The Winslow mail., 1899-11-16

| having made my report, On the EoIn OF
| October l was awaiting instructions
from the manager. On my last descent
had found on the stony bottom
small iron bound box, which had been
in all probability washed from the ship
and L brought it up with me, placing it
in a corner on deck.
Some strange whim impelled me to
give all on board permission to go on
shore for the remainder of the day, tax
ing the care of the ship upon myself
But | made myself comfortable in a
spot shaded from the sun and went to
sleep, which is by no means proper
way to keep watch.
[ awoke and jumped up like a shot,
angrily confronting the man who had
rudely awakened me by a kick in the
ribs. He was short, we'll built, and the
lower half of his face bore a resem-
blance to a bulldog.
'What do you want aboard this ship?"
/ said.
Excuse me, but the men on shore
told me to come to you," was the stran-
gers reply, in calm, easy tones. aft
er hailing for dozen times without
receiving an answer, l guessed you were
asleep, so 1 climbed up the side and
awakened you"
well say nothing about that, then"
[ replied, after a moments hesitation;
''but what is your business with me?"
"Now we're coming to it," said the
man. "You are experimenting these
diving operations in connection with
the Sunfower, are you not?''
l answered in the affirmative.
''Well," went on the stranger, eff you
will do a little job for me there's e so
for you. Next time you descend, go in
to the stewards cabin and look about
you for an iron-bound box, one about
foot square and six inches deep. A
friend of mine was bringing it over
when he went down with the ship, and
I have gathered that it was there he had
placed it for safety"
do you mean a wooden box with
iron bindings?" 1 said, eying the man
narrowly, peculiar fancy possessing
me that 1 had heard him speak before.
But why do you want it?"
Because it is mine!" he cried, sud
denly becoming wrathful, 'and you
know something about it! What do
you know, man? Out with it!''
eff / should find such box | should
send it to the owners, to whom you
could apply, and prove your right to it
| to them
"What do you say?" he shouted, blaz-
ing with anger. THE box really be-
longs to mel can prove it!-and so
pounds-a hundred-nay, two hun
dred!"
II cannot entertain your proposal"
replied.
Then, before l could make any at
tempt to defend myself, he sprang at
me like ferocious brute, hurting me to
the deck half stunned. While still in
this condition and unable to resist, he
slipped a noosed rope around me,
fastening my arms to my sides, and
quickly tied it.
'Now," he growled, "if you don't in
form me where you have placed the
box, I'll first gag you, and then rope-end
you until you see fit to do so.''
Like fool, 1 involuntarily turned my
head to see if the box were still safe in
the corner. The man instinctively fol-
lowed the direction Of my eyes, saw the
box, and with an inarticulate cry of de-
light, he sprang up and seized it. Hug
ging it in his arms as if it had been
much-beloved child, he turned towards
me and said:
''1've scored this time, Mr.. Foreman
and much easier than l had bargained
for. You don't know what's in the box,
but I'll tell you that its contents are
worth huge pile of money to me-"
Then, with sarcastic laugh, he
swung himself over the side into his
boat, and pushed off. My legs were un-
bound, I was able to stand up, and,
walking to the side, 1 watched the
quickly boat, and, bit by bit,
there came back to my mind the con-
versation held by that man with the
woman he called mother. 1 began to
connect his words with his action in
stealing the box. That there must be
some very strong motive behind it was
evident to me. Perhaps the box con-
tanned the lost will he had referred to.
| decided I must regain possession of
| ii, whatever the cost. But how could
[ do it? / could not follow him in my
own boat, because the ropes around the
upper part of my body held me tight.
Everything seemed to point to the man
getting clear away, when suddenly |
saw he was making almost desperate
efforts to reach the shore. / looked
around to account for his haste, and to
my establishment beheid another boat,
propelled by two pairs of oars, ap-
preaching the ship from direction al
most at right angles to that which Bry-
an had taken.
With few lusty strokes the boat was
brought under the lee, and one of the
two men climbed up on deck. He die
not seem at all surprised to see the fix
| was in, but he was laboring under the
influence of excitement as he ques-
toned and released me.
who has done this?" he asked.
THAT man who is in that boat near.
ly halfway to shore!"
'But what did he rope you for?''