The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-01-19

come O. % men jumped, some re-
NAMED Oh deck with TrollOpe. 1t was
agreed that the whole of the boxes
should be brought aft before one was
opened Presently Shannon and Burn,
with grinning faces, handed one up
Feel the weight of it, " ooSed Burn.
"Feel it, Trollope. Och, murder, that
l had it in England safe!''
The chest was small, but its weight
was as persuading as glimpse of its
contents would have proved convincing.
One by one the boxes were hove up to
the eager group above, big and little.
AS rapidly as their weight allowed,
the chests were conveyed aft and placed
in row beside the skylight.
The ten men ranged themselves
abreast of the chests. Hankey brought
chisels and hammers from the forecas-
tie, and Captain Trollope called upon
him to open the first box.
With the skill of carpenter Hankey
drove his chisel. The iron bands yield
ed, the lid was lifted, and then the
beast in every breast sent forth an eX-
ultant roar. These were gentlemen who
did not need TO look very close or long
TO know what n nugget was. But no
man offered to touch the flat, flush sur
face of broken ore, yellow, pale, dull,
more. like the dried trimmings of soap
broken into twisted bits than the metal
that glitters in the golden pound and
sparkles on white arms and whittier
necks.
"See that big knob there, CALDWELL"
said Masters, smackiug his lips with
affected admiration. "How many muir
ders could man get done for the
worth of that lump?"
"Rat you and your moralizing!" an
swered Caldwell, turning his gloomy
eyes slowly upon the other.
''Shut him up and nail him down
and try the next" said Captain Troll
lope.
This was done. One after another the
chests or cases were opened and exam
iDed and carefully reclosed, their own
spikes and screws securely resealing
them. Every box was filled with mug
gets or dust.
When the last of the boxes had been
examined and carefully reclosed, every
man Jack of the men went over them
again, bending, peering, probing with
eye and nose, so to speak, to make sure
that the lids were as safely fastened
and each case as faulty iron girt as when
it had been lifted out of its place be-
low. Then one by one the cares were
lifted and conveyed into the cabin that
had been occupied by the Storrs. Here
they were slowed and secured with "a
sailorly touch against all risk of fetch
ing away.
The last man stepped out, Captain
Trollope locked the door, and, swinging
the key on his forefnger, exclaimed:
"Now, lads, hope I've advised wise.
ly. Look now. In moment of disaster
all this gold means but jump: But in
the hold where it was-hey?"
You re always right, Trollope," ex-
claimed Hankey, pulling the wool cut
OF his whiskers But suppose the 9TH |
er cabin keys should happen to ftp
Some of the men started and looked |
strangely around the cuddy.
"Try EN-" growled Daveuire.
The keys had been replaced when tho
people were liberated to enter the boats.
They were quickly removed and tried.
Not one key was like another, and the
men breathed again.
You'll find that poor little be,y2ar
with the bunged eye dead at the wheel"
said Burn. GIVE me the key, and I'll
relieve him while he has life to crawl
forward to die"
Tro!lope, grinning behind his mug
taches. said with glance at the cabin
clock, 1T happens to be your watch
below"
lis it the port watch that's come
round again?" said Caldwell sourly.
Give me the key. I'll take the Wheel"
He received it, pocketed it and dis
appeared.