The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1905-10-06
A SEA YARN
fOriginal.l


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 so ashore for
q final spree. The captain, who was
weak man, in order to excuse himself
for not permitting them to so told of
the treasure. But the weakest thing
he did was to let them 60 after telling
them the reason why they should stay.
The captain, the first mate and (sec-
ond matte remained aboard. The cap
tain was smoking on the poop deck; the
first mate was pacing the forward
deck; 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 !
swan as far from the ship as liked.
I was some 200 yards astern when
heard the sound Of oars and, raising
my head; saw a 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, that they were so quiet Usu-
ally on such occasions they We're very
noisy.
l started to swim to the ship, but
they reached 1T before me- / heard
the mate sing out Boat ahoy." but
did not hear the answer. The boats
crew climbed the ladder and went
aboard. l heard scuftie, and mo-
ment later a heavy object dropped in
the water. The.ttide 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, sawNthe upturned
ashen face of the first mate. | soon
heard second splash and knew that
the captain had met q 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 their
absence to capture the treasure they
had talked about. / knew the robbers
had possession of the ship, and what
to do myself l could not determine.
Possibly l might swim the distance to
the shore, but didn't like the idea
of leaving these men to make away
with the treasure, there being no evil
dence Of their identity. While ! was
celebrating l heard the anchor chair
rafting through the hawse pipe and
knew the captors were intending te
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 me stern on, and, not
knowing what else to do chung to the
rudder. But, realizing that there was
nothing there to support me for any
length Of time, I let go my hold and,
keeping close under the side Of the
ship, waited till the bow drifted to me,
then grasped chain under the bow
spirit. There l was better protected
from being seen and might cling for
long while.
When day dawned a. breeze sprang
up, and the ship hove away westward,
keeping close to the coast. About
sixty miles from Rio they ran her
ashore, bow on. Knowing that /
should be discovered where l was, /
swan back to the rudder, keeping I'm
der water all except my eyes. with
which l saw the robbers carry the
treasure ashore. There We're five of
them, one with red hair and beard di-
recting their movements. I noted his
face and that Of every one Of them.
80 that should know them again. As
soon as they got ashore each man
started off, staggering under bag of
gold. l gave them time to get start,
then swan to the ladder, climbed
aboard and after getting provisions
followed them. They We're talking
most of the time. which enabled me
to keep at safe distance. They
moved eastward and after going about
ten miles stopped at deserted hut.
went inside and when they caroe out
had left the treasure. knew they
had hidden or buried it inside.
After a hurried lunch from a basket
they had brought with them they
started on to the eastward. walking
rapidly. l felt sure they were going
to Rio and wished to get there as soon
as possible in order that they should
not be missed. Striking road, they.
hired a countryman to drive them and
were thus lost to me.
However, made my way to the CITY
and hunted up the crew who had seen
the ship sailing away. Soon after ther
had left the dock to return to her I
TOOK them to where the treasure had
been placed; then after securing It we
went on to the shin which ~ h;oh +;,-a