The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-08-05

ment But now we $1,000 snIverns,
gazing into each others faces and
actually afraid to talk lest the whole
occurrence should prove a dream from
which a chance word might awaken
us. Three million pesos-here. aCtu-
ally here: almost within reach of our
hands; they were digging for them
just below; even then, in the silence,
we could hear the faint echo OF blows
being struck against the ice. Three
million peSos!-and it was all ours
our very Own-to divide. to spend to
do with exactly as we pleased. We
had dreamed about all this before, on
the decks of the Inflated Sea Queen,
but now We sought to grasp it as an
actual existing fact. and our minds
seemed paralyzed by the knowledge.
even forgot that Doris was present
until she touched ne gently on the
shoulder and | looked down into her
questioning eyes.
DO you not know what We have
just discovered below" | asked. still
tingling to the marvel Of it, The
treasure, the Spanish treasure."
oh, yes but the soft voice seemed
tinged with sadness. yet it does not
greatly interest me. Money seems so
little here. so utterly valueless"
The simple words, the tone of their
utterance brought ne to myself as
though | had received an electric
shock. She was still smiling, yet all
at once noticed how white her face
was, how dark the shadows beneath
her eyes. The lure Of the gold van
ished from my mind. as II some wiz
ards wand had waved it away.
thought of the treacherCus sea with
out. the life and death struggle before
us, those dreary leagues separating us
from hope. My hands Clasped hers,
the expression of love in my eyes
Frightening her face instantly.
That is so much better. Jack" she
said tenderly. 81 knew it was only
the madness of a moment which
caused you 10 forget. Come out on
deck with me until you lose all mem
DRY of it-until bring you back to
real life again"
Il do not need It. sweetheart" and
bent low, looking into her eyes. The
fever has left my blood | hardly
know how it ever laid such hold upon
me, but the thought of all that wealth
below drove me as mad as the others.
You see how much | need you"
oh, no; you would have recovered
without my help. although it might
have required more time TO complete
cure But I fear there is no hope
for the men"
81 certainly shall not spare you to
minister to them"
She laughed, her happiness of dispo-
sition returning.
That would be useless; they are Of
different stamp. The fever for sudden
wealth is in the blood Of all of us.
See how excited Celeste is. Perhaps
if I had ever experienced poverty |
might be crazed also. But ii is so
foolish here-here." and she swept
her hands about in comprehensive ges-
ture, when we know it can be ours
only for day. or at most a week"
But we have not given up hope"
protested. why should we? The
Donna Isabel seems stanch beneath
US"
Even in case Of that miracle want
said gravely. at seems to me, Jack,
there must be curse upon that gold
below. 1t will never do good to any
human being 1t was stolen by the
sword, won for Spain by the shedding
Of blood. and has since cursed this
ship and all who sailed in her. The
living and the dead guarded It, and
now we have come into its evil clutch.
1t Is not superstition but faith which
makes me say this--the Donna Isabel
will never make port; that gold be-
low will never do soul on board
anything but harm. l wish it could
be left where is Is. buried in the ice"
AT such suggestion the men
would mutiny."
Il suppose So" she acknowledged
sadly. and the end will be the same
in either case. But l want you to be
different. Let them build their air
castles; but do you come out on deck
with me, where the sea and sky will
give us other thoughts"
Comprehending only vaguely what
She meant. yet beneath the witching
spell of her presence I went gladly
enough, forgetting utterly that useless
treasure imbedded in the ice below.