The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-11
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poYLE.
BOYLE.
Conan Doyle.)

Conan Doyle.)
hF would never sink, but would rift
Dput as one of those terrible unmarked
eefs which have sent so many stout
Fessels to the bottom.
IN tnat case there is no danger in
our going below, Mr.. Allardyce," said
zee what you can make of her, and
lId out how much of her cargo can be
aVed. III look through these papers
While you are going.'
The bills of lading and some notes and
eqters which lay upon the desk sufficed
10 inform me that the Brazilian brig
Nossa Sehnora da Victaria had cleared
rom Bahia a month before. The name
bf the captain was TeXeira, but there
was no record as to the number of the
crew. She was bound for London, and
glance at the bills of lading was suffi-
,ient to show me that we were not like
Y to profit much in the way of salvage
Ter cargo consisted of nuts, ginger and
wood, the latter in the shape of great
ogs of valuable tropical growthS. 1t
vas these, no doubt, which had prevent
I'd the Inflated vessel from going to the
POTION, but they were of such a size as
o make it impossible for us to extract
hem. Besides these, there were a few
fancy goods, such as number of Orna-
mental birs for millinery purposes and
hundred cases of preserved fruits.
And then as l turned over the papers /
,ame upon a short note in English which
arrested my attention.
1T is requested said the note, that
he various old Spanish and Indian curl
bsities which came out of the Santarem
collection, and which are consigned to
Prontfoot and Neuman of Oxford street,
London, should be put on some place
where there may be no danger of these
Eery valuable and unique articles being
injured or tempered with. This applies
most particularly to the treasure chest
bf Don Ramirez di Leyra. which must
bn no account be placed where any one
.an get at it,
The treasure chest of Don Ramirez!
Unique and valuable articles! Here was
4 chance of salvage after all. l had
risen to my feet with the paper in my
hand when my Scotch mate appeared in
he doorway.
Pm thinking all isn't quite as it
should be aboard this ship, SIR" said
be. He was hard-faced man, and yet
could see that he had been startled.
Whats the matterT
Murders the matter, sir. There's a
man here with his brains beaten out"
KILLED in the Storm" said l.
Maybe so, sir. But I'll be surprised
if you think so after you have seen
him."
"Where is he. then!"
..This way. sir-here in the main deck
house"
There appeared to have been no ac-
comnfodation below in the brig, for there
was the after house for the captain,
another by the main hatchway with the
cooks galley attached to it, and a third
in the forcastle for the men. 1t was to
this middle one that the mate led me
As you entered, the galley with it's litter
of tumbled pots and dishes was upon
the right. and upon the left was a small
room with two hunks for the officers
Then beyond there was place about
II foot square, which was Uttered with
flags and spare canvas. All around the
walls were number of packets done W
in coarse cloth and carefully dashed to
the wood work At the other end was Il
great box, striped red and white, though
the red was so faded and the white sc
dirty that it was only where the light
fell directly upon it that one could see
the coloring The box was by subse-
quent measurement 4 feet inches in
length, 3 feet inches in hight and 3
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
entered the storeroom. On the floor,
H., bx, of Inn
was stretched small dark man, with
"a short curling beard. He lay as far as
lit MAS possible from the box with his
feet toward it and his head away. A
ROUND crimson halo was printed upon
the' white canvas on which his head
wal resting, and little red ribbons
wrdather themselves round his swarthy
neck and trailed away on to the floor,
but there was no sign of a wound that
could see, and his face was as placid
las that of sleeping child 1t was only
when l stopped that ] could per-
ceiie his injury, and then turned away
with an exclamation of horror. He had
been poleaxed apparently by some per-
son standing behind him. A frightful
bloN had smashed in the top of his head
and penetrated deeply into his brain. His
face might well he placid, for death must
have been absolutely instantaneous, and
the position of the wound showed that
he could never have seen the person who
had inflicted it.
us that foul play or accident, Capt.
Barclay asked my second mate de-
muGely.
Ybu are quite right, Mr.. Allardyce.
The man has been murdered-struck
DOWN from above by sharp and heavy
wea pom. But who was he, and why did
they murder him.?
'IIe was a common soldier. SIR said
the mate "You can see that if you look
at his fingers" He turned out his peck
ets las he spoke and brought to light
a pick Of cards. some tarred string and
bundle of Brazilian tobacco.
Hello, look at this!' said he.
ltlwas large open knife with stiff
u:lox bloJa which ho had Dicka1 IN