Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-10-14
CHAPTER III-Continued.

crafty fsherman's attention.
Shovels were secured and the boys
were ordered to delve their way into
the captains room. 1t was easy to find
the door since the sand only extended
about half way to the ceiling of the
cabin.
While the boys were shoveling back
the dripping sand, old Seadog was al
ternately on the lookout inside and out.
He let nothing on the stranded vessel
escape his observation and kept con-
stant vigilance out over the bay to see
that no one was approaching.
eff can make sure that they were
aboard my future is no longer an un-
ce, tainty," said the old man as he
unused to himself. cit was impossible
for any one to SURVIVE" he continued.
''The whole crew and all aboard went
to the bottom of the sea and the crabs
will have disfgured their bodies be-
yond recognition before they rise to the
surface. And even should they escape
these busy scavengers they may drift
back to the ocean where they will turn-
ish food for the larger fish,
The fishermen were already suspici-
the wreck at the muzzle of his gun they
Immediately returned to the village
and spread the news.
'The officers ought to take the mat
ter in hand" said one.
eyes, he is up to stealing the ship
and cargo" said another.
The justice of the peace was appeared
to as we'll as the village constable, but
these two functionaries declared that
they had only jurisdiction on the land
and not on the sea.
"But the pillaging should be stop
ped" insisted the honest fishermen.
When the justice of the peace saw
that his neighbors were bent on some
kind of legal action, he informed them
that the higher courts had jurisdiction
on the waters; that the government
itself would act if it were informed;
that the vessel was foreign one and
that the consul of the country from
which the vessel came would protect it
from the hands of the land pirates.
Astoria then had her customs Off
cials and she had United States COM
missioner. Cape Disappointment had
her lighthouse, but it was before the
days of telephone and telegraph service
at that point and there was no way to
communicate with the government
authorities at Astoria, sixteen miles
away on the south bank of the river,
except by crossing the stream in a
small boat.
But those men of the river we've not
slow in arranging for the trip. A small
sail boat was launched and three of the
most intelligent went aboard and were
soon cutting their way across north of
Sand Island as fast as the wind could
Carry them.
Old Seadog's watchful eye did not
let them escape unnoticed, and he
knew that ordinary matters did not
prompt his neighbcrs on such jour
ney.
"Dig for your lives,, boys; lift out
that sand! We may have trouble be-
fore our job Is done. Some of those
halfbreeds have gone to Astoria to
raise trouble and we must get we'll and
through before the storm blows back"
Old Seadog did not mean to disturb
the property left on the vessel. He
had personal motive in view. His
mission was not in quest of gold;
neither would he have carried away
the smallest thing of intrinsic value,
but would have risked his life and that
of his boys for that which he sought.
While delving their way into the
cabin they came upon many valuables.
These were cast aside as so much rub
bish. Gold and silver trinkets were
thrown upon the heaps of sands as il
they were of no value.
It was several hours after they had
begun work and old Seadog was already
casting uneasy glances toward the
south side of the river when the boys
struck the sea captains iron chest.
While battling with the storm the
rocking, tossing vessel had shaken this
heavy receptacle from its usual place
and had hurled it about the room like
a ping pong ball. But like wedge it
had been driven into a heap of fur
niture and baggage jammed together in
one corner of the room and backed by
these and the heavy bank of sand piled
upon the top of the whole. it seemed
thing as solid and immovable as the
hull of the vessel itself.
discovered revenue cutter approach
ing from the south, at whose helm
fiosted the stars and stripes.
Exert yourselves, boys, exert your
selves for your lives, or all is for
naught! those fools have informed the
officers and they will soon be upon u.s."
said the old man.
Then they all put to and gave
their energy to securing the iron chest.
The old man abandoned his lookout
and joined the boys in the work. The
timbers were interlocked about it and
at the same time deeply imbedded in
the sand.
''Get the capstan lever, boys; get
the capstan. We must have her now
or it will be too late!" exclaimed the
excited old Seadog.
j