The Holly chieftain., 1899-06-23

out, II . man were provided with div
ing apparatus which would enable him
TO make a careful and protracted ex-
animation OF the ledge under water.
also pick and cartridges to work with.
and II it were possible to preserve abb
sclute secrecy As to his operations, or
to transport the stun without exciting
suspicion there's Just about one chance
in a thousand that he might get as far
as civilized country with It. As for
taking any OF the natives into his con-
fidence-well, the old navigators
named them Ladrones' when the
islands were discovered. That means
thieves in English. and from my ex-
perience there last voyage should say
the hereditary taint is not yet extinct.
They're . peaceable lot generally, but
you can't depend upon them. In 1888
and 1890 the Kanakas at Yap murdered
every 6paniard in the place, just after
that affair in which the German war
ship Iltis tried to grab the Carolines
for the kaiser"
That's a pretty formidable let Of
'ifs,' I should say. How many people
do you suppose know anything about
this particular wreck?"
THAT depends how often Padre
Julian has talked of it in his cups.
When he found that he must have said
something to me about the affair DUR
ing one of his irresponsible periods, b.
attempted to pass it of as a yarn; then
he shut up on the subject like clam.
doubt his having an idea that 1t would
be possible to recover anything from
the galleon, or that he thinks the mat
ter anything more than church se-
cret which his regulations would for
bid him to reveal. In that case, possi-
bly, two other priests besides himself
may know of the facts; but 1t isn't
likely that they have disturbed the old
trays coffin to verify them. On the
other hand, there is chance that his
reason for leaving the island where he
has remained SO long may be deter
mination to consult nautical authori-
ties in Manila and figure out the prac-
ticability of locating the wreck"
Then, even II we should consider
the matter seriously, there would be
no time to procure diving-apparatus
from Yokohama or elsewhere? If the
padre really has anything of the kind
in view he might complete his prepara-
tions and return by the next steamer
at the latest, mightn't he?"
Easily. That would give him six
months away-time enough to get al
most anything he wanted. But, old
chap-it is the strangest coincidence l
ever knew-there are a complete div
ing-suit and equipments on this very
steamer, now. in the after hold"
What! You don't mean It'll Why
how the dew" We were glaring at
each other excitedly and with an al
most superstitious feeling. From
mere speculation, the subject was as
suming tangible reality that was
fairly startling.
"Yes, do mean 1t. 1t seems as IL
the fairy godmother had determined
to shake our skepticism just when we
were denying her existence. Old Ap'
pleby, in Singapore, had an idea q
year ago that he wanted one Of the
best and latest improved diving-suit,
that money could buy. Whether he in
tended to go hunting for treasure him
self or not, don't know-the Malay
pirates lost hundreds of their lugger,
IN the strait-but when we were load.
ing for London he handed me so soy.
ereigns to buy one for him, and on
reaching port got the finest thing OF
the kind to be had. 1t can be used
/ aifhar ~rith mr. xuith0ut nm utr-pr,v,,, r,
There is knapsack chamber which il
provided with chemical arrangements
for renewing the oxygen and can be
charged with compressed air by means
OF geared pump SO that the wearer
may stay under water for three hours;
believe it's an improvement on the
Rouquayrol idea. Well, l was quite
pleased with the thing, and knew Ap
pleby would like it; but when made
Singapore again they told me the
| cholera had been too much for the
poor fellow, and his executors refused
to accept the package. There was no
mention Of It In his accounts, and no
one wanted to buy the suit; SO, as
seemed to have fallen heir to 1t, ]
slowed the thing away In the lazareet,
and have lugged II around ever since.'
"Well, I'll be-! Say, Dick, this
seems to pretty effectuslly dispose OF
your biggest if:' how about the
others? See here, old fellow; you and
may go to our graves without ever
seeing million Of money, or the
hundredth part of it; yet don't be-
lieye there are two men nm earth wh n
could enjoy life more If they had such
sum. At this moment ! don't know
where to turn for an immediate in
come. II you should get into difficult
ties with your owners you might be