Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-01

very butt Of the mainmast whence
could look up through the splintered
deck to the narrow strip Of sky over
head. There was bulkhead forward,
but the ice extended solidly to the
wood. could hear the ceaseless swell
Of the sea pounding against the sides,
the groaning Of timbers, the Tapping
of the jib's canvas, and realized more
than ever before the sickening, sodden
roll Of the laden hull. The level SUR
face Of the ice told plainly enough its
story Of formation; when all that wa
ter came through, the vessel had been
upon an even keel, imbedded firmly,
no doubt, in the ice-pack. crept back
rs cautiously as had advanced, the
rolling of the wreck rendering the slip
perry surface dangerous to travel over.
The men watched me anxiously as
slid down into the lazarette.
What did you find, sir?"
Nothing except ice. solid ice clear
to the forward bulkhead. It looks as
though we had reached the end Of
our treasure-hunt. my lads"
There was a sullen growl of profan-
ity. Mcknight viciously slashing at
the ice-front with his cleaver. Twice
he struck, with no other object except
the venting of his ungovernable anger.
his forehead beaded, the great muscles
of his arms standing out like whip
cords. A considerable chunk scaled
of, falling humping to the deck, and
causing him to spring backward to
escape injury. AS If maddened by
this, he drove In the blade Of the az
again-it changed against metal! We
all heard it; we all witnessed the re-
bound.
by God, mates, there's one of 'em,
anyhow!" roared a voice, hoarse from
exploding excitement. But was al
ready upon my knees, feeling blindly
into the ice cavity.
They came bowling about me like
so many wolves, eager to see with
their own eyes, but crowded them
back, snatching the candle from De
Nova's fingers and throwing the flick.
ering light down level with the deck.
ITS brass-bound chest, men,"
cried, Strengthening up and facing
them. But 1t is going to require
some hard digging to get it out. About
all can see is the handle Of It."
! meyer comprehended before how
the passion and lust for gold can ex.
press itself upon mems faces. Tense,
motionless, breathing heavily, their
features drawn, their eyes cleaning
feverishly in the yellow fame, they
stared at me and then at that ice-front,
demsnted and speechless. No one
thought Of where we were-castaways,
sur lives the sport Of winds and waves.
sodden wreck under us, our nearest
port thousand miles away across q
stormy sea; all we realized at that
moment was that there, just before US,
under that mantle of ice, lay buried
three million pesos. God! the collar
OF my jacket seemed choking me; I
breathed as IL a mans fingers clutched
my throat, and 1 saw Meningitis
burly form shaking as IT he had an
ague fit. Three million pesos! The
hot blood rushed to my head, lava
stream. and De Nova's face, white as
chalk behind his little black mus.
taches. seemed dancing before me
ghostlike. Damn him! tho fellow
made me think Of Salvatore, the man
who, just above, frozen and dead, had
guarded this treasure for 126 years.
cast the suggestion aside with a
curse and laugh, grasping Kelly by
the shoulder to steady myself-to re.
alize these were real men, this task
before us real work. It was like com.
ing forth from under An anaesthetic,
leaving me weak as child, yet with
brain and faculties aroused to action.
Johnson thrust forward the cleaver.
LET me get in there. sir; I'm the
man for cuttin' Job"
stepped aside, and the broad blade
fell slashing against the front Of the
ice.