The times., 1897-04-18

with two huge padlocks, but all were so
rusty and weak that they gave us no
trouble. The trap-door fitted SO closely
that no mud had filtered down, and the
water had been drained off by the auger
holes bored from the outside. The laz-
arctic was a little room just the size OF
the cabin overhead in length and breadth,
but not over four feet high / was first
into 1t, carrying light in either hand,
and after one glance around I cried out
in exultation. Even on the floor at my
feet caught the glitter of diamonds from
a broken box. Balesof what had beenehdce
goods had been stored there, bat all had
been reduced to pulp. Piled up at the
far end against the bulkhead were eight
cen stout boxes, about foot square, and
to port and starboard were two iron
chests just Il trifle smaller than the trap
door above Leaving one OF the candies
behind, picked up three loose diamonds,
large pearl, and sapphire ring and
made my exit, and when had gained the
cabin there was much cheering and hand
shaking.
| will tell you exactly what we took
out of that hulk, for I made the list with
my own hand. Eachof the eighteen wooden
boxes was packed with gold coins amount
ing to about Sc 900. Every nation was rep
resented in these coins In the iron chest
were silver and gold amounting to S73,-
COO, and ia the other jewels to the value
OF $3.50, 900. Nearly all the stones were
set, and it was plain that at least hun
dred women had been robbed to get such a
lot together. There were a score of gold
watches, ten gold snuff boxes, five Jeweled
sword hits and a Chinese idol of solid gold
weighing four pounds. You may judge of
our elation at coming across such store OF
wealth. It took us two days TO overhaul il
and pack it away on the schooner, and we
were then ready to sail for Singapore We
had to wait for chang of wind, however,
and this could not be expected before morn
ing. At about 8 O'Clock ut ighJ Capt Cross
suggested last visit TO the wreck for the
purpose of setting her on fire. IL struck
me that il would be good idea TO get the
hulk out of the way, and Matthews agreed.
II was to remain a1dloo after the schoon-
er, and we left him with all going we'll on
board. We had walk of half u mile down
the beach and around a point, and on ;e
we We're aboard of the hulk we made last
search or her before applying the torch.
and returned to the bay at 1 O'Clock in
the morning, to find the schooner gone.
A favorable breeze had sprung up during
our absence. and Matthews had taken adj
vantage OF it to get the schooner out and
run away with the treasure. She was cut
of sight when daylight came. and neither
Of us ever set eyes on her again or heard Of
the sailor. The craft may have been
lost at sea, or she may have landed him
in Siam. China. Borneo or Java. / had
in my pocket some jewels which I had
been cleaning up, and Capt Cross had
others, and at Singapore these sold for
more than enough to recoup us. That was
poor consolation, however, when we real
lied that we had been basely defrauded Of
q fortune. Al the end of ten days weweTe
taken off the island by native craft, and
year later there was no island there. A
submarine disturbance opened the bottom
of the sea and sucked it down. and along
with it went the charred timbers OF the
pirate craft we had looted and been robbed
in turn by man who deserved hanging
for his treachery and ingrautude.
CHARLES b LEWIS