The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-05

has seen fit to let him be slain in the
fight?"
No one answered him, and he shifted
the other foot forward and went on.
To business, then, Sir Roger. This Don
nereau, your acquaintance with whom has
doubtless taught you is a man of sinsu-
lar acuteness for a negro, when he told
me of your presence here, told also of
many boxes and bags brought ashore by
your request, from the wreck, after YOU
had been ordained to the priesthood Of
this very interesting if somewhat unor-
orthodox parish. These, in Difference TO
your sanctity, were hidden about here l1n>
opened. Now, Sir Roger, it's these boxes
this treasure which 1 know your ship
was loaded with that want you to hand
over to me-"
Now, cried old Gabrial, trembling at
this unneard-of impudence. was ever
such a barefaced villain!"
Nay, nay, good Gabriel" cried Dixey
with an engaging smile. BE not afraid
you shall have none. l propose to char
ter your schooner in the bay to carry me
back to civilization. But treat me fair,
old Gabriel, in the price,
Was ever" Gabriel began. but Sir
Roger answered grimly:
ne renegade Donnereau was right. In
my unhappy madness, for it was little
else, had chests brought from the ves-
sci, vainly irving to remember whence
mad brought them, and for what purpose.
L have not looked al them for years but
they are here, and may not be decayed."
- no! Sir Roger Dixey laughed cheer
fully. Gold and rubies, etc, decoy not
SO speedily I care not for the chests"
And for this treasure" said the old man
graVely, for which you risked so much
what would you do2"
Give you your son unhurt."
Have l not men enough here to take
him? You are only two"
In faith, Sir Roger, that is not the cues
tion,' said Dixey with cunning laugh.
wen do l remember your rank as a gen.
tleman adventurer of honor in war, and
thus L know that my life is safe while 1
carry this white kerchief. But 'twere Door
luck to go back to the sea with only life
after so dashing a venture. In short, Sir
Roger here's the case. In yonder wood
sits Donnereau, and a madder man you
never saw, with wounds and vexation at
ms plots going awry. Justin is bound be-
SIDE him, and at sound of cry from me
or pistol shot his dagger strikes. See YOU
the case? %
Sir Roger quivered Gabriel listened Gu
riously. Little care had he that Justin
should live TO clam this treasure.
So there it stands, and Dixey smiled
pleasantly. Yield up this treasure and
give your word to let us pass in peace
whittier we will, or shoot me down, or rush
10 Donhereau or raise cry and Justin
goes TO kingdom come on the instant"
Man." cried Sir Roger, do your know
hands?'' '"'
Dixey bowed most eloquently.
But l know the value of Sir Rogers
word and 1 am used to playing for high
stakes: 1 am not afraid. Kill me, and
| you kill your son."
Sir Roger paused and eyed the rover
! thoughtfully, and a faint smile played on
his lips.
You are bold scoundrel," he said
at last. But you Judge right. What Is
| all that trash to me, who hunger now hut
TO be buried in my native land? / am old.
ana could make little use of 1t. Give me
| my boy and take what you ask
sir Roger" gasped Gabriel; but Sir
Roger waved him off sardonicalIy.
How, Master Murrin," said he. "Were
| you not explaining your love for .Just;n
and me? Surely you will be pleased to see
US safe at the price of a few chests.
| Hither, then, Dixey Lynch! Take vour
hearts desire, and let me to my boy!"
| Lynch leaped at once into joyous actiyi-
| ty. His last card took the trick. He
pressed on the Old mans heels. and be-
| hind him hung Gabriel, and his three men
left from the fight The savages gathered
| curiously, and so intent were they all on
| Sir Rogers steps that none noticed the
| growing blackness, the increased mutter-
| ings of thunder, the agitation of the waves
/ of the lake.
| With no more words the old man led
| them 10 the altar on the edge of the cape.
| and motioned to the negroes At a nod
and a word from their priest the savages
| bent to the great stones and laboring
1 81
another. AS the last was moved away, a
hole In the ground was discovered and to
that Sir Roger pointed.
| Wait" he said. as Lynch was about to
| run forward. THE chests you seek are
buried in a cave beneath the altar You
| can have them, but tell me first where /
shall find my boy"
1.-TWO hundred yards back in the jungle"
cried Lynch in frantic haste. Go with
| Gabriel and his men quietly and bid Dom
| nereau come. He will understand and
fly fast enough. But hold! When you are
gone who will hold off these black devils?"
Sir Roger raised his wand, which still
| he bore, and said few words and at once
the negroes, though somewhat sullenly,
drew back toward the woods.
you are satlsied?" Sir Roger asked,
and at Dixeys nod FASTENED away.
But he had not gone ten yards, calling
! ATdDTled 10 lOitOMt bSAOAt d NuioG llOLi
Dixey turned his head, and, looking back,
he saw that old Gabriel held pistol press
ed to Lynchs head.
"a share" cried the desperate old man,
cor, in spite of Sir Roger and all his
blacks, and a thousand Justin's lives, 1
blow your brains out"
Come, then" cried Dixey with another
curse. First let us have the chests, and
once aboard the schooner we will talk
of shares"
The two greedy men jostled each other
| in the passage TO the cave, and so con-
tagidus was the fever of their eyes. gilt
tering with avarice, that the three men of
the Schooner, without more debate than
an exchange of looks, drew cutiasses and
plunged after them ready in turn to fight
for a portion of the gold.
They had hardly disappeared when the
thunder rolled again, and again the whole
earth shook and the lake rose up against
| its shores in boiling waves Sir Roger, in
dismay. hurried to the woods, but again
he had TO turn at the sound of voices be-
hind him. The treasure seekers were out