Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-30
Continued From Preceding Page

Bob was the only one Of the three VINO
brought anv bad news. and his was OF sueh
nature that the crew Of the Jaqmta at
tached but little Importance to 1t:
The sailor could give him no further inioru,a-
tion than that contained in the parchment,
but he had urged that the boys defer thelr
trip for few weeks. -
az have seen Pedro Gomez pass this house,
he said to Bob, when the latter totld him
that the Jaauita would set sail on the next
morning for Egg Key. He has followed me
here and must know that am dying. Hear
ing that YOUR parents have given me shelter,
and learning that you have started away sud-
denly, he may think that have impaired 10
you the secret. Do not go on your expeui.ion
for some time, or he will be sure to follow
you" ;,
At twelve o'colck on that same night, the
second guardian of the pirates treasure dieu,
and when, on arriving tine renoesyons, ..as
Bob told his partners OF the warning gwen
by the diving man, no one was willing to post
pone the trip.
Both Percy and Dudley we're aware that, a
stranger had been seen in the town; Dut he
had announced that he came for the purpose
of shipping on one of the sponging vessels,
and the boys were unwilling to belleve the
old sailors fears had any foundation IN tact.
"There's no chance for him to know that
we've left" Percy said, as he began to cast
if we once get out Of the bay, he'll have
good time finding US"
"But if he should hear of our leaving, and
get to talking with old Antonio about it;ebe
wouldn't have much trouble in learning where
we're going" Bob objected, although he also
was inclined to make the trip regardless of
the warnings. -,
Glow many chances are there that he'll
ever meet "Tonio?" asked Dudley, with a con-
fident air.
ha-
sides, we don't even know if the dead sailor
had any reason for being suspicious of this
Spaniard / suppose he'd carried around the
paper so long that he grew afraid of every
body. If we wait two or three weeks, the
turtle season will be over, and then what ex-
cuse will we have for making the trip
This last argument dispelled the few scru-
pies Bob had against proceeding contrary to
the advice of the old sailor, and he grasped
the tiller more determnedly, for the Jaquita
had been showed from her mooring while they
were holding the conversation.
The long yard, with its ample breadth of
canvas, was hoisted masthead high; the clumsy
looking jib was sheeted home, and, under the
inufence of the morning breeze, the felucca
heeled nearly rail under, gliding over the wa
ter at speed that told what she could do in
the way of showing her heels, if necessary
There was no conflict Of authority on board
of the Jaquita, for the duties of her owners
had long since been decided upon. Bob was
sistant navigator-all three in one-while Dud-
ley was steward as well as cook.
During the first hour after the voyage had
been commenced, but little else was talked
about save the possibility of being followed
by the stranger, who professed to be spong
eer; but as they were well down the bay before
it was light enough to admit of their being
seen, they lost all anxiety and gave themselves
up to the exhilaration of the sail.
Shortly after sunrise, Dudley had ready a
breakfast of fried fish hnuno m q do bcooI a
coffee. which was eaten on deck, and from
that time until sunset there was nothing more
exciting to occupy their attention than the
speed of the JaQuita.
At nightfall. they anchored off small kew
until daylight, each one standing two hour
watches, and In twenty-four hours after leav.
ing Tampa they were ready to shape their
course by Antonio's chart.
The parchment found in the sharkskin also
aided them very materially in the search
1t directed them to go to the inlet or bav
on the north side of the key; therefore, when
they fancied they had arrived at the snof
charted down by Antonio, it was only neces.
sary. to run along the northern portion OF il
looking for a harbor.
In this manner they skirted several KEYS
the wind fortunately holding strong all day''
About half an hour before sunset, when they
were running down coral island which Bob
felt quite certain could not be the one re-
ferred to ON the chart Percy, who was on
the lookout forward, raised a shout of tri.
umph.
'There is a narrow passage in from the
shore of this key" he cried, as he pointed
straight ahead. ut doesn't seem to be more
than ten feet wide, but it must be the place. /"
And he gave the order to lower away the
mainsail, as he headed the Jaquita directly to.
ward the opening.
AS the felucca approached the shore IL be-
came evident that, even if she could pass
through the channel, the yard could not, while
it lay across the deck amidships
Percy and Dudley barely had time to stow