The Columbus journal., 1910-02-23

he true: too impossible: too Wild,
romantic. 1t must have been 4 hallu
cinaiion, ar optical illusion born from
4 mirage Of fog and sun in those
frozen seas. Over 100000 pesos
locked within the eternal ice for 12t
years. Over 10000 pesos. guarded
! by the dead for a century amid tina,
grim desolation of crested sea! God!
It Was simply unthinkable. and I even
Ventured to smile at the credulity OF
the men about me; yet I did it with
set jaws and lips parched and dry
What if it was all true? l felt the
blood boiling up through my veins,
every extremity tingling with the
fever of it. Over 100000 pesos!
Merciful mother! it was the ransom of
king: it was the temptation of hell!
l know not how I controlled my voice
SO as to question calmly, for. even
| as l first spoke. I noticed how my
hands trembled where they rested on
! the outspread map.
rs that all?"
futile nodded his head. uplifting
his eyes questioningly to mine.
That's the whole of 1t, sir. What
do you Think"
That's more than I know, Mr. Tut
tie. Perhaps you dreamed. perhaps
Francisco lied. 1 should have liked to
see that book"
bent lower over the chart. staring
! at the red cross.
What was it you men wanted me
for"
TO operate the steamer, sir; the
rest of us aboard only understand
sailin' vessels"
Yes. OF course; but why did you
happen to choose a steamer for the
Job? There were plenty of sailing
craft lying in the harbor easier to
steal than this yacht"
Very true. but it happened to be
steam power we wanted. Here is
about how We figured it, sir. First
place. We had to get away quickly
out of those portions of the sea where
they'd be most likely to hunt for us.
We're outlaws, an every ship sailin'
under flag is an enemy. Well. sir.
what chance would a sailin' vesse,
have in such chase? We needed
somethin' that would show 'em a
clean pair o heels-somethin' that
would give EN- run for their money.
That's what this yacht can do; she's
pollin' it now at sixteen"
Yes; you've got the advantage"
confessed, so long as your coal lasts
But you can't put in anywhere for a
new supply-what them"
He turned partially about. and
winked at De Nova: the fellow
srinned back at him, but burst in
eagerly:
oh. we're not quite so green as all
Eat. Mons. Stephens. an I t'ink W. got
zis ting plan out JUS bout right. We
steam SO till We get maybe far 'nough
south Were zey quit look for us. How
1t be 100 degrees west an 40 degrees
south? Nobody t'ink We go zsre-
non. non. We got coal plenty for
Eat, an zen have bunch left / know:
try it. No more need push her eizer
after We leave re Ferdandez-we be
well ahead zen. Zen We rig up re
schooner sails, an make re next
tousan' mile wizout burn a poun'.
You see how it do? Re danjaire was
not. for in Eat ocean We meet Messing
but maybe re whale ship"
You understand what he means.
ssr?' went on futile. as the creole
paused for breath. Once we'll ahead
We can fall back on canvas, and save
the coal. But we'll need the steam
power down there to hold her off an
on by the island while We do the jcD
1t mighty nasty bit o water. an q
sailin' vessel is apt to get pinched in
the ice. But with a steamer We can
hold her TO it. however the wind ,,
blows"