The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-08-27
CHAPTER NV.

nuponceau had been proodiny all FAY
over the possibility of losing the contents
| OF his precious chest, and 81, after somn
| argument, Rodney and he hail 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 hal
simply happened to camp in tn. neighbor-
hood of that particular hemlock but Du.
ponceau's fears were aroused. and It was
evident that he would be satisfied with
nothing short Of having the stronghold
under his ayes.
What the deuce do you suppose those
papers are, that he should be 50 fearful
about them?" l 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
can't say Suffice 1t. he's got treasure
chest, and it's UP to us to sit on 1t 30
tight that none Of Its pieces-of-eight can
filter through"
Fortunately the night was cloudy. and
about eleven we were ready to start I
had never felt 20 completely the despera-
do before We wore all three armed with
revove-s. carried coll Of rope wound
about my waist. and Rodney a dark Ian
tern which CHARLES had found In the
cottage. Dupoacoau was the least excit-
ed He took command Of our expedition
with the ASSURANCE Of born leader. and.
in fact. 1t wa only his overweening con-
fldence that gave the scheme the least
prospect Of SUCCESS.
just before we left the Ship Charles
Joined III with two spades. and 70. party
Of four. We stole over the beach and into
the dunes. Durorcaau led US to the pine,
thence we crawled inward. lying silent
after each cracking twiz. stralning our
eyes and earz for news. When we came
to the hen;ock we lay four abreast and
vaguely white ahead. The only sound
was a load and resonant snore.
Duponceau crawled forward on one side
of the tent. and then beckoned to me to
do the same on the opposite side. When
I had wriggled forward some ten feet I
could look In at the tent. the sides Of
which were open TO the summer breezes
One man lay within. sleeping. It was
clear that the enemy had not expected
US.
Duponceau stole to his feet. did like
wise. He entered the tent from one side.
and I from the other With a 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 l 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 a little distance
While we did this Islip and Charles cut
the guide-ropes. and the house of our
enemies fell, collapsing like a 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 a strange scene for those
unhistoric pines of Alastair. With ears
keen for the slightest alarm. Duponceau
and 1 dug, Rodney holding his black Ian
tern 80 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 1t and
placed it on the ground. As his hand
touched the unbroken lock thought that
Duponceau gave a little sigh Of relief.
Ito be continued)