The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-06-28

ing of the words which the old man
had written. Some thought they were
mere wandcringS of diseased mind
while others maintained that they had
meaning. but that II was scarcely
worth while to attempt to dive very
deeply after 1t. Every one had some
thing TO say; Alec alone remained ST.
lent and ruiilcd his fingers thoughtful-
ly through his shock of tangled red
hair. did not question him. but went
to sleep. trusting that his wits would
work out some solution.
When the sun had scarcely risen and
the night mists were still waving laziiy
over the hnrbor, hand was laid on my
shoulder, and | awoke to find my
sworn shipmatc standing over me. He
bndc me slip on my clothes and come
down to the shore with him.
"Jnck." he said, when we had reach
ed path leading to tho plateau above.
WHAT'S Il Scrpcnt's trail?"
."Thc mark OF its nasty slime on the
ground. which shows where IL has
passed" answered promptly, cor
mayhap it's his insides, II you will
have it So" added, not seeing In the
least what he was steering for.
Good, Jack! You'll make n lawyer
yet. And now where shall we find our
scrpcnt?'
in the woods, If there are any,
though l believe the islands free Of
them"
what do you say to stone SER
pcntT'
what, one Of those Mt the temple
corncrsT'
"Ycs. The very one perhaps that
you and Willie Trehalion turned into
bogy house to frightcn Spaniards. SO
stir your stumps, Jack, and perhaps
we'll bring back some good news rs
sauce for breakfast" SO away we
walked together to the great temple OH
the black heights of the farther cape
Of the island.
We reached the platform, stepped
through the old opening and mounted
the stair in the scrpents body. Scrawl-
ed on one Of the walls we found n
great "W.' whose meaning l was ut q
loss to guess.
Alec, however, aS soon as he saw 1t
went down again and made fc- the
western corner Of the temple. Here.
after lengthy search and careful
sounding of the walls and floor, we dis
covered loose slab of stone and,
wrcrching II up, descended to n cham
Der In tho snakes gullet.
Sure enough there was more writing.
and this time the meaning was quite
plain.
Look In tho bolc OF the tree wherein
Lnl
PcnGony his thigh"
Now fortunately I had witnessed the
incident referred to. and we rushed to-
ward II with beating hearts.
The hollow was chokcd with sticks
and leaves and such like rubbish. but
this we clawed away with eager hands
and came at last upon case bottle
bound in wicker. Pecring down the
neck. Alec said he saw n parchment
and. breaking the glass without more
ado. found that the letter was address
ed to himself. 1t was written on the
back of an old ships manifest. and this
Is how it ran:
Or. Lad-Thc Day after thy Scourgc sailed a
small coastng Br; hove to of the Mouth of liar
bonr. and wd have come in had not hailed her
with Threats. Whercupon she turned Tail. Judg
Cd her Master wd tell his Mates and bring TIM in
Force. Bethought me how TO dispose of Treasure.
Schened Plan and uted it. To repeat same
follow ravinc at Foot OF Temple Hill, and find q
poised Rock across Torrent. Thrcc.p.y Block and
Tackle shifts il. Cave beyond then dry, forming
Treasure Chamber. Chests and Pouches lie in it,
Am about to die, but will serve thee even i'm dy-
ing. Being in such evil Case, and being known
by nonc-not even 10y such old Shipniatcs as Ire
haion, Scnr. and Pcngony-dd not through very
Shame own Kinship before, but now subscribe my
self Thine aiftc Father, IIrXxY IRELAND
Post Scriptum--Will hand thee nv Share OF
Treasure. Take as Co-lcgacy my Hate Of Span.
iards.