Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-02-09
CLkREHcE EE2SERT fTEH
Copyright. 1907 BY J. B LiPPIneoit Col

the breeze well forward, ! calculated
that II would take me at least SIX
hours to get back; but the witch OF Il
boat made good headway within five
noints of the wind. and | sighted Tin
iduio. bearing a little north OF east
AZ tour o'clock. Holding on the same
course for half an hour, AgaEa then
Law TO the southeast'ard; and put the
proa about for a straight run IN
When about ten miles of shore, how
ever. discovered that had company;
for bearing down from the north ard
was the Eggest catamaran ever saw
The hull must have been at least O
hundred feet long. and the sail looked
like a gigantic balloon. The instant
Inoticed il. two words flashed through
nv mind-'Padre Sebastiano"-and
was convinced that my oleaginous
shipmate was coming to pay GuaJan
visit.
Now. any companions, native Oh
Spanish, who might accompany the
padre were likely to be either II his
confidence or under his influence; and
il struck me that the sea chest might
excite more curiosity than was really
safe. SO did considerable hard think
ipr over what had been told me about
the sparseiy settled portions OF the Is
land. in the effort TO decide upon
safe place for the concealment OF both
chest and treasure if ii should become
necessary. There was but one spot
that | felt sure about-Port Iarofofo
on the southeast coast. This was
land-locked bay, surrounded by bold
rocIv bluffs, and was uninhablted.
In an air line, it was 9H miles south OF
Agana: but, as the islanders never
walked or rode that distance when
they could travel in proas, there was
but one chance in a thousand OF any
boats being seen beating in-especial-
" as the place had the unsavory repu-
tation of being haunted. On the land
side there had been an old sugar plan
tation known as Mount Tarofofo farm,
but the gobernador had mentioned 1t
as being abandoned; and the noun
tain. or bluff, shut out all view Of the
sea.
The more l thought of it, the more
II seemed exactly the place l wanted.
1t needed but the falling off few
points to head for the Cocos island in
stead of Agana, and by half-past six
passed it as close in shore as it was
safe to go. By seven o'clock l had
reached sufficiently to the BASTARD for
a straight run into Tarofofo, and, go
Ing about, rounded Point Paicpouc
Just at dusk. As the depth Of the wa
ter ard the exact bearing of the bluffs
were accurately shown upon my chart,
had no difficulty in running ashore
at the westerly head of Paicpouc cove,
which l judged to be completely shell
tered from observation on the land
side. After lowering the sail, noticed
that the rocks descended abruptly into
the water at the spot I had selected,
and was on the point of running along
to where the chart showed a small
creek, when a slight opening attracted
my attention. The precipice was so
close that l could have tossed a pebble
against it, and the spot so perfectly
sheltered that | felt safe in using my
lantern. Outlines were becoming in
distinct in the gathering darkness, but
the moment / turned on the current It
revealed fissure, about four feet
wide, which led diagonally into the
face of the rock. There was a good
three feet of water right up to the
opening, and upon throwing the light
inside / could see that it ended In a cul
de sac with perpendicular walls.
If I had searched the entire archi-
pelago it would have been difficult to
find place more perfectly suited to
my requirements; when, | came again,
In broad daylight, the fissure was in
visible 100 feet away. 1t was something
OF task to unload the contents of the
big chest: but in a short time | had
them slowed away under tarpaulin,
so feet from the opening, and was
ready to leave the cove. The moon was
not yet up, but the starlight was sufIi-
cient to navigate by, and ! reached
Agana by II o'clock. As the big proa
had seen was of too heavy draught
to run across the shoal in front Of the
town, | was not surprised at her alb
sence. The lights about the goberna-
doris quarters were sufficient indica-
tion that visitors had arrived, and !
managed to sneak up the back steps
10 my room without attracting atten-
lion. 1t was well that did so, for my
face was a sight. Little rivulets o.
clotted blood covered the lobes of N.
ears and my upper lip; my eyes looked
like burnt holes in blanket; and, al
together, presented a most dissipatet
appearance.
Padre Sebastiano was cordialit,
itself, but | could see that lay brothe
Felipe's miracle was working in hi
mind, and that he was trying to flgur
it out upon natural grounds. l wa
upon the point of asking him how h
happened to find the'big proa so con
yeniently Forthcoming when he de
cided to proceed down the islands, bu
reflected in time that, if / had bee,
fishing TO the BASTARD, as | had ex
planned, 1t would have been obviopsl
impossible to see his flagship; so
pumped him dry upon Ladrone dat
instead.
The Agana padres regarded his visi
as Hphmentary in the highest dc
gree, respectfully swallowing, his var
about collecting materials for islam
history; but / couldn't help chucklin
to myself when pictured his eXamina
tion Of Fray Ignacio's mummy and it
precious charge. Sebastiano and
were adversaries; there now SCENE,
but little doubt Of this fact. And tn
more l thought Of it the more certai
/ felt that my motions were likely to b
watched during every hour Of the 2
Every time | went sailing alone, thcr
was strong probability that the bi
proa would keep me well in sight. Max
| Ing me the cats paw 10 secure hi
! chestnuts would comfort SebastianO'
very liver.
CHAPTER NJ.
That the combination against m
had strong odds in its favor SCENE