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


regular breathing Of sleeping man. the
distir guished that OF another. and inall
nesr4 some one turn and grunt. In som
fnsaplicable way. these men had happene
70 camp just above the spot chosen B
Duponeeau to hide his chest
1 scarce dared turn and crawl ava
from fear OF waking the sleepers, and .
lay still, wondering II by any chance the
could have already found the treasure. o
u there might YET be an opportunity 20
us to remove it Suddenly felt Rodne.
grip my arm Listen he hreathed.
on In the distance. clear and long. ros.
the osprey call. Duponeeau was IN some
danger.
We wriggled away from tie hemlock
crswled back through the woods. and
stood erect only when we reached The
edge There we swept the beach and
what we could see Of the Ship for signs
OF mep. but the shore was still empty
as the desert.
"shall we run for itT' asked.
NO said Rodney IF there are any
men there. they'rs between Us and the
boat, or on the boat: we'd best keep close
TO the Cliff until we get our bearings"
The advice was good like Indians we
made the fringe OF the woods. keeping Ia
shadow When we were forced to leave
this shelter we skirted the cliff. ready to
crouch back at call or to rush forward.
As we neared the shadow OF the head
land we saw figures climb over the rocks
OF the little inland sea and head up the
beach-four men. silhoutted black against
the white sand. and not one Of them as
tail as Duponceau-
They haven't got him. l whispered
''at least. he Is not with them
That's queer" said Rodney. Il haven't
heard shot fred They must have
boarded the Ship
We crossed the causeway. running light |
~. and climbed on board The deck was
as empty as the beach had been when /
We first crossed It. / rushed below and /
posed In all the hunks. bat not trace Of |
Duponcesu was TO be found Rodney and 4
! stood IN the bow and peered across the
rocks We could see nothing save the 4
woods and the sky.
We'll" said IsIip at last, that takes
the cake Hes vamosed, vanished. cleared
out, and I dare say we'll never see hide
or hair Of him again. This things get
ting positively spooky. ssldeu. Are you
'ure that the man was flesh and bloodY'
i certainly thought so" ! answered.
But be came IN the middle Of the night.
md he's gone at the same time. Strange
Where ou earth could be goi'
Search me- said Rodney. 7 thought
be adventure was almost too real to be
rue Such things don't happen. ron
nor-thaf L.. not onsecutively-wfthin T,
days ride Of New York" he consider ,
the matter sravely- But what win
srbara say II she finds We haven't kept
' himy I.
J was thinking Of that myself an
<ered. looking blankly at him II
lslip broke into a laugh-such an In
ecsious laugh that couldn't help joining
I'm. Il dare say we're different In most
rays. Selden." he said. but were alike
! one Well, here's how :" and he held
at bis hand to me-
We shook hands. bali seriously, half In
st. and ! took back all the unkind
lings I had ever thought about him.
We turned and went down the deck on :
be outer side Of the mast I heard Rod
ey exclaim and saw him stop and look
the rail- where bis hand rested. A
nall gold chain was fastened to the edge.
|e pesred over the side, and then, to my G.
tier amusement, began 10 throw OF his ?
othes.
What on EARTH I began, bur Rod =
y only chuckled. and finished undress-
g. Then from somewhere out 10 the sea
me the ospreys cry. clear, quavering to o
minor cadence. Islip slipped over the o
de, crossed the rocks. and Owed into
e waves Il
pulled on the chain and up came a b.
indie Of clothes wrapped In Duponceau's
oak. Then / understood and followed a.
odney's example. h
Never have I known such a swim as
at. In the mystery Of starlight. through ii
sea that seemed made Of silver We "
and Duponceau By bis cry and followed
n, resting now and then to float on the en-
yer surface. and again racing hand over N
I'd out through the mystery. We were A,
longer men. but free sea creatures. in Ar
own element. undismayed- 10
We swan In a great circle, and at last
Iponceau led US back to the Ship. Day ~
- breaking far out. beyond the Shifting
oal. Il saw them coming" he said.
nd 30 hung my clothes from the side m
= 49," ~ Nnr U8fN0- AAANJ ASttA1A utlAl-
3; perchance now they think me a ar
ost"
We told him our experience In search ~,
3 for the chest. and be showed a great -, -
al Of perturbation. bur finally came to ''A
e wise conclusion that we could do moth 20
3 in regard to II then sn'
1t was my turn below. and fell asleep. .n'
glorious glow from the swim. Just as no
{ sky was shading pink. on
CHAPTER Kill an
When I awoke ! found Rodney seated lsh
the cabin table. III
. Morning, Selden r. he exclaimed by iaf
way, who Is Monsieur Duponceaurv .
shook my head. Il gave that Ques- snt
q US sons time ago. How about break {
tY' III.
I was thinking Of that myself said 4
dney. Il don't mind being a hero, but pat
refer to play the part on full stom- mi
dec
I'll signal Charles" i went Up on wa,
(. and found that the sun was high how
and shining on glorious summer No
ID fastened a napkin to the broken lows
np Of the mast .
ff<~ao yn{nuf,n LATER vve "a - mr. "a No. =.