The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-04-22
ou. ...t we should have the wind

Que east we should have the wind
about right for straight reach into
Tarofofo. and could probably get there
by six o'clock. Ii was actually little
before that when concealed the gold
and other articles in the assure, so
that. catching enough sea bass on the
way TO account for our long sail. we
arrived at Agana by eight. In all my
experience with sailing craft, extend
ing over many years and gathered up
on every sea of the globe, never found
anything 10 equa! the island Proas of
the western Pacific in either speed or
safety. On account of their strength
and lightness they are practically in
destructible. and their enormous sail
area makes them the fastest things
upon salt water. That my statement
of having made 20 statute miles au
hour with one, before the wind. IL no
exaggeration, anyone who has ever
sailed in one will admit.
Sebastiano returned about nine
o'clock. having left the big proa III
Apra. and. while satisfying his vora-
cious appetite, told us quite frankly
that he had spent the day looking for
the Santa Rosa shoal. Recalling. for
Col. de Garma's benefit, the con,ersa-
tions which had induced Capt. Hal
stead TO sound for the shoal. the padre
asked IL | could remember the posi-
tion given upon the Imray chart.
When | repeated IL he said that an
older Spanish chart which he Ind seen
in Manila located the reef nj least 20
miles farther west; that he had sup
posed at the time. and, in fact, until
Halstead explained its nature. IL was
really a small islet which showed
above water, and the most southerly
one of the archipelago. This state
ment didn't exactly tally with the
questions he had asked on the steamer
when looking at Halstead's chart, but
could hardly repress grin OF salts
faction, nevertheless. II my fat friend
pinned his faith upon this last theory
II would keep him at least 30 miles
away from me whenever he pursued
his Investigations.
The fact. however, that he intended
making n systematic search for the
shoal complicated matters good deal.
lie was likely 10 overhaul me sooner
or later and find that was actually re-
moving the treasure. lie might have
spies all over the island. for all
knew. and some day my visits 10 Port
Tarofofo might be reported TO him.
Then, again. il succeeded in getting
all the money as far as my rocky iis-
4 20 laa .fY-ft aH
by Sebastiano or the natives IL they
were successful in tracking me; and,
cudgel my wits as | might, there
seemed no way In which could secrete
il until the steamer returned without
exciting suspicion.-suspicion which
might cause il 10 disappear at any mo-
ment. II seemed imperative that
should consult Halstead before get
ting any more of the stuff above wa
ter; yet in case there were no passen-
gers for Guajan, as we had talked.
there wasn't chance OF seeing him
for nearly four months. and there was
some doubt of his returning even then.
There was possibility of my reach
ing zap in the proa before he left that
island, but il was a pretty formula BILE
undertaking. After spending consid-
cradle thought over the situation.
however, IL seemed unsafe 10 attempt
any other move. and | determined 10
risk IL.
There was practically little danger
that Sebastinno would succeed in ac-
complishing anything; not being nav
igator, his Investigations were pure
guesswork and dead reckoning from
Guajan. Even IL he did locate the reef.
/ was positive that he had no diving
apparatus, and he couldn't do much
without--that | knew from my own
experience. The principal thing that
worried me was the chance Of his rum
ming across my equipment in the fis-
sure, and taking IL with me was out OF
the question. While thinking the mat
ter over l wondered il the padre had
investigated Fray Ignacio's box. A
scrap of conversation with Bartolo-
meo which | had overheard implied
that he had; IL indicated considera BILE
displeasure with the resident padre
for some reason or other. lfsuch were
really the case II might be- months
before anyone connected with the
church would have occasion &c visit
either the crypt or the room contain.
ing the votive offerings again. aud this
gave me an idea.
The islanders are intensely supersti.
tious, and IL has always been policy
OF the church TO foster this character.
istic. So that, II could add 20 the al.
ready bad reputation of Tarofofo bay
neither threats, brides nor persuasion
would avail 20 get a native within
miles OF the place. In view OF this fact
my friend with the diseased wishbons
seemed particularly fitted for the pur
pose. II could only spirit him away
Sebastiano had partaken heartily oil
his late supper that evening, and, be.
tween them, the padres had punished
vast quantity Of wine. Aside from
this, they were thoroughly tired out
by their day upon the water, and IL
all probability would sleep like logs
| So, an hour or so after they had re