The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1916-02-23
BEDTIMESTORIES
FOR LITTLE
FOLKS
ROY GREGoR'S PIRATES.
PART /.


lands or mountains of his native land
about two hundred years ago. His
father was one the the gamekeepers
on the great estate of the Lord of Ar
gyle.
Now, it happened that the Lord Ar
gyle had an enemy not many miles
away, whose name was the Earl Of
Ramsey. But for many months there
had been no fighting, and the people
thought times could continue to be
peaceful.
One misty night when the moon was
struggling behind bank OF dark
clouds Roy slipped out of the house
which stood just above a wide lake,
and went down among the rocks on
the shore to find hoe he had lost.
Below him was the vast sheet of
water glimmering silvery in the moon
light. The hoe was quickly found.
but when the lad started to return he
thought he heard the sound of oars
and voices coming over the lake. So
he hid behind tall granite rock that
jutted out almost to the edge of the
water. Over the waves came small
boat and presently it grated on the
shore right in front of the stone be-
uybi 10 had la6
himself. Out sprang four men dressed
as laborers.
The men took hold of big box all
bound with brass and began dragging
it upon the beach, 1t seemed very
heavy, for they pulled and grunted till
it was right under the big stone. Then
the leader took a shovel out of the
boat and began to dig.
eve will make the hole here" he
said as he commenced to throw up the
sand. mo one will ever think of
looking under this rock or digging in
this place"
'They are pirates" whispered Roy
to himself, crouching more closely
into the shadow, land have come here
to bury their treasures-I am sure the
box is full of gold and jewels, it is so
heavy"
In half an hour the men had buried
the box in the sand and thrown over
it lot of weeds. The moon came out
brightly and lighted up the shore, so
that the boy could see plainly just
where the party had hidden the chest,
by peeking through a crack in the
stone.
''The plan is this" said the leader
of the men, as they turned to CO.. All
day tomorrow we will work as har-
vesters in the Lord of Argyle's fields,
but sharp at moonrise we anu ten
others meet on this spot to finish the
work. No one will suspect what we
have hidden here, and it is a fine place
from which to begin our work.
Then the men got into the boat and
were soon out of sight in the mists
which hung over mountain and lake.
Roy crept out from behind the rock
and examined the ground and stone
we'll II
Il will scratch this cross on the face
OF the granite he said. $50 when
come tomorrow to dig can easily find !
the spot"
That night he dreamed of pirates, |
of scuttling ships laden with silks |
and gold, of bags of jewels and chests
of rubies. But when he woke it was |
late and his father told him to start |
at once to search for some sheen lost |
u the mountains.
All day long tnls work kent him
wandering over the crags and cliffs of
the mountains, and it was supper time |
when he got home But as soon as
his meal was finished he crept to the
barn, got spade and set out for the
shore.
In the starlight he went to work
digging up the sand Not sound
broke the stiffness of the night except
the wind sweeping around the noun
tain peaks or the rush of the water
among the reeds. So, with pale face
and trembling hands the laddie worked i
feverishly, till at last his spade struck |
the lid of the chest and exposed the
brass bindings to view
hen the boy sank upon his knees.
and with his hands brushed as fast as !
his fingers, would work the dirt and |
sticks from off the entire covering. At |
last it lay in the hole free, the star
light shimmering on the heavy lock !,
and the big nails that held it together.
CONTINUED Tomorrow
-o-