Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-02-15

selves, and put q portion Of the soldiers In
the other; so that we may DO in greater
force in case of the sight of SO much
wealth stimulating them to insubordina-
tion.''
"Truo, signor; We will have two ves
sells; your advice IL good"
Everything was thus satisfactorily or
ranged, with the exception Of their wish
that Pedro should accompany them on
their expedition. They were debating
how this should be brought on the tapis,
when the soldier came to them, and stat
cd that the commandant had ordered him
to BIO of the party, and that he was to offer
his services to the two strangers.
On the ensuing day everything was pre-
pared. Ten soldiers and corporal had
been selected by the commandant; and 1t
required but little time to put into tho
vessels the provisions and other articles
which were required. At daylight they
embarked-the commAndant and Philip
In one boat; Krantz, with the corporal
and Pedro, in the other. The men, who
had been kept in ignorance of the object
Of tho expedition. were now made ao-
quainted with 1t by Pedro, and long
whispering took place between them,
much to the satisfaction Of Krants, who
was aware that the lnutiny would soon be
excited whom 1t was understood that those
who composed the expedition were to be
sacrificed to the avarioe of the command
ant. The weather being fine, they sailed
on during the night; passed the island Of
Ternate at ten leagues distance; and be.
fore morning were among the cluster Of
isles, the southernmost of which was the
one on which the treasure had boon buried.
On the second night the vessels we're
beached upon small island; and then,
for the first time, communication took
place between the soldiers who had been
in the boat with Pedro and Krants and
commandant. Philip and Krantz had
also an opportunity Of communicating
apart for short time.
When they made sail the next morning,
Pedro spoke openly; he told Krantz that
the soldiers In the boat had made up their
minds, and that he had no doubt that the
others would do so before night, although
they had not decidedly agreed upon join
ing them in the morning when they had
re-embarked. That they would dispatch
the commandment, and then proceed to Ba-
tavia, and from thence obtain . passage
home to Europe.
Cannot you accomplish your end with.
out murderf"
Eyes, We could; but not our revenge.
You do not know the treatment which we
have received from his hands; and sweet
as the money will be to us, his death will
be even sweeter. Besides, has he not de.
tsrrnined to murder US all in some way OF
another9 It is but Justice. No, no; II
there was no other knife ready-mine Ia. u
"And 20 are all ours'' cried the othe,
soldiers, putting their hands to the weap
ons.
One more days sail brought them with.
in 90 miles Of the island, for Philip knew
his landmarks we'll. Again they landed,
and all retired to rest, the commandant
dreaming Of wealth and revenge; while II
was arranging that the digging up of the
signal for his death.
Once moro did they embark, and the
commAndsnt needed not the dark and
lowering faces with which he was sur.
rounded. He was all gayety and polite
ness. Swiftly did they skim over the dark
blue sea between the beautiful Islands
with which 1t ives studded; and before the
sun was three hours high, Philip rsoog
nizsd the one sought after, and pointed
out to the oommandsnt the notched COCOA
nut tree which served as a guide to til,
spot where the money had been concealed
They landed on the snndy beach, and tn,
shovels were ordered to be brought OF
shore by tho impatient little officer, wht
little thought that every moment Of tim,
gained was but so much time lost to him
and that while he was smiling and medi
tating treaohery, that others could do tn.
same.
The party arrived under tho tree-th,
shoyels soon removed the light sand, ant
in few minutes the treasure was exposed
to view. Bag after bag was handed W
and the loose dollars collected in heaps
Two of the soldiers had been sent to tn,
vessels for sacks to put the loose dollars
in, and the men had desisted from thsil
labor; they laid aside their spades, look
were exchanged, and all were ready.
The commandment TUNED round to cal
10 and hasten the movements of the me1
who had been sent for the sacks, whs1
three or four knives simultaneousl,
pierced him through the back; he fell
and was expostulating, when they wer,
again buried in his bosom, and hs lay
corpse. Philip and Krantx remained silon
spectators-the knives were drawn out
wiped, and replaced in their sheaths.
"He has met his reward" said Krants
Yes" exclaimed the Portuguese sol
diers-" justice, nothing but justice"
"Signors, you shall have your share, >
observed Pedro; ''shall they not, m,
anen2"
"Yesl yesr'
"Not one dollar, my good friends, re
piled Philip; "take all the money, ant
may you be happy; all VIC ask is your as
sistance to proceed on our way to wher,
We are about to go. And now, before yor
divide your money, oblige me by buryine
the body of that unfortunate man"
The old soldiers obeyed Resumine
their shovels, they soon scooped out ,
shallow grave; the commandments body
was thrown in, and covered up from sight
CHAPTER XXXIv.
Scarcely had the soldiers performed thei
task, and thrown down their shovels
when they commenced an alteration. i
appeared that this money WAS to be agail
the causa of slanuhtar and hloodshell