Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-03-02

| to feel careless because of our inter
rupted good fortune, when, returning
| from the last trip but one, shadowy
proa followed me into the bay. | held
| off toward the Agat road until two
fignres landed from her and walked
into the copra shed; then | steered out
to sea as fast as the wind would take
me- Before rounding Punta Orote |
thought of and discarded a dozen diff
ferent plans. | had taken great pains
TO stow the treasure in the very center
Of the bags, so there was nothing but
innocent copra for thickness of sew
eral rows around and above it; and |
knew if the strangers examined each
bag as they went along they would
scarcely reach the stuff before morn
ing. 1t then occurred to me that Br'er
Miguel's ghost wasn't earning its salt
as guardian of the empty assure at
Tarofofo, and might be employed to
advantage nearer home; so | sailed
around after him as fast as possible.
/ had reached Apra little early that
night, so had time to return before
daybreak; and, running ashore near
the watering place, about three-quar-
tiers of mile from the shed, hurried
toward it. holding my apparition be-
fore me.
The inEuders had evidently investi-
gated until they were tired out, and
were sound asleep on top of the pile
of bags This was just the opportunity
wanted. Propping the figure up I'M
del the roof, about ten feet from them.
] crawled out of sight on the opposite
side and turned the ray from my Ian
tern upon it. Then | dropped a piece
of copra upon the stomach of the man
nearest me. He was sleeping so sound
IL that / had to try a heavier piece.
which startled him with grrnt OF sur
prise and pain. In about three sec
onds his eye fell upon that family IL
Illuminated wax figure, and, with howl
of terror that made my own nerves
lump. he ran for his boat as if he were
trying to break a record. His COM
panion wasn't more than five seconds
after him, and the two fought like mad
men in their attempt TO shove off and
get away. To make the effect per-
manent, / grabbed my dummy, and.
holding the lantern so that its rays
would be reflected back upon it, glided
swiftly after them. The horror of the
thing had reduced their cries to in
articulate gasps. and they worked like
demons to get out where the wind
would fill their sail; so, as it was low
tide. | waded after them, holding
Br'er Miguel high enough to give
him the appearance of walking upon
the water. | never knew who the men
were. but the story was all over town
before noon; and for more than week
the entire native population was afraid
10 stir after dark.
When l finally waded back to shore,
it was getting gray behind Tiniquio, 50
l lost no time in slowing my friendun
der several layers of copra bags, where
he was likely to be undisturbed, but
where / could get him in short order if
his services should be required again.
Then, hurrying back to my proa, l
dumped the cargo of specie overheard
in four feet of water, where 1t could
easily be found whenever there should
be an opportunity for secreting 1T.
This affair so thoroughly awakened
me TO the danger of delay that L re-
moved all the remaining treasure from
the wreck in one big load, next trip.
Standing for the last time in the laza-
retto of Nuestra Sonora de Sevllla,
four fathoms under the Pacific, felt
as though | were saying good by to an
old friend: for l shall probably never
see her again. There was something
wonderful in the way she had guarded
those millions for me all the years
since they first disappeared under wa
ter. and | speculated little as to
whether strict honesty wouldn't re-
quire my searching for heirs of the
original owners. This didn't trouble
me very long, however. The risks Hal
stead and l had undergone. and the
way we had worked the problem out to
a successful result, seemed to give-us
a better claim upon the money than
anyone else-even our fat and schem-
ing frierd Sebastiano.
So the days slipped along through
April into May, while l rested and
learned what it was to have beautiful
woman's personality creep into the
deepest corners of my heart. Then
one morning there came Il cloud which
threatened disaster 10 all our hopes;
and but for Dorotea'S position and
ready Wit this narrative would be
merely one of fruitless adventure. a
schooner came sailing into Apra-one
Of the island schooaers which trade in
cocoanuts. beche-de-mer, and other
products-in search of water. poultry.
and any cargo there might happen to
he I'm the place. Noticing he bags Of
conn, rr~1sr. the she'd her earfafr Of