Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-01-24

As likely as not ne never kept
one" said Allardyce. "Things are
pretty slack aboard South American
trader, and they don't do more than
they can help. II there was one, it must
have been taken away with him in the
boat.
81 should like TO take all these books
and papers" said l. ASK the carpen.
ter how much time we have"
His report was reassuring. The vessel
was full Of water. but some Of the cargo
was buoyant, and there was no imme-
diate danger Of her sinking. Probably
she would never sink, but would drift
! about a. one Of those terrible unmarked
reefs which have sent 20 many stout
vessels TO the bottom.
"In that case there IL no danger in
your going below, Mr.. Allardyce, said
I. "See what you can make Of her. and
find ont how much Of her cargo can be
saved. III look through these papers
while you are gone.
The bill Of lading and some notes and
letters which lay upon the desk sufiiced
60 inform me that the Brazilian brig
Nossa Sebnora da Victoria had cleared
from Bahia month before. The name
Of the captain was Texeira, but there
was no record as TO the number of the
crew. She was bound for London, and
q glance at the bills Of ladinR was sufii'
cient Co show me that we we're not
likely 10 profit much in the way Of sal.
wage. Her cargo consisted Of nuts, gin.
ger and wood, the latter In the shape Of
great logs Of valuable tropical growths.
Ii was these no doubt which had pre-
vented the i'll fated vessel from going
TO the bottom. but they were Of such n
size as to make il impossible for us to
extract them. Besides these, there were
q few fancy goods. such as number Of
ornamental birds for millinery purposes
and hundred cases Of preserved fruits,
and then. as ! turned over the papers,
I came upon short note In English
which arrested my attention.
at is requested" said the note,
THAT the various old Spanish and In
dian curiosities which came out Of the
Santarem collection and which are con
signed TO Prontfoot 81 Neuman Of OK.
ford street, London, should be put in
some place where there may be no dan
ger of these very valuable and unique
articles being injured or tampered with.
This applies most particularly to the
treasure chest Of Don Ramirez di Leyra,
which must on no account b. placed
where any one can get Mt It, r"
The treasure chest OF Don Ramirez!
Unique and valuable articlel Here was
. chance Of salvage after all had risen
to my feet with the paper in my hand
when my Scotch mate appeared in the
doorway.
I'm thinking all isn't quite rs 1t
should be aboard Of this ship, sir, " said
he. He was hard faced man, and yet
I could see that he had been startled.
What's the matter!'
Murders the matter. sir. There's .
man here with his brains beaten out. "
"Killed in the Storm" said l.
Maybe So sir. But III be- surprised
II you think so after You have seen
him.
"Whexe Is he, them!
"This way. sir-here in the main
deckhouse."
There appeared to have been no &c
commodation below In the brig, for
there was the after house for the cap
tain, another by the main hatchway
with the cooks galley attached to 1t
and a third In the forecas..5 for the
men. II was 10 this middle one that the
mate led me. As you entered. the gal.
ley with its litter Of tumbled pots and
dishes was upon the right, and upon
the left was a small room with two
hunks for the officers Then beyond
there was a place about IL feet square,
which was Uttered with flags and spare
canvas All round the walls were
number Of packets done mp in coarse
cloth and carefully lashed to the wood
work. At the other end was great
box, striped red and white, though the
red was 70 faded and the white so dirty
that it was only where the light fell di-
rectly upon il that one could see the
roloIing. The box was by subsequent
measurement 4 feet 3 inches In length,
| s feet 2 inches in height and feet
across-considerably larger than sea.
mans chest.
But it was not to the box that my
eyes or my thoughts were turned as
entered the storeroom. On tho floor, ly-
ing across the litter Of bunting, there
was stretched small dark man, with
short curling beard. Ne lay as far as 1t
was possible from the box with his feet
toward il and his head away. A round
crimson halo was printed upon the white
canvas on which his head was resting,
and little red ribbons wreathed them
selves round his swarthy neck and
trailed away on to the floor, but there
was no sign of wound that | could
see, and his face was as placid as that
Of a sleeping child. 1t was only when ]
stopped that could perceive his injury.
and then l turned away with an ex-
clamation Of horror. He had been pole
axed, apparently, by some person stand
ing behind him. A frightful blow had
smashed in the top Of his head and
penetrated deeply into his brain. His
face might well be placid, for death
must have been absolutely instantane-
ous, and the position OF the wound
showed that he could never have seen
the person who had inflicted it.
''Is that foul play or accident, Cap
tain Barclay" asked my second mate
demurely.
"You are quite right, Mr.. Allardyce.
| The man has been murdered-struck
down from above by sharp and heavy
weapon. But who was be, and Why
did they murder him?
"He was common sailor, sir, said
the mate. lyon can see that if you
look at bis fingers He turued out his
pockets ~ he spoke and brought to
light pack Of cards. rome tarred string
and bundle Of Brazilian tobacco.
"HelIoi Look at thisp' said he.
It was q large open knife with a
stiff spring blade which he had picked
mp from the floor. The steel was shin.
ing and bright % that we could not
associate u with the crime, and yet the
dead man had apparently held It in his
hand wnen he was struck down. for 1t
still lay within his grasp.
"It looks to me, sir, as II be knew
be was in danger and kept his knife
| handy" said the mate. However. We
can't help the poor beggar now. can't
make these things ont that are lashed