The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-12-11

slip the box behind them. Some time
during the morning the forecastle
would be empty, and then would be
his time.
But he suffered the agonies Of dam
nation during the four hours watch.
Supposing some fool should go rum
maging about his bunk and discover
the box? Suppose -. But he dared
not suppose. There was nothing to do
but wait If he created any curiosity
on the part of his mates he was lost.
He would have to divide with them
all, from the captain down to the cook s
boy. 1t was a heart-rending thought.
From being the most open and frank
man aboard, he became the most cum
ming. From being a man without
enemies, he saw an enemy even in his
shadow.
At four o'clock he turned in and
slept like log.
In the morning he found his oppor-
tunity. For half an hour the forecast1e
was empty of all save himself. Fever
ishly he pried back the boards, found
the brace beam, and gently laid the
box there. 1t was a mighty curious
looking box. Once he had stocked up
the Chinese coast from the Philip
pines, and he judged it to be Chinese
in origin. He tried to pry open the
cover and feast his eyes upon the
treasure; but under the leather and
ivory and mother of pearl was imper-
vious Steel 1t would take an AK or
crowbar to stir that lid He sighed
He replaced the boards, and became
to all appearances his stolid self
again.
But all the way down to the BAHIA
mas he was moody, and when he an
swered any questions it was with
words spoken testify and jerkily.
Il know whut's tn matter" said
Dunkers. Hes in love-"
Shut your mouth!"
Didn't tell yuh?' laughed the tan
taller, dancing toward the compan-
ionway. "Steve's in love, r he didn't
git drunk enough on shore t satisfy
his whales belly!"
A boot thudded spitefully against
the door jamb.
you fellahs let me alone, r I'll bash
in a couple o. heads!"
20, yuh will, will yuh?" cried Dunk
ers from the deck. IF yuh want
little exercise. yuh can begin on me,
yuh moonsick swab! Whut's tn matter
with yuh, anyhow? Where'd yuh git
this crouch? Whut've we done t yuh?
Huh?"
"You keep out O. my way, that's all.
I'm mindin' my watches, an don't ask
no odds of you buffers. What If have
a crouch? Is it any O. your business?
All right. When we step ashore at
tn Bahams, Mister Jim Dunkers,
I'll tear the ropes out O. your pulley
blocks. But till we git there, you t.
tn upper bunk an me t. mine"
Leave tn OF crouch alone, Jim.
TIL mate won't stand for no scrappin'
aboard. Well have tn thing done
right in tn custom sheds. Well have
finish fight, Queensberry rules, an
may tn best man win"
I'm willin'," said Jim.
Som l." agreed Steve. But his in
tentions were not honorable. He pro-
posed to desert before any fight took
place. Not that he was physically
afraid; no; he wanted to dig his
hands deep into those doubloons and
pieces-of-eight.
So the four days down passed other
wise uneventfully, amid paint pots and
iron rust and three meals day of
pork, onion soup, potatoes, and strong,
bitter coffee. The winds became light
and balmy and the sea blue and gen.
tie. The men went about in their
undershirts and dungarees, barefooted.
OF course the coming fight was the
main topic of conversation. It prom
Used to be a rafting good scrap, for
both men were evenly matched, and
both had kick" in either hand. Even
the captain took mild interest in the
affair. He was an old sailor. He knew
that there was no such word as arbi-
tration in a sailors vocabulary; his
disputes could be settled only in one
manner, by his calloused fists.
When the old mudhook (and some
day Steve was going to buy it and
hang it over the entrance of the Gill
son house, slithered down into the
smiling waters of the bay, Steve con-
cluded that discretion was the better
part of valor He would steal ashore
on the quarantine tug which lay along
side. He was willing to fight under
ordinary circumstances, but he must
get his treasure in safety first. They
could call him a welcher If they
wanted to; devil bit did he care. So
he pried back the boards of his bunk
wall, took out the box, eyed it fondly,
and noted for the first time the let
tering on it:
STANLEY HARGREAVE.
He wrinkled his brow in the effort
to recall pirate by this name, but
was unsuccessful. No matter. He
Rugged the box under his coat and