Evening star., 1898-05-07

calking An upward extension OF the main
hatch combing that reached above water at
nigh tide. while others went over the side
fooking for the shot holes Of eight broad
SIDES. These, when found. were covered
with planking, followed by canvas, nails
being driven with shackies, sounding leads
and stones from the bottom In the hands of
naked men. ciinging to weighted stagings-
men whose eyes protruded, whose lungs
ached. whose brains were turning.
Then, and before a final inspection by the
boatswah1 In the diving suit assured them
that thu last shot hole was covered they
began baling from the main hatch. and
when the water perceptibly lowered - the
nrst index OF SUCCESS feverish yell arose
and continued, while nude lunatics wrestled
ana houndered waist-deep on the flooded
deck. The barks pumps were manned and
worked under water, baling pumps-square
tuoes with ons valve-were made and plug
ged up and down in each hatch, whips were
riggec and buckets rose and fell until the
obstructfng cargo confined the work to the
bark's pumps. Can hooks replaced the
buckets on the whips and boxes. and bar
refs we're hoisted, broken into and thrown
overheard until the surface of the bay was
dotted with them. They drifted back and
forth with the tide, some stranding on the
beach, others floating seaward through the
inlet. And all the time that they worked,
sharp eyes had watched through the
bushes, and a few miles inland. in glade
surrounded by the giant trees of the Bra
lillian forest, red-shirted men loll.d and
smoked and grew fat while they discussed
around the central fire the qualities of bar
becued wild oxen, roast opossum and veni-
sen, and criticised the saamanship of the
Englishmen.
With a clear deck to work on every man
and boy of the briggs crew except the
1dierS-Stewards, cooks and servantS-was
requisitioned and boxes flew merrily; but
night closed down on the 10th day of their
labor without sign of the treasure, and Mr..
Todd, who had noticed shade of testiness
IN the queries of the officers as to the
exact location of the gold and diamonds.
expressed desire to climb the rigging that
afternoon-a feat he had often wished to
perform-which he did. clumsily going
through the lubber s-holc and seated in the
manned in quiet meditation and apparent
reading and prayer until the tropic day
changed to sudden twilight and darkness,
and the hysterical crew returned. Then
he came down to dinner.
In the morning the work was resumed
and more boxes sprinkled the bay. They
drifted up with the flood and back they
came with the ebb tide: but among them
now were about forty others. unobserved
by Capt. Bunce pacing his quarterback,
but noted keenly by Mr.. Todd. These
forty drifted slowly to the off-shore side of
the brig and stopped, bobbing up and down
on the crisp waves, even though the wind
blew briskiy with the tide and they should
have gone on with the others. 1t was then
that Capt Bunce stepped below for a cigar,
and it was then that Mr.. Todd became
strangely excited, hopping along the port
rail and throwing overheard every rope s
end within reach, to the wonder and scam
dal Of an Open-eyed steward in the cabin
door, who Immediately apprised the cap
tain.
Capt. Bunce, smoking freshly lit cigar.
emerged to witness a shocking sight-the
good and holy Mr.. Todd. with an intense
expression OH his somber countenance.
holding match to black pipe and puff
ing vigorously, while through the ports
and over the rail red-shirted men, dripping
wet and Scowling, were boarding his brig.
Each man carried a cutlass and 12-inch
knife and Capt. Bunce needed no special
intelligence tC know that he was tricked
One hail only he gave and Mr.. Todd his
pipe glowing like a hot coal, was upon him.
The captain endeavored to draw his sword,
but sinewy arms encircied him, his cigar
was removed from his lips and inserted In
the mouth of Mr. Todd alongside the pipe,
and he was lifted, spluttering with aston
ishment ard rage. borne to the rail and
dropped overheard. his sword clankihs
against the side as he descended. When
he came to the surface and looked up he
saw through a cloud of smoke on the rail
the lantern jaws of Mr.. Todd working con-
vulsively on pipe and cigar and heard the
angry utterance: Yes, d-n ye, smoke"
Then laundering voice behind Mr.. Todd
roared out: XIII nobody-toss 'em over
board" and the captain saw his servants,
cooks and stewards tumbling over to join
him.
Captain Bunce turned and swan. there
was nothing else to do. Soon he could see
a biack-eyed, black-mustached man on his
quarter deck delivering orders. and he rec
ognized the laundering voice he had heard.
but none of the cockney accent of Captain
Quirk. Men were already on the yards
loosng canvas, and as he turned on his
back to rest-for though fleshy and buoy
ant, swimming in full uniform fatigued him
he saw his anchor chains whizzing out
the hawse pipes.
He was picked up by the first boat to put
off from the bark, and ordered pursuit, but
this was soon seen to be useless. The
clean-lined brig had sternway equal to the
best speed of the boats. and now head sails
were run up. and she payed off from the
shore. Topsails were sheeted home and
hofsted, she gathered way. and with top
gallant sails and royals. spanker and stay
sails following in quick succession, the
beautiful craft hummed down to the inlet
and put to sea- while yells of derision oc-
cationally came back to the white-faced
men in the boats.
A month later the rehabiitated old bark
also staggered out the entrance, and with a
naked, half-starved crew and sad-eyed, d.
lapitated officers, headed southward for Rio
Inn