The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1910-01-27
cHAPrrR XIV.

(nAt FIX NV
nuponceau had besn proodin< all day
over the possibility Of losing the contents
Of hls precious chest. and 81 after some
argument. Rodney and he hal decided "a
make the effort to move Il TO the Ship
that night. pointed our the faer that
IN all probability the enemy knew nothins
whatever OF the chests position. and hal
simply happened 10 camp In the neizhhor-
hood Of thar particular hamock but Du-
ponceau's fea-s were aroused. ard Il was
evident that he would be satisfied with
nothing short Of having tho strong-boz
under his ives.
What the deuce do yen >rppoSe thosf
papers ara. that he should be 50 fearful
about themr asked Rodney when we
were alone
lie 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 crankz. No. there's real
live mystery somewhere. and our friend
Pierre is somebody. though whether the
Wandering Jew or the Lost Napoleon I
can't say. Suffice il. he's got treasure
chest. and it's up to as to alt on II so
tisht that none Of its plscss-of-sight can
alter through"
Fortunately the night was cloudy. and
about eleven we were ready to start
do before. We were all thrss armed with
reviewers. ! carried coil Of rope wound 4
about my waist. and Rodney dark Ian
tern which Charles bad found IN the 4
cottage. Du7onccau was the least excit-
ed He took cozana-d OF cur expedition
with the ASSURANCE OF born leader. and.
Ia fact. Il wss only his ovsrwesnlnz con-
6dence that ravs the scheme the least
prospect Of success
Just before We ls't the Ship Charles
Joined rs with two spades and So a party
Of four. We stole over the beach and into
the dunes. Duponcean led M 10 the pine.
thence We crawisd Inward. lying silent
after each cracking twiz. strslning our
syes and ears for news When We came
10 the hsmiock we lay four abreast and
70 pared over At the tent that loomei
ragusiy whits ahead The only sound .
vas q loud ard resonant znore. Ia
Dupoucsau crnwlsd forward on one aide +.
4 the tent. and than bsckousd TO me- 10
10 the SANE on the oppoaits side when !.
had wrlxried forward some ten feet J.
ould look In At the tent. the sides Of :
Fhich were oren 70 the summer brsszes.
inc man lay within. sieeplnx. II was Z
lear that the enemy had not expected q
.. "
Duponceau stole to his feet. did like
rise he entsred the tent from one aide. q
nd I from the other With q swift
iovement he was over the sleeping man. q,
nd had pinned him to the bed. while he
irust a handkerchief Into his mouth.
he sleeper started. struggled. moaned.
nd lay still: bad held my revolver IN
Is face. In a twinkling we bad him %
,und and gagged. rolled from his bed Of Al
,ughs. and laid at little distances. ID
lille we did this Islip and Charles cut OF
e guide-ropes. and the house Of our
leruies fell. coIlapsing like a great white m
iIloon when the ras escapes We clear ~
II away. and the place where the chest -
- hidden lay before rs.
Then followed strange scene for those
,historic pines Of Alasfair. With ears sv
en- for the slightest alarm. Duponceau be
d dug. Rodney holding his black lam pli
N so as to aid as. Charles keeping hi
itch A foot down and my spade struck
,od. In Eve minutes the chest visa
covered Carefully we raised II and l.,
iced II on the ground As his hand =.
1ched the unbroken lock I thought that
lDoncesu gave a little sigh OF relief WI
Ito Be- continued yo'