The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-11-03
CHAPTER III-Continued.


borhood of the captains quarters. Il
was this very point that attracted the
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 shoyeling 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-
slant vigilance out over the bay to see
that no one was approaching.
If can make sure that they were
aboard my future is No longer an I'M
Gel tainty," said the old man as he
unused to himself. SIT 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
willhave dis6gured 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 furn-
ish food for the larger fish,"
The fishermen were already suspici-
GUS OF old Seadog and when driven from
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.
he fo 20 oh he
and cargo" said another
The JUSTICE OF the peace was appealed
to as well 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
Gals 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 t
let them escape unnoticed, and he s
knew that ordinary matters did not '
prompt his neIghbcrs on such jour I
ney. I
''Dig for your lives, boys; lift out b
that sandI We may have trouble be-
lore our job Is done. Some of those T
halfbreeds have gone to Astoria to a
raise trouble and we must get we'll and &
through before the storm blows back" i,
Old Seadog did not mean to disturb u
he property left on the vessel. He a
,ad a personal motive in view. His il
mission was not in quest OF gold; h
neither would he have carried away Il
be smallest thing of intrinsic value, fc
,ut would have risked his life and that W
# his boys for that which he sought. Il
While delving their way into the
abin they came upon many valuables bI
'hese we're cast aside as so much rub ar
ish. Gold and silver trinkets were ar
brown upon the heaps of sand as il tn
hey were of no value. ha
1t was several hours after they had fe
egun work and old Seadog was already co
asting uneasy glances toward the
,uth side of the river when the boys fro
.ruck the sea captains iron chest. DIR
While battling with the storm the in
,cking, tossing vessel had shaken this me-
eavy receptacle from its usual place tn
I'D had hurled it about the room like lit
ping pong ball. But like wedge it sm
nd been driven into a heap OF fur lit
ture and baggage jammed together in ne
re corner Of the room and backed by
ese and the heavy bank of sand piled sal
pom the top Of the whole. it seemed
ing as solid and immovable as the got
Ill Of the vessel itself.
1t was 1T this crisis that old Seadog rer
scovered revenue cutter approach wa
g from the south, 1t whose helm
'ated the starr and stripes. old
Exert yourselves, boys, exert your VIII
Ives for your lives. or all is for ing
Iught! those fools have informed the wit
ficers and they will soon be upon u.s."
id the old man. leg
Then they all put to and gave pla
cir energy to securing the iron chest. bee
le old man abandoned his lookout wa
d Joined the boys in the work. The efft
nbers were interlocked about it and
the came time deeply imbedded in fea
9 sand. fir
"Get the capstan lever, boys; get sci'
2 capstan. We must have her now ina
it will be too latel" exclaimed the /
cited old Seadog. as
Some crowbars had been uneartbed rat
M the ships tool room and with the But
l. LILA