Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-03-31
DAILY SHORT STORY
A SEA YARN.

" NNaN ~ li4E III AAAtAAtA III AAiN AAeAA
Dor of Rio de Janeiro. The night was
hot, but beautiful. To the north We're
the lights OF the city. Above was the
spangled dome. while southwark blaz-
ell 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 10 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
final spree. The captain, who was 4
weak man, in order To excuse himself
for not permitting them 10 go told of
the treasure. But the weakest thing
he did was 10 let them go after telling
them the reason why they should stay.
The captain, the first mate and l sec
ond mate) 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 of my clothes. / 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 that l
swan as far from the ship as l liked.
l was some 200 yards astern when l
heard the sound of oars and, raising
my head. saw dark object coming
from the city. l did not doubt that ii
was the boat containing the crew com
ing from their spree l was surprised,
however, that they We're so quiet. Jsu-
ally on such occasions they were very
noisy.
l 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. l heard u scufiie, and u mo-
ment later u heavy object dropped in
the water. The tide WAS going out.
but l kept ahead of ii in the direction
Of the ship. Presently something
ioated by me. BY the light of the
moon, which by this time was well up
above the horizon. / saw the upturneI
ashen face of the first mate. | 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 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 l 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 chain
rafting through the hawse pipe and
knew the captOrs were intending 10
make sail, or, rather, drift out of the
harbor, for there was no wind. l lis
tened, hoping to hear the sound of
oars indicating the return Of the crew.
but heard no such sound. The ship
drlfted toward me stern OH, and, not
knowing what else to do, l chung TO the
rudder. But, realizing that there was
nothing there TO support me Tor any
length of time, l let go my hold and.
keeping close under the side of the
ship, waited till the bow drifted to me.
then grasped n chain under the bow
spirit. There | was better protected
from being seen and might cling for
a 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 l
should be discovered where was, l
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 were five of
them. one with red hair and beard di-
recting their movements l noted his
face and that Of every one of them,
so that / should know them again. AS
soon rs they got ashore each man
started of. staggering under bag of
gold. ! gave them time to get a start.
then swan to the ladder. climbed
aboard and after getting provisions
followed them. They were talking
most OF the time. which enabled me
to keep at a safe distance They |
moved eastward and after going about !
ten miles stopped at a deserted hut. |
went inside and when they came out |
had left the treasure. / knew they |
had hidden or buried it inside
After hurried lunch from a basket |
they had brought with them they |
started on To the eastward. walking !
rapidly. ! 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 a road, they /
hired a oJuntryman to drive Shem and /
were thus lost 10 me-
However. made my way to the city /
and hunted up the crew who had seen
the ship sailing away. Soon after they |
had left the dock TO return 10 her / |
took them 10 where the treasure had
been placed; then after securing il we
went on to the ship. which at high tide
we managed TO get afioat. and set sail