The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-08-28

| he said; they're drunk, or crazy, but
| they're the men we want. Capture
/ them
suppose they run, sir-suppose they
take to their boats and get into the
woods? Shall we follow?'
! No. not past the beach-not into an
ambush
The four boatloads of men which put
of from the brig found nothing but a
deserted deck on the sinking bark and
! Two empty boats hauled up on the
peach. me pirates We're in the woods
| undoubtedly, having kept the bark be-
! tween themselves and the brig as they
i pulled ashore. The two Lieutenants
| conferred Tor few moments, while
the blue jackets clustered around the
BOWS OF their boats and watched nerv-
ously the line of forest up the beach,
from which bullets might come at any
tlTne, ana had decided to put back,
When rafting chorus of pistol re-
ports sounded from the depths of the
WOODS. 1t died away; then was heard
crashing of bush and branch, and
OUT upon the sands sprang a figure
long, weird figure in black frock of
clerlcai cut. Into their midst it sped
win mighty bounds, and sinking down,
nIted glad face to the heavens with
the grooming utterance: 20 Lord, /
thank Thee. Protect me, gentlemen
protect me from those wicked men"
What is it? Who are you?" asked
Mr. Duncan; were they shooting at
you?"
1es-at me-who never harmed a
NY. They would have killed me. My
name is Todd. o, such suffering But
you VIII protect me? You are English
ofncers. You are not pirates and muir
derers''
But what has happened? Do you
live around here?"
II TOOK some time for Mr.. Todd to
quiet down sufficiently to tell his story
conerently. He was a humble laborer
IN the vineyard of the Lord He had
gieanea among the poorest of the ma
tive population in the outskirts of Rio
Janeiro until his health suffered, and
mad taken passage home in passenger
snip, which, ten days out, was captured
by pirate brig. And the pirate crew
mad murdered every soul on board but
hlmseif, and only spared his life, as he
thought. for the purpose of amuse-
ment; for they had compelled him to
dance-he, minister of the gospel
and had made him drink under torture.
and rec:te ribald poetry, and swear,
and wash their clothes. All sorts of
lndlgnities had been heaped upon him,
out he had remembered the injunction
OF the Master, and had invariably
turned the other cheek when smitten,
and had prayed for their souls. He
told of the flight from the English war
brig, of the taking Of the old bark in
the fog. and the sinking of the pirate
craft, Of the transfer of guns and
treasure to the bark, and the interview
at sea with the English brig. in which
Captain Swarth had deceived tho other
and of Captain Swarth's reckless con-
hdence in himself which had induced
him to follow the brig in, and careen
in the same bay. He wound up his
tale with lurid description of the
drunken debauch following the anchor
ing Of the bark-during which he had
trembled for his life-of the insane fir
ing on the brig as she passed. and the
tumbling into the boats when the brig
returned the fire, Of the flight into the
woods, the fighting among themselves
and his escape under fire.
AS he finished he offered an incoher-
ent prayer Of thankfulness. and the
sympathetic Mr. Shack drew forth his
pocket flask and offered it to the agj-
tated sufferer; but Mr. Todd. who
could probably drink more whisky
with less results than any man in the
pirate crew, declined the poison with
shiver Of adherence. Then Mr.. DIM
can, who had listened thouehtfullv
SAID: You speak of treasure: did they
take it with them?"
| Mr. Todd opened wide his ewes
looked toward the dark shades of the
forest, then at the three masts of the
bark sticking out of the water. and
answered, impressively:
| Gentlemen, they did not They were
intoxicated-mad with liquor. They
TOOK arms and knapsack of food to
each man-they spoke of an inland re-
! treat to which they were going-but
the treasure from the passenger ship
the oars of gold and the bags of dia-
nonds-they forgot. They transferred
II from the sinking vessel when sober.
put "hen intoxicated they remembered
1000 ana left it behind. Gentlemen.
there Is untold wealth in the hull out
there winch your fire has sunk. It IS.
verify tine root Of all evil; let us hope
that 1t remains at the bottom of the
sea-" ~
Bars of gold-bags of diamonds )"
SAID MI Duncan. Come on board. Mr.
Iodo; we'll see what the CAPTAIN
| thinks
AFTER dlnner in the briggs cabin that
| e'en1ng-as prelude to which Mr.
Iood SAID grace-his account of the
wealth spread out on Captain Swarth' s
capln table after the taking of the pas
senger snip was something to arouse
interest in less worldly man than
captain Bunce. Virgin goblin bars
| lngots, bricks, and dust - from the
MORO Velho mines of Brazil was there
pied up on the table until the legs
gave way and launched the glitterine
mass TO the floor. Diamonds. uncut
uncounted. of untold value - a three
years product Of the whole Chapada
dlstrlct-some as large as walnuts had
been spread out and tossed about ike
! marbles by those lawless men. then
boxed up with the gold and slowed
among the cargo under the main hatch.
Again Mr.. Todd expressed the hope
that providence would see fit to let
this treasure remain where the pirates
had left 1t, to no longer tempt man to
Kill or steal. But Captain Bunce and
his officers thought differently.
Chances, then tentative comments, were
exchanged, and in five minutes they
were OF one mind, even including Mr..
Todd for 1t may not be needless TO
state that the treasure and the pas
senger ship existed only in his mag
nation.
Pending the return of the boats the
briggs anchor had been dropped about
200 yards from the bark. now canvas