Evening journal., 1905-04-20
A SEA YARN
Iorlrinall

hot, but beautiful. To the north were
the lights of the city. Above was the
spangled dome, while southwark blaz-
ed the constellation of the Southern
Cross.
We were to sail the next morning for
New York, and it was known among
us that we were to carry 100000 Of
gold coin to New York. No one should
have known Of this treasure except the
officers. The secret came out in this
way: The men wanted to go ashore for
a final spree. The captain, who was
weak man. in order to excuse himself
for not permitting them to go told of
the treasure But the weakest thing /
he did was 70 let them so after telling !
them the reason why they should stay |
The captain, the first mate and / (sec-
ond mate) remained aboard. The cap |
tain was smoking on the poop deck; the
first mate was pacing the forward
deck; 1 was leaning over the gunwale
amidships looking down into the wa
ter. Slipping off my clothes, descend
ed by the ladder hanging from the
gangway and plunged in for swim.
The water was refreshing, and as the
moon was rising there was plenty Of
light The consequence was that l
swan as far from the ship as I liked.
was some 200 yards astern when I
heard the sound of oars and, raising
my head. saw dark object coming
from the city. l did not doubt that it
was the boat containing the crew com
ing from their spree. l was surprised,
however, tnat they were so quiet. Usu-
ally on such occasions they were very
noisy
started to swim to the ship, but
they reached it before me. ] heard
the mate sing out Boat ahoy" but
did not hear the answer. The boats
crew climbed the ladder and went
aboard. / heard a scuffle, and mo
ment later a heavy object dropped in
the water. The tide was going out,
but kept ahead of it in the direction
Of the ship. Presently something
floated By me. By the light of the
moon, which by this time was well up
above the horizon, saw the upturned
ashen face of the first mate. l soon
heard a second splash and knew that
the captain had met a similar fate.
1t was now all perfectly plain to me.
The men who had gone ashore had
been babbling in their cups and had
been overheard by some person or per
sons who had taken advantage Of then
absence to capture the treasure they
had talked about. ! knew the robbers
Tad possession of the ship, and whaf
o do myself | could not determine
4 #Possibly / might swim the distance 4
F n the shore. but / didn't Ike the idei
Ii of leaving these men to make ava,
with the treasure, there being no evi
dence Of their Identity. While 1 wa
heliberatng / heard the anchor chaii
rattling through the hawse pipe anl
knew the captOrs were intending 4
make sail, or. rather, drift out of tn
harbor. for there was no wind. / lis
tened, hoping to hear the sound o
oars indicating the return of the crew
but heard no such sound. The shi
trifted toward me stern on, and, no
knowing what else TO do, clung to th
rudder. But, realizing that there wa
nothing there to support me for an
length Of time, l let go my hold anC
keeping close under the side of th
ship. waited till the bow drifted to M
then grasped chain under the bow
spirit. There / was better protecte
from being seen and might cling fC
a long while.
When day dawned a breeze spran
.
keeping close to the coast. Abo'
sixty miles from Rio they ran h'
ashore. bow ON. Knowing that
should be discovered where was.
swan back to the rudder. keeping u
der water all except my eyes, vii
which l saw the robbers carry Il
treasure ashore. There were five
them. one with red hair and beard
recting their movements. l noted /
face and that Of every one of theI
SO that / should know them again.
soon as they got ashore each m'
started of, staggering under a bag
gold. ] gave them time to get a stal
then swan to the ladder, climb
aboard and after getting provisio
followed them. They were talkil
most Of the time, which enabled
TO keep at a safe distance. Tn
moved eastward and after going abo
ten miles stopped at a deserted hl
AS went inside and when they came O
had left the treasure. / knew th
|2# had hidden or buried it inside.
After a hurried lunch from basil
they had brought With them tn
& arted on to .he eastward. walki
pidly I felt sure they were gol
' RIO and wished 10 get there as sc
possible in order that they shol
' II be missed. Striking a road, II
Cd a countryman to drive them a
re thus lost to me.
,uowever, made my way to the c
hunted up the crew who had Sc
ship sailing away. Soon after Il
M left the dock 70 return to hei
k them to where the treasure
d placed; then after securing it
1t on to the ship. which at righ
managed TO get afloat. and set !
Rio. I assumed command \
III nted two Of the best men as ma
"a on arrival at Rio went ash
ne and TO the Office of the chief
Ice. For week ] walked the sire
n detective and visited the dil
the eighth day I saw two Of