San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-03-07

but wouldn't they fear" said the
commander, that she'd fall in with a
vessel and report the whole story?''
They are nine armed, desperate men,
SIR" said Mr.. Matthews, land WHAT
to be fallen in with down here that's
going to be of much help to recover a
treasure against such determined devils
as those fellows?"
MAY saw what Think" cried the
Dane, lifting his hand and swapping his
fingers.
Speak" said the commander
81 allow, said the Dane, THAT when
they found the ship going or gone they
fell to arguing as before as to what
should be done, and as every man had
an opinion of his own nothing was
DONE, said Harry, with triumphant
nod.
Anyway, something's now done, p"
said the mate dryly, land that's your
yarn, my laos, so you can go forward. "
What do you say to decayed tooth
full of grog apiece for these fellows?"
said the commander.
''Shall I take them into the cuddy
and give it to them?' exclaimed Miss
Mansel, starting up. She was eager the
men should get it and thought the mate
reluctant.
II will save you that trouble, miss, "
said Mr.. Matthews, with a smile of sus-
picion, and as he had no steward to call
to he told them to follow him into the
cuddy, and then he gave each man a
wineglassful of rum.
While this was doing Miss Mansel
talked with Boldock about the story the
men had given them. The brig was
about three-quarters Of mile ahead.
The bark was reduced to her topsails
and courses and spanker, and yet the
briggs boatswain, who was keeping
lookout OH the Queens poop, found it
difficult to stop the clipper from forging
ahead of the clumsy wagon on the bow.
Bright was that picture of morning in
the Pacific. Clouds in breasts of satin
jewele in their skirts with the light
of the sun were sailing over the pure,
blue sky. The long, lazy Pacific heave
was in the sea-tbat grading heave
which the whaleman knows as he dozes
on the lookout at the masthead. There
was nothing in sight except the brig.
The ocean rippled merrily with the life
and spirit of the breeze. The salt sang in
the short wake and the white canvas
sank in and out in breathing bosoms,
fiinging refreshing GOODNESS of eddying
drafts down upon the hot decks
And you expect to be off the island
said Miss Mansel
BY tomorrow night l do, my love,
certainly, clipped as our plumes are, if
this breeze keeps on blowing.
Suppose the men are ashore? 1t will
be horribly exciting. They are all armed.
What will you do?" said the girl, gaz-
ing with the concern of her heart in her
agreeable eyes as she fixed them upon
the commanders face.
1--WE will anchor and 60 ashore and
make the men prisoners, then look for |
the gold, find it, stow it and sail away |
for Sydney, " answered Boldock in
certain large, comfortable manner he |
was sometimes used to put on after his |
third glass of hot rum and water.
"What was that extraordinary sea
which liberated the ships?" said Miss
Mansel after pause, during which Mr..
Matthews had rejoined them.
"What would you call it?" said the
turning stiffly in his chair
10 look up at the mate.
IAN earthquake, should say, sir. "
81 can imagine nothing else, " OBJ
erved Boldock 1--WE must have been
within the area of any storm that could
lave set such a swell in motion and
therefore, have felt it..
"It's not the first time" said Mr..
"that I've heard of these IN
atural agitations. My father had COM
nand of a south seaman, and he used
0 tell of picking up the survivors of the
rev of a vessel that had gone down
oddly, all standing in just such another
as those two men have de-
cribed. 1t lasted long, too, as though
be rollers were the work of one marine
pasm after another.
"Everything's possible at sea, said
ne commander.
Just as he pronounced these words
le figure of a man, dwarfed by dis
ance, could be seen franctically gestic-
lating ON the taffrail of the brig. A
inocular glass lay upon the skylight, ,
I'd the commander with wonderful
yility jumped for it. r
"It's Hardy" he cried. Hes point :
& on our lee BEAM" .
Sail hop' shouted a voice on the !
leen's forecastle.
1.-THE longboat, sir, by thunderr a
lied Mr.. Matthews, looking through
Q ships telescope. \
Miss Mansel shrieked with excite \
emit. "a
CHAPTER XVII. q
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