The Western news., 1904-10-19
CHAPTER III-Continued.

ship had filled with sand in the neigh
borhood of the captains quarters. 1t
was this very point that attracted the
crafty fisherman'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 ne
unused to himself. 'It 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 scayengers 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.
"Yes, he is up to stealing the ship
and cargo" said another.
The justice of the peace was Appealed
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
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
call 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 Sealog'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 sandl 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 a 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 delying their way into the
cabin they came upon many valuables
These were cast aside as 80 much rub.
bish. Gold and silver trinkets were
thrown upon the heaps of sand as il
they were of no value.
1t 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 it's usual place
and had hurled it about the room like
ping pong ball. But like wedge i,
had been driven into heap of fur
nithre 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 9
thing as solid and immovable as tn,
hull of the vessel itself.
It was at this crisis that old Seadol
discovered . revenue cutter approach
ing from the south, at whose helm
6oated the stars and stripes.
exert yourselves, boys, exert your
selves for your lives, or all is TO
naughtl those fools have informed tn,
officers and they will soon be upon us,
said the old man.
Then they all put to and CAV,
their energy to securing the iron chest
The old man abandoned his lookou
and Joined the boys in the work. TIL,
timbers were interlocked about it ane
at the same time deeply imbedded il
tho oanN