The daily Alaskan., 1905-06-28
A SEA YARN

| Danglcd dome, Whllc SoOthNatN "iaa- ed the constellation of the Southern Cross.
 We were to sail the next morning for New York. and lt was known among us that we were Co carry S2oooN. ot gold coin to New York. No one should have known of this treasure except the officers. The secret came out tn this way: The men wanted to go ashore for a final spree Tho captain, who was a weak man, in orler Co excuse himself for not permitting them Co go told of thc treasure. But the weakest thing he did was to let them go after telling them the reason why they should stay. | The captain, the first mate and | tscc, ond matc) remained aboard The cap tain was smoking on the poop deck; the first mate was pacing the forward deck; was leaning over the gunwole amidships looking down Into the wa ter. Slipping oG my clothes, | descend ed by the ladder hanging from the gangway and plunged tn for a swim. The water was rcfrcshiug, and as the moon was rising there was plenty of | light. The consequence was that l swan as far from the ship as liked,
 I was some 200 yards astcru when l heard the sound Of oars and, raising my head. saw a dark object coming from the city. did not doubt that it was the boat containing the crew com | ing from their spree. | was surprised, however. that they were so quiet Isu- ally on such occasions they were very ! noisy.
 I started to swim to the ship, but they reached it before me. | heard the mate sing out Boat ah3y. but did not hear the answer. The boats crew climbed the ladder and went aboard. heard a scuiIie, and a mo. | ment later a heavy object dropped In the water. The tide was going out but I kept ahead Of it In the direction Of the ship. Presently something tloatcd by mo. Ky the light Of tho moon. which by this time was well up above the horizon, I saw the uptumcd ashen face of the first mate. I soon l hcard a second splash and knew that the captain had met a similar fate,
 It was now all perfectly plain to me The men who had gone ashore had been habbllng in their cups and bad 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 had possession of the ship, and what to do myself | could not determine Possibly I might swim the distance tt the shore. but | didn't Ike the Idea of leaving these men to make away with the treasure, there being no cvi dcucc of their identity. While | was deIibcratiug heard the anchor chah rattling through the hawse pipe and knew the captors were intending C make sail. or. rather, drift out or th, harhor. for there was no wind. lis tened, hoping to hear the sound o0 oars indicating the return or the crew but heard no such sound. The shiI drifted toward me stern on, and, no knowing what else to do, cluug To th, ruddcr. But. realizing that there wa' nothing there to support me for any length of time, I let go my hold and keepipg close under the side Of th' shin. waited tin the bow drifted Co me tben craspcd a chain under the bow spr3t. There I was better proteCte, from being seen and might cling fo a long while.
 When day dawncd a breeze sprou. up and the ship hove away westward keeping close to the coast Ahou sixty miles from Rio they ran he ashore, bow on. Knowing that
 should be discovered where ! was,
 swam back to the ruddcr, keeping m der water all except my eyes, wit which I saw the robbers carry th treasure ashore. There were five e them. one with rcd hair and beard d rectinC their movements. | noted hi face and that Of every one Of them to that should know them again, A soon as they got ashore each ma ! started oG. staggering under a bag e gold. I gave them time to get star ,hen swan to the ladder, climbe aboard and after getting provision followed them. ThcT were taikin s most of the time, which enabled m Co 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 oJ had left the treasure. I 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, walkin
 rapidly. I felt sure they were goin to Rio and wished Co get there as Soo
 as possible in order that they shoul not be missed. Striking road, the
 hired a countryman to drive them an were thus lost Co me.
 However, I made my way Co the ci' and hunted up the crew whO had sec
 the ship sailing away, Soon alter the
 had left the dock to return to her
 took them to where the treasure Ina i" 4N.-, aF FN.vs 1.,HasrrsfHrfr ff Nf