The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-04-07

| 4hOlu WOulu Dt uOlnlDR tl6B IOT III.
But the company would send on
another expedition"
" Let them send out ten; they't
find nothing"
And afterward?"
Storey and l we're going to charte,
a schooner, put diving tackle on board
and come out here again by ourselves
We could weigh the gold in two days
and know of a market"
"Storey Will never use limbs OF
tongue again."
=" Pm sure of it, Mac; you must take
his place. We two and one other can
work the schooner, and a year from
now Wen be rich men. Think of it,
lad-rich beyond what you ever thought
OF. Think of it-no more having to
stand your watch at sea; no more sea at
all. You can stay in England and
marry and live decent life. Think of
it, Mac"
l was thinking of it. AS l sat there
watching the heat lightning wink
among the black hills of the island. 1
was remembering that it was chance
such as / bad never had before in all
my life, and one which would never
come to me again. Id been kicked
about the world ever since l first went
a wee bit wrong in Ballindrochater,
and I'd sworn never to see the place
more till I'd enough silver to build a
house there as big as the manse itself.
| hungered for the old spot again, with
its gray houses and the brown moor
land at the back; my mither was
still there and poor. 1 could do a
power of good in the place (the dell
told me then) if l went back rich and
enlightened with all my store of for.
eign travel. But then what the Cap
tain had said to me came back; how be
reminded me l had been born gentle
man, and how he'd treat me as my
fathers son and trust to my honor; and
l stood to my feet and swore.
I'm not profane man as a general
thing; it always seems to me there's
small profit to be got out of mere
swearing; but cursed them till Cam
eron bleached before me, and the air
ought to have tasted sulphry.
"Look here" said to him. 81
give you your choice. Those boxes are
to be taken back from the pit and
slowed back inside the Corinth to-
morrow; then we'll announce that
we've dug away the mud, and can get
at the strong room; and next day we'll
warp the Cleaner across, rig whip,
and let her hoist them on board one by
one with her own winch. If you'll do
this, III work with you 30 long as my
arms will move; if you refuse, I'll 90
TO the Old Man now and tell him what
l know"
"You are playing me a very dirty
game" said he.
l stormed at him. Gam II" l cried.
"Couldn't get you into Jail? Couldn't |
have put you in irons this moment as
common thief? But l want to help |
you out of your mess, because of a rea-
son you know"
"Why in thunder, man, won't you
help yourself, too, and be rich?"
because of reason you would not
understand"
sit may be dangerous deal for you
yet," he said grimly.
"Ah, there" said l, "I've insured
myself. I've thought that if an acct
dent happened to me below the water
yonder, you might forget to be honest.
So I've written out an account of what
know and sealed it, and if 1 don't
turn up the envelope will be opened"
you've pinned me?" he said.
81 think sou
He stared at me queerly for minute
and then he spoke again. "DO you
know, Mac" said he, "I'm not 80 sorry
for it as you might think. 1 was led
into this precious scheme by some one
else. But I'm not going to blame any
body now that can't be here to speak
FOR himself And besides, I'll freely
admit that / was keen enough upon
The chance when it was put in my way;
it seemed 30 safe; and it was such a
humping big plum to go for. l guess
we've most of as kept honest through
fear of being found out"
"And besides, things are not always
rs safe as they look"
"YOu're right, Mac; and III remem-
Der that for the future; and l guess it'll
scare me into keeping straight"
"That's not very healthy way of
cooking at it," said 1.
"I'll admit that" said he, "but from
'ociety's point :of view it's very use
ul one. We're funny animals. 1 feel
ar easier now than did an hour ago,
md l know some one else who'll be
easier, too"
'That's Miss Bradbury you're speak
ng OFF"
"Maybe so, maybe no." said he.
THE person l have in mind writes
books, and has a great liking for 70.
nance, and told me almost as soon as
We met that it was pity the old days
we're gone when there were pirates and
III that sort of stuff, and sea life was
more exciting. We got intimate, that
writer and l, Mac, and the tale of this
game here with the gold boxes slipped
)ut. claimed there was every bit as
much romance in that as there was in
he old-time buccaneering."
And she agreed to let you go on
with it just because she loved you,"
'aid l, and ate her heart out with fear
est you should get dropped upon.
Man, you need not go further with the
yarn. It's been plain to the eyes of
every one that's watched the lassie that
she was just fretting herself to shad-
)w about something"
CTS made me nearly cry to see her."
says he.
60 We'll man - said uit,s over now