Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-10-15
CHAPTER XIV.

nuponceau had been nrooding all ray
over the possibility OF losing the contents
of his precious chest, and 50, after some
argument, Rodney and he hal decided 70
make the effort to move it to the Ship
that night ] pointed out the fact that
in all probability the enemy knew nothing
whatever Of the chests position, and had
simply happened to camp in thu neishbor-
hood of that particular hemock; but Du-
ponceau's fears were aroused, and II was
evident that he would be satisfied with
nothing short Of having the strong-box
under his ,yes.
"What the deuce do you suppose those
papers are, that he should be so fearful
about them?" I asked Rodney when we
were alone.
He shrugged his shoulders. Heaven
knows! The man isn't crazy, for I've
been studying him closely all day, and
some experience with Wall Street has put
me wise on cranks. No, there's a real,
live mystery somewhere, and our friend
Pierre is a somebody, though whether the
Wandering Jew or the lost Napoleon l
can't say. Suffice it, he's got a treasure
chest, and it's up to us to sit on it so
tight that none Of its pieces-of-eight can
filter through"
Fortunately the night was cloudy, and
about eleven we were ready to start. l
had never felt so completely the despera-
do before. We were all three armed with
revolvers. / carried coil of rope wound
about my waist, and Rodney a dark Ian
tern which Charles had found in the
cottage. Duponceau was the least excit-
ed He took command of our expedition
with the assurance of born leader and,
in fact, it was only his overweening con-
fidence that gave the scheme the least
prospect of success.
Just before we left the Ship Charles
joined us with two spades, and so, party
of four, we stole over the beach and into
the dunes. Duponceau led us to the pine,
thence we crawled inward, lying silent
after each cracking twig, straining our
eyes and ears for news. When we came
to the hemlock we lay four abreast and
so peered over at the tent that loomed
vaguely white ahead. The only sound
was a loud and resonant snore.
Duponceau crawled forward on one side
do the same on the opposite side. When
l had wriggled forward some ten feet
could look in Mt the tent. the sides of
which were open to the summer breezes.
One man lay within. sleeping. 1t was
clear that the enemy had not expected
us.
Duponceau stole to his feet. did like
tapt 81
and from the other. With swift
movement he was over the sleeping man,
and had pinned him to the bed, while he
thrust handkerchief into his mouth.
The sleeper started. struggled, moaned.
and lay still; had held my revolver in
his face In a twinkling we had him
bound and gagged, rolled from his bed Of
boughs. and laid at little distance.
While we did this Islip and Charles cut
the guide-ropes. and the house of our
enemies fell, colapsing like great white
balloon when the gas escapes. We clear
ed it away, and the place where the chest
was hidden lay before us.
Then followed strange scene for those
unhistoric pines of Alastar. With ears
keen for the slightest alarm, Duponceau
and dug, Rodney holding his black lam
tern so as to aid us. Charles keeping
watch. A foot down and my spade struck
wood. In five minutes the chest was
uncovered. Carefully we raised it and
placed it on the ground. As his hand
touched the unbroken lock thought that
Duponceau gave little sigh of relief.
Ito be continued.)