The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-10-23
Copyright. 1912. BY Cyrus townsend Brad,
There" said coolly. you have it


said, and | doubted If he could read.
You can at least see the latitude
and longitude on it in the upper cor
ners. can't you?'' asked. hardly sup
pressing my contempt for the man.
AYE. that's plain enough" he an
swered obviously.
And you see that little wavy line
that runs up from the lagoon over the
top of what looks like wall to an
opening In the side? | continued, de-
termining suddenly to infame their
minds with the treasure so that they
would give less heed to other things
more important to me.
Yes. | can make that out too"
You see that little cross there?"
Pimball turned around and faced the
others crowding about him in great
and growing excitement
"Here-lights herer' he growled.
The men nearest him showed for
ward with their lanterns Illuminating
the torn sheepskin.
Aye. | can make that out too.
What does it mean?" he asked, after
long stare.
'It means, if there is any truth about
it, that the treasure is thereabouts "
What treasure is it?''
''The plunder of a Spanish galleon by
a pirate ship"
And how came it to be there on
that island?"
"it was buried in that cave there a
hundred and fifty years ago by one
Philip Wilberforce, an English bucca-
neer"
And how came this girl by news
of it?"
stood | could not tell Probably but
little. yet the idea of the treasure was
real enough undoubtedly.
And you think there is treasure
there?" asked Pimball
Now. of late had changed my mind.
why. | know not, but | had. yet it
would not do to tell them that
81 am sure of it." | cried. gold. sill
yer. Jewels. God knows what. Every
thing to make us rich forever
And what do you reckon the value
of it all to be?''
"Oh, several millions of pounds"
answered lightly AS if the treasure was
-~as of no moment.
"Hurrah" cried out one old seaman.
snd the cabin on the instant was filled
with wild cries, bestial. brutal shouts.
AS the sound partially died away
heard the door back Of me open Now.
! had purpOsely so placed myself as
TO be between the crowd and the door
The door was opened but a little way
| was conscious that she was awake
and at least was listening
"You are the only navigator among
us. Mister Hampton" began Pimball
after the men got measurably quiet
again. land If you are with us. you
will take the ship there to that island
Wen git the treasure aboard. sail
away and sink her on the South Amer
lea coast and then every man for him
Delf with all he can carry"
Am | to be captain?" | asked.
"There'll be no captain. Every man
for himself, | say, but me and the
bos'n's mate. Glibby. will take the
watches in turn. You'll navigate the
safety We'll do at your order. Is it
understood?"
Yes" said |. under one condition" "
I'VE make no conditions" said PIN
ball darkly. we are masters of the
ship, remember, and this is our last
word"
1t is not mine." said composedly.
for / had yet the hardest part Of the
bargain to drive.
We'll, it's got to be-" said PimbalI
menacingly. starting toward me with
the marlinspike he carried.
Now. my friend" said |. I'VE might
just as well understand each other
You can kill me If you want to. 1t
would be easy enough, but when you
have killed me you have killed your
last chance at the treasure. You don't
know what latitude or longitude we
are in now. There is not one of you
that knows enough to take a sight OF
to sail the ship to the island. You are
completely helpless. Ny life means
the difference between treasure and nc
treasure to you. You are smart enough
TO see that"
He speaks right" said an old sea
man at the back Of the crowd.
"Thefe speaks man of sense" saiC
l. Therefore you will hear my condi
tions and accede to them"
''Heave ahead" said Pimball rough
ly enough. evidently not liking the sit
uation. but failing utterly to see how
it could be amended since ! complete
ly held the whip hand of them all.
What ] stipulate is very simple