Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-10

udDie ana unique al IlCleS DelnS injured OF
| tempered with. This applies most rartic-
| ularly to the treasure chest Of Don Ra-
! mirez di Leyra, which must on no account
| be placed where any one can get at it.
The treasure chest of Don Ramirez!
Unique and valuable articles! Here was
a chance of salvage after all! l had risen
to my feet with the paper in my hand
when my Scotch mate appeared In the
doorway.
I'm thinking all isn't quite as it should
be aboard of this ship, SIR" said he. He
was hard-faced man, and yet could see
that he had been startled.
Whats the natter"
Murders the matter, sir. There's a man
here with his brains beaten out"
Killed in the Storm said 1.
Maybe so. sir. But I'll be surprised If
you think so after you have seen him."
Where is he, them"
This way, sir-here in the main deck
house"
There appeared to have been no accom-
mediation below In the brig, for there was
the after house for the captain another
by the main hatchway with the cooks gal
ley attached to it, and a third in the fore
castle for the men. 1t was to this middle
one that the mate led me. AS you entered,
the galley, with its litter of tumbled pots
ard dishes. was upon the right, and upon
the left was small room with two hunks
for the officers. Then beyond there was a
place about twelve foot square, which was
Uttered with flags and spare canvas All
round the walls were rumber of packets
dcne up In coarse cloth and carefully LASH
ed to the woodwork. At the other end was
great box. striped red ard white, though
the red was SO faded end the white so
oirty that 1t was only where the light fell
directly upon it that one could see tho
ecloring. The box was by subsequent
measurement feet inches In length. 3
feet inches in height and feet across
considerably larger than a seaman's chest
But it was not to the box that my eyes
or my thoughts were turned as I entered
the storeroom. On the floor lying across
the litter of bunting, there was stretched a
small dark man, with q short curling
beard. He lay as far as it was possible
from the box with his feet toward 1t and
his head away. round crimson halo was
printed upon the white canvas on which
his head was resting. and little red ribbons
neck and trailed away on to the floor but
there was no sign Of wound that I could
see: and his face was as placid as that of
sleeping child. 1t was only when / stoop-
ed that i could perceive his injury and
then turned away with an exclamation Of
horror. He had been poleaxed apparently
by some person standing behind him. A
frightful blow had smashed In the top Of
Train. His face might well be placid. for
Death must have been absolutely instan-
teneous, and the position of the wound
showed that he could never have seen tho
person who had inflicted It.
rs that foul play o. accident Captain
Barclay?" asked my second mate demurely.
You are quite right. Mr.. Allardyce. The
man has been murdered-struck down from
above by sharp and heavy weapon But
who was he, and why did they murder
him7"
'He was a common sailor. SIR" said the
mate. You can see that II you look at
his fingers" He turned out his pockets as
he spoke and brought to light a pack Of
cards. some tarred string and bundle Of
Brazilian tobacco.
"Hullo, look at this" said he.
1t was a large open knife with stiff
spring blade which he had picked up from
the floor. The steel was shining and
bright, so that we could not associate 1t
with the crime. and yet the dead man had
apparently held it In his hand when he
was struck down. for 1t still lay within his
gasp.
was in danger. and kept his knife handy"
said the mate. However we can't help
the poor bAggar row. 1 can't make these
things out that are dashed to the WALL
They seem to be idols and weapons and
curios of all sorts done up in old sack
ing
That's right said l. They are the
only things of value that we are likely
TO get from the cargo Hail the bark and
tell them to send the other quarter boat to
help us to get the stuff aboard"
While he was away 1 examined this Gu
rious plunder which had come into our
possession The curiosities were so wrap
ped up that I could only form a general
Idea as to their nature but the striped box
stood in e good light where 1 could thor
oughly examine it. On the lid, which was
! clamped and cornered with metal work.
there was engraved complex coat OF
arms. ard beneath it was line of Span
ish which l was able to decipher as mean
| ing the treasure chest of Don Ramirez
| al Leyra. knight of the Order Of ST. James
| governor and captain general ofTerra Firma
and OF the province of VeraQuas" In one
corner was the date 1905, and on the
| other large white label upon which was
| written in English, You are earnestly re-
quested upon no account to open this box
The same warning was repeated under.
meath in Spanish. AS to the lock, II was q
very complex and heavy one of engraved
! steel with Latin motto which was above
| a seamans con prehension.
| BY the time / had finished this examina.
tlon OF the peculiar box the other quarter
| boat with Mr.. Armstrong, the first on
Ger, had come alongside. and we began to
| carry out and place in her the various
curfosities which appeared to be the only
| objects worth moving from the dereltct
| ship. When she was full I sent her back
| to the bark, and then Allardyce and I.
| with the carpenter and one seaman. car
ried the striped box. which was the only
| thing left, to our boat nnd lowered II over
balancing 1t upon the two middle thwarts,
Tor 1t was so heavy that 1t would have
| given tho boat q dangerous tilt had we plac.
cd 1t at either end. A to the dead man. va