The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-26
FOR A SIXPENCE.
EBy M. Quad.l

10y M N4udosl
It was in Sydney, said the ex-sailor,
that I met with an accident that sent
me to the hospital for a month. and
there I met with an old shellback who
had spent most of his life in trading
voyages. He had broken down at last
and knew that his days were numbered
He had brought with him to the hos
pital as baggage a bundle wrapped in
on old oilslxin coat. So FAR as any OF US
could determine. the contents consisted
of an old suit of clothes, and the pre-
cautions he took that no one should
rob him seemed absurd. He insisted
that the bundle should remain in his
charge, and he carried it about with
aim by day and used it for pillow at
night. His name was recorded as John
Kane, and lis age as SO.
1 had been in the hospital about ten
days when Kane died. 1t was the rule
at that time, and perhaps is yet to sell
the effects of a deceased sailor at auc-
ton as soon as he is buried-that Is, of
course, if it could not be ascertained
that he had friends near at hand. John
Kane had said tl-at he had no friends.
There ware about dozen of US in the
hospital at the time, and there was con
siderable merriment over the sale. The
bundle was not undone. The bidding
began at penny, and the bundle was
finally knocked down to me for an Eng
lish sixpence. Everybody had a laugh
at my expense, and handed my bar
gain" over to an attendant to be laid
away until called for. -Four weeks
later. when left the hospital. I should
have forgotten it but for the good ma
tured ri6icule of some Of nay fellow pa
tents.
My trading schooner had returned
from short voyage, and went aboard
witt my bundle and opened it for the
first time took from one of the pock.
cts of the trousers an old tin tobacco
box " hich at first thought to b. empty
but when / sprung up the lid found 4
folded PAPER as large as a sheet of FOOLS
cap. 1t wasn't writing paper. but a
been used to wrap Up goods. 1t was, as
/ instantly saw, a rude chart or draw
iEg, and the writing was in pencil and
displayed a very poor hand 1t ran:
North of Timor Laut about seventy
three Enter north bay.
Bring up line with three tall trees
on highest point and in five fathoms.
Spring of fresh water to left of big
rock on port bow
was mate of the schooner. and at
once laid the paper before the captain.
We got out a chart of the Banda sea,
found the island of Timor Laut and
to the north This brought us to Pope's
island. Neither of US had ever landed
there, but understood that the island
was not inhabited. The instructions
up at certain spot. What for? The
existence of a spring was mentioned.
but why should we go ashore? Unless
there was something of value on or
about the island why had 1t been noted
and the writing carried around by \
sailCr? Why hadn't the writer filled
out the memoranda and given some
point to start from, or was his reference
| to the spring a hint in this direction?
The captain and 1 talked the matter
! over and over. but could make it no
palmer. 1t was natural under the cir
| cumstances that our minds should run
| to buried treasure. Indeed we couldn't
! get rid of the feeling that the sailor
who had died in the hospital had
| planted something of value on Pope's
| island, and that being the case we de-
! cided to have a try for it, What has
| tened our decision was a conversation
| overheard between two sailors who
| had been at the hospital inquiring
| about Kane and his effects.
| I think it was on the twenty-thir
| day out of Sydney that we entered the
/ bay on the north side of PoDe,s island.
| 1t is about three miles long and at the
! spot where we dropped anchor, accord
! ing to directions, it was not more than
| 600 feet across. We got in about mid
| Lrenoon, and the captain and I at
once went ashore. The Malays who
made up our crew We're told that we
were looking for what they call a
| dream stone" They have legends of
such a stone and believe that whoever
| sleeps with it under his pillow will
| dream of way to become very
| wealthy. On reaching the shore we
found the spring, but as we stood be-
side it we looked at each other and
asked what should be the next move.
| The island was thickly wooded, and
we soon realized that we had better