The Red Cloud chief., 1913-05-01

the subject Of the old iron steam frigato Mcgn-a
wrecked on Saint Paul. and after much chin
music had passed on the subject We decided
that while we were In the business We might
Just as well store up again in Mahe and make the
trip as long shot. there being just an outside
chance that we might land something that would
partly smooth over our failure at the Crozcts,
With this new objective we hustled the little
Black Pearl all we knew. carrying whoe.sail In a
two-reef breeze. scooping up most OF the Indian
Ocean over the bows, and living in water day
and night, decks cabin and caboose with devil "a
dry rag or stick fore and aft, until we raised the
land close aboard through the haze. with Mahe
harbor dead to lceward
Every hour spent ashore now was working on
dead horse, so just as soon as the grub was
slowed aboard. toward sundown. sail was piled
on the Black Pearl again and her nose pointed
seaward for one more crack out of the box.
For fourteen days the little hooker snorted
through the seas and our reckoning showed US
to be within hundred miles OF our island, when
down came westerly howler, with torrents OF
rain for good measure and of we scootcd close
reefed, dead before II. and as the night was AZ
black as the back door OF Hades. hoped there
was nothing nearer than Australia.
Our figures must have been out some miles.
for around midnight the schooner fetched up
with jolt like the kick Of a hundrcdton gun.
and then dived over the bar and broke In two,
spillng us out TO nght through swirl of broken
water and spntcred timbcrs to rocky shore.
were in one Saint Paul might be all right to
visit II one were sure OF making II getaway but
for a permanent residence, not by a darncd
sight!
The wreck to find did not show up
for some long time and we began to give up
hope OF finding any trace of her, but. having
nothing else to do we kept up n search when In
the humor. About six weeks after we blew I'm
there. when came down from the signal.stam
we had erected Red came to meet me. looking
as II he had just lost his motherin.law. Asked
II he had sighted sail that had escaped me, he
grunted:
Nothing quite good as that, sonny: but
come along, perhaps you can put a name on It..
tell something about It. 1t looks like the thing
we came for. and we may as well give her
rummage. II we find anything. II won't eat any
thing. and We may make getaway from here
after while"
Following him round the point of rocks on
which we had split up. wedged firmly in crevice
and buried In the sand could be seen the tim.
bers of the stern OF what had been an iron ship
There. laddie. what dye make of that? I've
been scratching sand away for days when you've
been up on the hill, and this morning went in.
side the hull There's whole lot of stuff lying
on her floor, chests. barrels old junk Of sorts.
and maybe some OF 1t will pay us for search "
When my mate came out between the ribs,
Juggling a small, heavy. wooden chest. n brass
plate was still attached to the lid. and the let.
ters, when had polished them up a bit with
goats fat. surely read H. NJ. s. MegRra.
From what remembered reading OF her. all
the valuables had been saved, as she had been
at anchor several weeks of the island before she
went up; but evidence was before us that some
part had been overlooked, and a sharp rock In
Reds powerful fist speedily uncovered the con
tents Of the box.
1t was specie all right. and good gold British
sovereigns at that; two thousand by the actua
count Not fortune by any means. but enough
III uyo nva ont ouyov Nvith IT. pov 0anu horc
for the loss OF his schooner. and give US both
another start.
We did not leave that old iron steam frigate
without ferretng every crook and Granny cap
able Of holding a dollar bill endways. but moi
another yellow boy was uncovered. and we lug
ged our find up to our camp to decide what We
would do with II. We were both Of opinion that
we would have to leave the bulk Of II behind II
we were taken OF, and return and get 1t with
our own vessel we fixed up goat-skin belts
for each to carry one hundred Of the little fei
lows. and sewed the rest up in skins and cached
the lot we'll above highwater mark.
Our reasons for leaving the stun were good
for us, as II we were picked up and taken into
port with a bunch Of gold coin in sacks. all the
persuasion In the world would not prevent some
Of the Of whatever picked us up babbline
out the truth, and then we would have to ante
up to the authorities
So our minds were made up and we were ready
to leave when on the SEVENTEEN day OF oul
Crusoihs' Dark move 10 OH the isIano anC
sent a boat ashore to investigate our signal. The
transfer Of our kit did not take long. you may
bet; and that evening we were aboard the
French bark Vendome, bound for the Mauritius
and being feted and paavered over as II we were
the original prodigal sons come home to Poppa.
The Vendome made a good passage north, We
were soon counting the days now to elapse be
fore we could make fresh start for Saint Paul
and when she dropped her mud.hook in Port
Louis we bundled oversize into the first shore
boat alongside after the port doctor and harboI
master had left. shouting au revoir to our erst
while shipmates and inviting them all to meet
us in the town later
The pleasure OF returning their hospitality
however, could not be allowed to stop the bust
ness on hand. Quickly casting about for craft
to carry us back to Saint Paul. luck favored us
In the shape Of a Mozambique dhow which wa.
held for debt and could be bought outright fol
eighty pounds