The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-05-26
A SEA YARN
lOEginal.l

" ~ VA A&o w AaN3A AA~ q
hot, but beautiful. To the north were
the lights of the city. Above was the
pangied 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 $4,000 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
Z final spree. The captain. who was a
weak man. in order 10 excuse himself
for not permitting them to go told OF
the treasure But the weakest thing
he did was TO let them go after telling
them the aso why they should stay.
Tie captain. the first mate and | Sec
ond nate remained aboard. The cap
tain was smoking on the poop deck: the
first mate was pacing the forward
deck; | was leaning over the gunwale
antdships looking down into the wa
ter. Slipping of my clothes. l descend
ed by the ladder hanging from the
gangway and plunged in for a swim
The water was refreshing. and as the
moon was rising there was plenty Of
light. The consequence was b a I
swan as far from the ship as l liked
was some 20 yards astern when /
heard the sound OF cars and. raising
my head, saw a dark object coming
from the city. l did not doubt that Ii
was the boat containing the crew con-
ing from their spree. l was surprised.
however. that they were SO quiet Usu-
ally on such occasions they e very
noisy.
started to swim to the ship, but
they reached it before me l heard
the mate sing u Boat ahoy." but
did not hear the answer. The boats
crew climbed the ladder and went
aboard. l heard L scune. and a NO
nent later a heavy object dropped in
the water. The tide was going out,
but l Kept ahead Of it in the direction
Of the ship. Presently something
foated by me. By the light of the
moon, which by this time was well up
above the horizon. l saw the up%turnei
ashen face Of the first mate | soon
heard a second splash and knew that
the captain had me g similar fate.
It 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 their
absence to capture the Measure they
had talked about. I knew the robbers
had possession of the ship, and what
to do myself could not determine.
Possibly I might swim the distance Il
the shore, but l didn't like the idea
Of leaving these men 10 make away
With the treasure, there being no eyi-
dence Of their identity. While l was
celebrating I heard the anchor chain
rafting through the hawse pipe and
knew the captors were intending tC
make sail. or. rather, drift out Of the
harbor. for there was no wind I lis
tened, hoping to hear the sound OF
oars indicating the return of the crew
but heard no such sound. The ship
drifted toward nle stern on, and, not
knowing what else to do, l chung to ths
rudder. But. realizing thar there was
nothing there to support me for any
length Of time, let go my hold and
keeping close under the side OF tbs
ship, waited till the bow drifted t me
then grasped a chain under the bow
spirit. There l was better protected
from being seen and might cling fol
long while.
When day dawned a breeze sprant
up. and the ship hove away westward
keeping close to the coast. Abou
sixty miles from Rio they ran he
ashore, bow on. Knowing that
should be discovered where I was,
swan back to the rudder. keeping un
der water all except my eyes. wit
which l saw the robbers carry tn
treasure ashore. There were five O
them, one with red hair and beard di
recung their movements. I noted hi
face and that of every one OF them
30 that l should know them again a
soon as they got ashore each ma
started of. staggering under a bag Q
kobO- / gave tOeW 0Uie 10 get u SURF
then swan to the ladder. climbe
aboard and after getting provision
followed them. They were talkin
most Of the time. which enabled 10
to keep at a safe distance. The
moved eastward and after going abor
ten miles stopped at a deserted hu
went inside and when they came OF
had left the treasure. l knew the
had hidden or buried it inside.
After a hurried lunch from a bask,
they had brought with them the
started on to the eastward. waikiki
rapidly. felt sure they were goir
to Rio and wished t get there as sot
rs possible In order that they shou
not be missed. Striking a road. tn,
hired a countryman to drive them al
were thus lost to me.
However. | made my way to the CT
and hunted up the crew who had sex
the ship sailing away. Soon after tn,
had left the dock to return to her
took them to where the treasure b;
been placed; then after securing It :
went on to the ship. which at high ii
We managed to get afoat, and set 81
49,