Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-10-11

Shat he had come from a ship. His
speech was Spanish--that was all
that remained of his identity. He
learned English as he recovered, for.
getting his Spanish utterly.
He was a fine, handsome man.
with a proud air of command. He
remained in the family-it was here
on this estate-and married the
daughter, and this manor house has
come "own to us, as you know, from
them
When he was very old man, he
was one day at barn raising, and
by another strange turn of circum-
stances a falling beam struck him
ON the head. The injury was fatal
one at his advanced age, but it re.
stored the memories he had lost for
81 years.
ITO his oldest son he gave his his
tory and his name. He told them
that he had sworn to take on board
the Ell Dorado the kings treasure and
guard it and deliver it at Barcelona.
The memory of the oath on the cru.
cifix seemed to haunt him with terri,
flying distinctness. He laid com.
mands on his son to guard the secret
of the location of the lost treasure
and to transmit it to his son, and so
it was to do down until such time as
the treasure could be recovered and
restored to the sovereign of Spain"
"a very interesting story, grand
father, said the young Louis, speak
ing now for the first time. $50 we
are of noble blood He was a gran,
dee of Spain! Clue blood Well,
now, grandfather, you know / don 7
care for such distinctions.
''Be silent, Louis, said the old man
sternly. ITO decry the value of
blood is ignorance indeed. And then
he went on: None of us has been
able to attempt the recovery of this
treasure. Nor have we seen how it
was ever to be possible in the future.
But lately have read of divers who
go down to the bottom of the sea and
perform wonderful feats there.
feel an o,d mans presentiment re-
garding you, Louis-that you are the
one of the race to redeem the oath to
Spain. Swear it to me, Louis.
Indeed grandfather, l cannot do
any such thing" interrupted the boy.
IF you say it is a point of family
honor to try to restore this fabulous
treasure, I'll promise to do my best,
but I'll not swear it. "
After a moment the eager look
faded out of the old mans eyes. He
smiled, so be it, he said. The boy
was looking at him fearlessly, and he
was struck by the resemblance to
the old portrait over the mantel-
piece, a fine, tall, muscular young
fellow, with the brilliant eyes and the
leonine expression. The Perans
were never promise breakers" he
said. Then he added: Among my
papers is rough chart drawn by
Don Louis If you do not use it, pass
it on to your SON."
One morning in 1877 a curious look
ing craft sailed in past the capes and
anchored in Hampton Roads, about
two lengths from the rip-raps. Its
commander was a fine looking boy
about 18, and the crew were IL stout
Cape Codders. On board were divers
outfits, planks, barrels, chains, wind
lasses, endless coils of rope and some
queer engines.
The young captain at once set al
hands at work. Drags were got out
and the bottom of the sea was swept
for a circular space of five acres. A
very old chart was consulted for bear
ings, but as it was made from mem
ory by an old man at poil.t OF death
it was liable to be in error.
The graphing irons brought W
nothing of any value, but young
Louis Peran-for of course it was he
was not whit discouraged
He had sold the old manor house
and the Peran plantation after his
erandfather's death and had gone
north into the employ Of a famous
diver. For three years he had been il
the heavy work at He'll Gate in New
York harbor. After that he had
made voyage to Spain
"The young captain, as he was
called, put on divers suit and wen'
TO the bottom. Tom Newell, a fine
diver, accompanied him. The tril
was apparently fruitless. They hac
trouble with a current near the bot
tom, which ran very fast at food
tide and made it difficult to keel
their feet. They found the bed OF
the roads swept bare of mud in some
places; in others covered with loos'
bowlders. Sand had been piled II
high banks by the set of the tides
In some places the water was clear al
crystal, in others turbid and muddy
There the young captain began t'
study. He anchored buOys at th'
corner of a square and took obserVa
tons of these changes of place from