The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-01-13

come across the diamond He said he
would retain the two men prisoners, for
awhile at least, until he heard from the
man who had visited him in the early
morning.
But as soon as we were off Durham he
came in his boat to us, and he proceeded
to search the men again, after which he
and the captain had a long consultation in
the cabin, while l gave the story to the
first lieutenant. He inclined to the opin-
ion that they had succeeded in dropping
it overbord, bat differed, and told him
that from the moment of sighting them
carefully watched their movements, but he
showed me half dozen ways as how it
could be done. However, still adhered
to my opinion. The conversation was cut
short by message from the captain.
II am sorry he said, as | entered
his cabin, that | am not justified in de-
tanning these men. They have, | fear,
outwitted u.s. I"
They have probably got rid of the
stone before putting ont to sea, remarked
the strange military gentleman, who, 1
found, was one Of the inspectors under the
illicit diamond act. So the two men were
brought in and told they could go ashore
when they wished. Then one of them
cut up rough and said that they had been
seized, taken prisoners and searched while
on holiday, but eventually it was agreed
that their boat should be repaired, and the
carpenters were put ON to work all night,
and the next day they would proceed on
their journey for the purpose of shooting
wild fowl. They elected to stay on board
the cruiser for the night l fancy the
captain was glad to get off on such easy
terms.
was just having final Whit and
thinking over the events Of the day before
turning in when suddenly the solution of
the whole matter flashed upon me, and
wondered why | had been SO stupid.
think l took one spring into the cap
tain cabin. Fortunately he had not re-
tired. He was smoking, and glass of
whisky was near his elbow. He listened
as l explained the absence of the diamond
''That is the explanation of the mys-
terry, haven't doubt, he replied when
/ had finished. "You have my authority
to act as you suggest, he added, as | left
him to rouse King. With as little fuss as
possible we were rowed ashore and landed
on the south point, taking care to carry
with us revolver each.
''Now, King" 1 said as the boat left
us, ''you' re in for long walk. -
Fright you are, SIR
BE was too good seaman to ask ques
tions, and off we set, keeping the line of
the coast.
''You know whereabouts the boat was
stopped yesterday p asked.
''I think l does, SIR he replied.
''Well, we have got to walk there, . l
said.
King lighted his pipe and we trudged
on. He was good companion, and dur
ing that long fight he told me good bit
of his history. | made out that we were
averaging four miles an hour. At daybreak
we stopped and made our breakfast off bis
cult and small tin of meat which King
had provided himself with had flask
of brandy.
While we sat / unfolded to him my plan
and the explanation of the missing diamond.
"Why, yes, sir, he replied after
moments consideration, ''that is where the
diamond is, you can be sure; but what shall
we do if the wind changes p
1.-The wind holds good at present, |
replied, but there was something to be
feared if it died.
About 9 O clock we reached what | con-
sidered was near the place where we had
stopped the boat on the previous day, but
one could not be certain. However, we
lay down among the long grass, and King
had me to himself for good spell of shark
stories had my glass with me, and from
time to time kept sharp lookout seaward.
Although King talked the whole time l
don't think he once relaxed his scrutiny of
the expanse of water to his left. Even
when he lighted his pipe he kept one eye
seaward. Ten, II and II clock came;
no signs of what expected.
About O clock we were rewarded by
seeing our friends whose acquaintance we
had made the day before. They were
coming along close into the shore, and about
half a mile from us they took down the sail
and rowed the boat straight in for the
beach. We carefully watched their move
ments. For moment or two they seemed
undecided; then they walked up to one of
the large grassy hillocks and began to ex-
anime it. We now shifted our pose of
observation and moved to position which
cut them off from their boat, still keeping
behind the hillocks and crawling through
the long grass. For perhaps quarter of
an hour or more they examined the green
mound then one whistled to the other, and
they walked off in the direction Of the
boat, examining something very closely,
carried by the taller of the two, and evi-
IDENTIFY very satisfied with themselves.
A minute later and we had them and
the diamond. The firing. the day before
had not, as I guessed, been for the pur-
pose of shooting the wild fowl One of
the shots into the hillock had carried the
diamond, which they had first imbedded
in lead and fred with weaker charge of
powder. We allowed them to find it, and
when they had dug it out of the mound
we arrested them. For moment they
were inclined to show fight, but loaded
revolver has great moral force, and we
marched them back to Durham.
They got Eve years Imprisonment, and
we got FL, 900, which was equally dis
tributed among the hands. We want
another similar case.
The crew out of their money subscribed
and bought me diamond ring, which is
quite worth ESQ, and l have great rep
utation in the ship as detective.
King thinks that he and | could do bet
ter in that line than serving hsr majesty
,Qoof /