wafer had the slightest effect, for the
diggcrs had tapped lie huge reservoirs extending
beneath the mighty chalk range running east and
west of the vast spur upon which the castle stood
dominating the sea. There could be no draining
the well, and, even had il been possible should
not have felt disposed 10 propose such n thing :
for ! wanted 10 keep my actions secret in case il
was all fancy engendercd by the sight of the
place.
That night, with fecling Of certainty that 7
had "A rood as founL tLc i,-yc1S which had been
hidden there for the | had already settled.
made my way to the wc-hou>c after every one
had retired for the night.
] had provided myself wiesf- a lantern, matches
and reel upon which were a hundred yards Of
salmon line from Lord Gurtcigh's tackle, and.
lastly, heavy plummct. beneath which | hung
little grapncl formed Of hooks securely bound
back TO back
The place looked very grim and rcpccnt as |
carefully closed the doors. All was silent and
ok, black and when drop Of w9 9 dripped from
far below, which echoed from the Shiny sides Of
the well in peculiar way that was almost start
ling. But was too hot upon my project. and.
carefully lighting my lantern in one corner, |
tried 10 keep II covered over till ! had attached
the end of the line 10 the lanlcrn-rnG. and swung
it down over the side into the well
Nobody is likely 10 lc watching the place, |
thought, "a i lowered the light for ten or dozen
feet and then. as | looked over the rail, began
TO search for what expected 70 find, TO wit, Il
string attached somewhere 70 the sdc-a strinr
that | had settled in my own mind would he at
tached to the packet lowered down.
But | walked slowly round examining care
fully. and specially about tie massive oakcn
cross-bcams which supported the bucket wheel, and
there was no result ! could see nothing hut
the stout rope, which rose mp from the darkness,
passed over the wheel by the cislcrn, and went
down again into the black dcpths-twO ropes, a.
il wcrc three feet apart. about the centre of the
grcat shaft, nothing more.
drew the lantern little higher. then lowered
il and again more and more. but there WIS no
string, and, bitterly disappointed, let the light
20 down and down, stopping several times, and
listening, in fear lest the clicking made by the
salmon-wnch might draw attention 10 my task ;
and az last the cchoing sound seemed so loud that
| twisted the line about the railing, and stole 10
the door ana listened.
the lantern swinging softly 10 and fro fully fifty
feet down. And now after looSening the linc !
let il out with the lantern descending. past
the buckets TIL ! caught "A FAINT CLEAN Just be-
meath IL, and then ] could Just see part Of wheel
standing out Of the black water, the beams which
held 1t being beneath the surface, the light burn
ing clearly and showing that there was n foul
air.
As rapidly wound the lantern mp. I saw once
more the two buckets about halfway down Then,
a. | went on winding. they seemed TO be descend
ing but Of course II was tie lantern coming up,
and directly after had IL in my hand, united II.
and attached my grapncl This ! held over the
well, and the weight ran II out rapidly. ! heard
il strike the water, and then and on II went -
what seemed 10 I've Il tremendous depth, before II
touched bottom.
Then began to drag here and there. pulling
il in all directions, expecting every moment Ia
feel check, and when al last did my heart
seemed % leap; but, as ! lifted. il was only 10
find that a hook had caught against the bottom
! kept this up for about n couple Of hours, pass
ing from one side of the draw wheels Ia the other
after hauling mp. but my cilorls were in vain.
hooked nothing, and NJ last, in despair AT my i'll
success wound up. meaning TO put the work of
for another night, when all AT once there Il
sharp check, which nearly snatchcd the wheel
ont Of my hand, and | knew that had caught
against Of the cross beams that supported the
lower wheel beneath the water After n great
deal Of snatching and tugging the line free.
but al the expense of many yards left below, AMI
my pummet and grapncl left sticking III the
beam.
Enough for tonight said to myself, open
ing nv lantern and blowing out the candle
Then throwing back the doors, ! stood listen
ing, iancying | had heard step but all was
silent, and crossed the yard, let myself in, and
went to bed, but not to sleep. For lay tossing
from side 10 side, more convinced than ever that
the jewels lay AT the bottom of that well.
Why? / don't know: | only tell You what
thought, and though had dragged unsucccss-
fully, and felt that | was not likely 10 recover
them in that very primitive way, feeling did
that the beams would prevent me from thoroughly
searching the bottom. / was more determined than
ever, and by sunrise had made up my mind what
10 do.
CHAPTER V.
] rose that morning an hour earlier than usual
and went down for my customary battle.
AS ! reached the shore | searched about till
had found couple of chalk bouldcrs to my taste
and carried these to the top of the rock off which
! regularly made my plunge, and laid them there
An EngliShman ought 20 he as clever q
L LIZ. D-4n I.A..-.