Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-01-15
CHAPTER XIV.

puponceau had bean nroodIng all ray
over the possibility Of losing the contents
OF his precious chest, and ~, after soIne
argument, Rodney and he hal decided 70
make the effort to move II to tho 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, neishbor-
hood Of that particular hemlock: but Du-
ponceau's fears were aroused, and II wa
evident that he would be satisfied with
nothing short of having tho strong-box
under his yves.
What the deuce do you suppose those
papers are, that he should bo SO fearful
about them2" l asked Rodney when we
we're 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 real,
live mystery somewhere, and our friend
Pierre Ia a somebody, though whether the
Wandering Jew or the lost Napoleon
can't say. Suffice II. he's got treasure
chest, and It's UP TO us TO sit on II 30
tight that none Of it's pleces-of-eight can
filter through"
Fortunately the night was cloudy, and
about eleven we were ready to start.
had never felt 10 completely tho despera-
do before. We were all three armed with
revolvers. carried coll of rope wound
about my waist and Rodney a dark Ian
tern which Charles had found In the
cottage. Duponconu was tho lcast excit-
ed. He took command of our expedition
with the assurance OF a born leader, and.
In fact. II wns only his overweenng con
1dence that gave the scheme the lenst
prospect Of SUCCESS.
Just before we loft the Ship Charles
Joined us with two spades, and So a party
of four. we stole over the beach end into
the dunes. Duponcsau led us to the pine,
thence we crawlsd Inward. lying silent
after each cracking twig. straining our
eyes and cars for news. When We came
to the hemlock we lay four abreast and
SO peered over at the tent that loomei
vaguely white ahead. The only sound
was a loud and resonant snore.
Duponceau crawled forward on one side
of tho tont. and then beckoned to me to
do the same on the opposite aide. When
l bad wrlgrled forward some ten feet I
could look In at the tent, the sides OF
which were open 70 tho summer breezes
One man lay within. sleeping 1t 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 | from the other. With wifi
movement he was over the sleepirSi man.
and had pinned him to the bed, vs(ie he
thrust handkerchief into his mouth
The sleeper started. struggled. .moaned.
and lay still: 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 little distance.
While we did this Isiip 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
cd 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 I dug, Rodney holding his black Ian
tern SO as to aid us, Charles keeping
watch. A foot down and my spade struck
wood, In Ave minutes the chest was
uncovered. Carefully we raised It and
placed II on the ground. AS his hand
touched the unbroken lock I thought that
Duponceau gave little sigh OF relief
Ito be continued