The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-22
PART III.

It had been deeper than it looked.
or at least | felt as if it were. When
reached the bottom, the deck which
had left was quite out of reach and
seemed to be several feet above my
head. I had alighted on one of the
shapeless looking heaps | had noticed
from above. and | was surprised to find
that in spite of it's covering of shells
and seaweed it felt nearly level to the
touch. | looked around. and | was
conscious of a strange, new feeling Of
oppression. For the first time since |
left the brig, | felt a shrinking sensa-
tion that was almost like fear 1t may
have been the sudden change from the
broad freedom of the ocean bottom
TO the narrow limits Of the place in
which [ found myself; it may even have
been merely the effect of the DINNER
light i'm which l stood and the darker
shadows that surrounded me on every
side; but whatever the cause, the ef-
feet was something worse than unpleas-
ant. | looked around, and as | looked
l shuddered.
1t was only by an effort that l re-
covered myself, and considered what
my next step should be. The question
was, where ! should be most likely to
find what l was looking for. There
had been no effort required, when at a
distance, to picture untold heaps of
treasure lying ready to my hands, but
ii was different now that | was face to
face with realities. l might indeed be
standing upon heap of gold or silver,
but now that | found myself in con-
tact with it the reality of the whole
thing seemed hard to grasp / stopped
and struck several blows with the tom
ahaWk upon the heap on which l was
standing. Whatever the heap was COM
posed of, it resisted the edge of my
weapon as if it had been stone. /
stopped to consider. After ALL nothing
was to be gained by merely bunting
the edge of the tumahawk unless there
was a reasonable chance that ] should
find what | was looking for. But was
il likely? The heap might have con-
sisted of wooden cases hardened in
some way by the action of the sea wat
er during the centuries. Even if il
We're so, was the treasure likely to be
slowed in this part of the ship? | look
ed round me again, and the answer
seemed clear enOugh-it was not. Where
! stood must have been nearly amid
snip; surely the most valuable part of
what she carried would have been plac-
ed under the poop deck near the stern
The heap SlOped dOwnWards towards
the stern, so much so that the Watel
looked dark and cavernOus as | stopped
forward to peer into the shadows tha
brOOded over it. There did not appeal
to be any obstacle in my way, however
and after a momentary hesitation
moved cautiously down the slope.
was doubtful of my footing and |
moved carefully. Step by step, will
my face set towards the darker shad
ows that lurked under the after deck
step by step felt my way. 1t was les
dark than | feared it would be- M,
eyes had grown accustomed to the soft
perVading light that came downward
through the watery atmosphere, anC
now ] found that they quickly accom-
mOdated themselves to the DINNER ligh
that stile obliquely into the inner re
cesses of the after hold. Looking from
side to side as | went cautiously for
ward ! could make out my new sur
rOundings almost as well as | had don
outside. The place was like a cavern
and step by step as l descended, the il
lusion became more complete. Unde
my feet the flor slOped steeply down
wards, thickly paved with shells; o.
each side coral plants had taken root
and although they had not attaine
the size and luXuranCe of those out
side, they seemed almost more strang
and beautiful as they stretched thei
colored branches towards me on ever
side; overhead long tresses of colore
seaweed hung downward in disheYele