, 1896-12-24
THE TREASURE SHIP.

There's n capital wind. We should have
made II good distance before morning"
Captain Blake stood on the deck of the
schooner, the Jane, which lay anchored
that fine moonlight night at Port Bodcga,
Cal The jane was but IA small vessel, but
1t hnd on hoard treasure in the shape of
gold dust worth over 912, 900, and the
next morning had been fixed for its sailing
to London.
~nat night the captain had given his crew
leave to go ashore to spend II few hours in
jOllity before commencing their homcward
voyage. They had not yet returned, and
the captain was on board alone, with q
couple of sailors and the mate, to whom
he WAS speaking.
Saying that lie would turn in, the cap
tain went below, while the mate walked
the deck on the watch.
1t was about 3 in the morning that two
boats set off from the shore, having in one
of them Z and in the other 12 men, and
In the darkness-for the moon had now
set-wcre rowed off to the Place where the
light of The Jan glimmered over the dark
water.
Boat ahoy! Who IRE you?"
1t was tho mate Of the Jane who sang
out as he leaned over the side of the vessel
and saw a boat approach.
In answer there came what seemed some
words spoken as II by IA drunken man, and
thinking the men were the sailors returned
from their iaunt the mate saw the boat
pulled to the side of the ship He did not
notice that another boat had softly made
Its way to the stern, the men rowing 81
lently, and tho dull sough of the waves
drowning the splash Of their oars.
"Is that .Jenkinson?'
Tho mate was forward watching the
men in the boat. Hardly had he called out
before he heard II noise behind him, his
arms were gripped, II hand was placed over
his mouth, while the butt end of a pistol
came down with a crash upon his head.
There was u dull splash in the water u mo-
ment later. 1t was the body of the mate
cast into its watery grave.
The Jar had been boarded by robbers.
Stealing along like shadows-for the men
had their feet bare-the thieves rushed
across the deck to the ladder leading below.
The leader, u tall man, with n heavy,
black beard, whose face was almost hid
by II piece Of black cloth tied across the
upper part, with two holes cut for him to
sec through, grasped his pistol in his hand
as he prepared to go below, while his fol
lowers held long, cleaning knives in their
hands.
"1f you struggle, you are II dead man,"
Captain Blake had been asleep and
started up as IL light flashed upon his face,
and looking about him he saw II man
standing beside him, one of his hands up
on his thront, while in the other he held a
pistol.
eve won't hurt you il you don't stIug-
GLE" said TIC rnbbcr. but we want the
gold you have on board. Give us tho keys
Of tho chest, and I'll swear you shall be
SAFE"
Resistance would be useless, and the
captain was soon lying IN the ioor of his
cabin bound hand and foot with IA strong
cord.
While these things were going on on
board the JAM the crew of the vessel had
gathered together on tho shore and had
put off In their boats to return to the ship.
They were astounded as they turned the
quayside to sec the Jane in the growing
daylight far of at sea, all sails set, and
making way before n good breeze at II rate
which forbade all hope of their overtak.
ing her.
The sailors were some hours later than
they should have been in seeking the YES
sci, and now they imagined Captain Blake
ihNSS W iIt " Ildi ilO
and set off without them. They therefore
rowed back to shore.
While some of the men who had boarded
the ship, many of whom had been sailors,
set the sails and took her out to sea the
others We're busy searching for the treasure.
No threats could make the captain speak
a word as to where it lay, and leaving
him the robbers began to look about for 1t.
"Hurrah!"
With axes In their hands, three or four
men wcro witt. fierce shouts breaking open
the stout boarding at tho head of tho cap
tain's ca bin.
Behind it, MS they pccped through n gap
they had burst open, they found ii dark
recess. 1t was the place where the treas
ure lay.
They piled their axes furiously, the
board gave way, and the cyesof tho thieves
CLEANED with delight as they saw before
them tie pilo IF bugs and small wooden
boxes in which was the gold for which
they had undertaken the desperate VEN
ture, and the cabin rang with their wild
shout of joy.
"What is here will make us rich for life,
boys!" cried tho leader. "It's in our grasp
now. Let us drink to our good %fortunc!'
And he ordered some of the men to search
the ship for what liquor there was OH
board.
A cask Of rum was soon found, and
knocking out tie head Of it the rutfians
drank to one another in glasses Of tho fiery
spirit.
"And now to the boatsi"
Staggering under the weight Of their
burdens, the men carried the boxes INT
bags Of the precious gold to the side of tho
ship and lowered them into the boats
alongside.
In u short time all the treasure had been
laid in them. and tho place where it had
been slowed in the Jan stood empty.
"Get ready to push off there said tho
black bearded man, looking over the YES
sells sidc, to his companions In the boats,
and as they gripped their oars and waited
for him he disappeared below.
He looked In at the cabin door and threw
a glance at the captain lying there, still
bound hand and foot. Then no disappear
cd and made his way to the hold.
Now row for your livesv'
The man took his place in nj Of the
boats, and it few from the side Of tho
doomed vessel. 1t had not got far before a