The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-22

orders OF your commandant? Did I not bid
you await my return? Would desert an old
weather sailors"
Sasy al, Capn Rogers" replied one of
The men in the boat. Your watch is done
with US Me and my mates have figured
that this boat is too small for seven"
You don't mean ii, Bully Nd" cried
the CAPT am with horse laugh.
see II we don'TP' several of the crew
relorted angIily.
Where might you have come across the
young snaver?' inquired the one whom the
captain had addressed as Bully Ne1. Heal
be nice messmate for you, if there is
bar"
What do you make of this, lads?" call
ed the captain. holding up the precious
chaln which Ronald had so freely turned
over TO him.
There was a dead silence in the boat. but
the men all stared eagerly
III tell you what l make of it," went
on the captain impressively. ut is all
gold pure gold, and, better stil, there's
a whole shipload of the same and finer,
back among the hills"
Who says sop beloved one OF the sail
ors
This poor shipwrecked lad, whom we
are going to take along with u.s. The gold
pays his passage" went on the red-beard-
ed skipper with curious intonation that
hardly pleased Ronald. You'll come
ashore lively" the captain continued ad-
| dressing the men. "and maybe, We'll sail
off together with douboons instead of
sand bags for ballast"
The sailors in the boat consulted togeth-
er, but the sight of the chain, with it's at
tendant promises, was a strong argument.
The unhappy Ronald heard the captain
cursing at his men in an undertone while
they were making up their reluctant
dc lraF
pushed the boat back TO the beach. the
crafty skipper received them with an as
Sured smile.
You'd have only gone to Davy Jones'
locker without me- lads he said to them.
who would have laid a course? I'm the
only one that can pilot IN these waters.
As for being marooned on this island
nothing would have pleased me better.
Some ship would have taken me off in
good time, and Ia have had the best part
of the treasure to myself. But I'm honest.
Share and share alike among gentlemen
adventurers is my motto. Treat me right
and
Delay! We amt no lubbers to be gam
moned by a sea-lawyer," growled Bully
Ned.
Capt Rogers eyes flashed fire at this
ungraeious interruption but he knew bet
ter than to waste words.
Push along to the galleon, boy" he or
dered giving Ronald a by no means gentle
shove.
Up and down, across the billowy sand
dunes went the lad, closely followed by
the little band of tyrants From their con-
versation and appearance, Ronald quickly
realized that he mad met with nothing
more or less than buccaneers. Such gentry
infested the seas in those days The poor
lad knew chat he could expect but little
kindness from them. However, he thought
that the sight of the treasure might rem
der them more generously disposed to-
wards him than if he came empty-handed.
And so he turdSed on, with heart heavy
enough 10 be sure, yet st.n not completely
downcast.
Bur a sad bow awaited him. The Storm
which had wrecked the buccaneers craft,
had also changed the surface of the island
considerably. He could not now find the
galleon From hil.ock TO hillock he hur-
Red the rough crew ever growing more
impa tient without catching a sight of the
bulk, which, some few days before had
reared iiself alofJ above The sand. At last
he had to admit his search was useless. He
tried to explain the incessant movement
of the island and that the galleon must
have been covered up. But the buccaneers
were in no mocd TO listen 10 excuses
Capt.. Rogers, perhaps from motives of
selfish policy, was particularly aggressive
He led the rest IN cursing and threatening
vengeance upon The unlucky guide. Fin
ally the whole party came TO halt upon
the summit of a sand hlock
Il m for going back and sailing away in
the boat while we have fair weather" an
nounced one of the men.
AYE, aye, that's the talk. It's breezing
up now" growled another.
Sure enough, in the excitement of the
search they had not noticed 1t. but the
clouds were scurping overhead and the
Gr1rf 40 m In 70
that presaged another blow
How about this young shaver with his
lying tales of chests of treasure TO be
taken away for the carrying?" cried Bully
Ned. with a volley Of profanity.
Put him where he can keep looking for
1t until his eyes give out" cried the red
bearded captain, Sowing savagey at
Ronald.
Before he could well divine their inten-
ton. the boys arms were bound fast to his
sides with some pieces of lanyard, hole
was scoOped in the very summit Of the
hillOCk, and the trembling lad roughly
placed therein. The crew then filled up
the excavation and heaped the sand about
until only his head protruded. Ronald
shrieked, screamed and pleaded with his
captors. But il was unavalling. Not until
the callOused Tuffians had marched away
unheedngly did he realize his true posi-
lion. He tried to squirm. In vain. the
cruel sand kept him absolutely immova-
BILE. In fact, he found to his horror that
even the twitching of his muscles caused
HIM to sink lower. The sand now came
to his chin. He gave up all hope. He
prayed. He became more composed. and
resolved If he must die, 10 meet death
bravely. To this period of resignation
succeeded sort Of stupor. Later on he
became entirely unconscious. Several
hours passed.
Meanwhile. the wind had steadily been
gathering force. 1t soon blew a gale
Through some caprice 1t eddied about the
hil,ock in which Ronald was very nearly
cntombed. At first a few minute grains
shifted Then whole layers were carried
off Slowly but surely the work went on.
until al last tsle boy lay all exposed. Not
III then did he completely recover con-
seriousness. II was now night pitch dark
and storm. He managed TO relieve him
self OF his letters but knew not how to
find a way to shelter. And so he staid
where he was mot forgetting to return
a fervent prayer TO heaven for his WELL
nigh miraculous deliverance) and braved
.t,a olavoaptc haef he cnul1 Aftar Iopo,