Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-02-15
Continued from Last Issue.)

He drew forth = brace Of pistols and
examined them carefully in the moon
light. Satisfied that they were in work.
ing order, he rose and skirted the edge
of the crater, creeping stealthily around
behind the furnace Then, with remark
able agility. he hurled himself as from
the skies into a circle OF bright light,
lifted up his voice and called aloud:
In an instant he was surrounded by
motley crew of men-men strange,
weird--mel whose faces were over
grown with a rank untrinmed crop OF
hair and beard. srhey hailed his ad-
vent with delight They jabbered eX-
citedly, but their jabber was not jabber
to Hernandez.
II, too. am Spanish" he exclaimed
triumphantly. II am of your blood
speak your tongue. l am Hernandez.
Who are you?
For answer there were more cries OF
wonder and delight. In the distance
yells and shrieks and catcalls rever-
berated among the cinnabar pits. The
air was alive with the Fastening foot
steps of many men.
out of this multitude a huge individ-
ual pushed his way through to Herman
DEE and placed grimy hand upon the
1atters shoulder.
whence come you?" he queried in
Spanish.
Hernandez answered him. "I was
set adrift in a small boat" he returned.
land I came ashore here not knowing
where 1 was. Who, sir, are you, my
countryman?'
There is a comradeship among viii
lains. There are counterslgns--un
spoken, that identify. AS in a flash
Hernandez knew that he confronted
a desperate and the desperate knew
that Hernandez was of his own kind.
"Senor," he said TO Hernandez, I'VE
are adventurers-we made our living
OF the high seas"
Hernandez smiled. AR honorable
profession, senor." he returned. y,
too, ann OF that illl, hence my present
plight. But you--there are many or
you
twelve years ago" said the pirare
chief I'VE were wrecked-Ground to
pieces on this shore. And We found
what? Enough to eat? es. place
to sleep-a place to live. But this is
God forsaken island senor-Hernan-
DEE. did you say
Hernandez" returned the Portu-
guese.
a God forsaken island" went on the
pirate chief Daily and hour after
hour from the top of Yonder fort, our
..ys. s.nor; and not a shred OF smoke.
For twelve years we have sutteren
''These mines" said Hernandez, that
fortr
I'VE found them here said the chief
"Our ancestors must have mined here
centuries ago But what are they to US?
And vet he went on, bit philosopni-
csIly. elf II had not been for, these
mines of cinnabar we would have de-
Stroyed each other. For the first year
we were like wild men. senior"
He clutched Hernandez by the wrist
"How far have you Conner he demand
ed. And In what craftT
Days, possibly weeks" lied Herman
dez. land from which direction 1 cam
not tell. Ny boat-a rowboat-without
a sail. Had a storm arisen, ] had not
. been here But" he added, Here are a,
multitude of you. Could you not geI
| away-yould none take a chance?
The chief stretched his arm. There Is
NO wood here, senior" he returned, mo
forests to yield timber for the light
est boats. For twelve years we have
been stranded. Only the mines nave
kent us from going mad. We nave
worked for wealth madly-hoping
What do you mean" asked Her
nsndez.
Z Hernandez raised his eyebrows.
/ Quicksilver" he said. 1T should
( make you rich"
The chief held UP his arms. rich"
he cried "Senor, follow me"
He called for a torch and nodding
TO Hernandez led the way to the edge
of a nearby pit and down ladder.
At the foot of the ladder he crawled
into an opening and babe Hernandez
fellow. The opening was cave
cave whose floor was covered with
/ huge earthen jars.
"ouicksiIver. senior" Kissed the pi-
rate chtef-"millions of pesetas worth
. possibly a billion-who knows?
/ Behind them clustered about the
caves mouth were grouped dozen pi-
rates. each holding a torch above his
I head. The chief drew Hernandez TAR
/ Their into the shadows.
"aere Is our latest output, senior"
he exclaimed in ordinary tones. We
have worked these mines, 80 I have
tod you, with vain hopes of succor-
With dreams of wealth. 1t has kept
as from going mad-from tearing out
each others hearts. Senor,' he went
on suddenly, gripping Hernandez
wrists and lowering his voice, have
you come aloneT
6ernanueh, wary dS USUAL POhuOA CO
for a moment He did not understand.
Was his life worth anything at all to
these desperadoes? He felt sure 1t was
not The chief frightened his grip on
Hernandez wrist.
Did you come alone, senor," he re-
peated. us there any woman with
| you?"
Hernandez shook his head, but a ter
rife fear cIutched his souC
NO woman" he returned. II am
alone"
| The chief fell back, disappointed;
/ then he raised his voice to its normal
/ tones again. "An this, senor," he ex-
/ claimed, appealing to his companions,
/ "a kings treasure. We have carted il
/ for twelve long years. We would give
I L.