The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-08-20
CHAPTER v.


Charlie Webster's discovery-if dis
covery 1t was-of "Jack Harkaway's"
true sex seemed so far plausible In
that 1t accounted not only for much
that had seemed mysterious about him
and his manner, but also (though this
/ did not mention to Charley 1t ac-
counted for certain dim feelings Of my
own. Of which, before, / had been
scarcely conscious.
But we were not long left to con-
tinue our speculations. being presently
interrupted by the arrival Of exciting
news in the form Of note from Fa-
Their Serapion.
Father Serapion's note simply con-
firmed his conjecture that 1t was To
bias who had bought rum at Behring's
Point and that he was probably some
where in the network Of creeks and
mari lagoons In our neighborhood.
Charlie thought the news over.
I'm tell you what Wen do" he said
presently. 'I'm going to leave you
here-and I'm going to charter the
sponger out there. Turner's sound
has two outlets; this and Goose river,
ten miles down the shore. Now, II
Tobias is inside here he can only get
out either down here or down Goose
river. i am going down In the sponger
to the mouth of Goose river, to keep
watch fhere. and you must stay where
you are and keep watch here. Be
tween the two of us week will starve
him OUT
So 1t was settled. and presently
Charlie went along with two Of his
best guns and Sailor In the rowboat,
and / saw him no more for week.
At the end of the week the wind
was blowing strong from the west and
the tides ran high. About noon we
caught sight of triumphant sails max
ing up the river. 1t was Charlie back
again.
"Got him." was all he said, as he
rowed ashore.
Sailor was with him In the rowboat,
but noticed that he was limpIng.
going on three legs.
Eyes" said Charlie. "It's lucky for
Tobias he. only got Sailors foot, or,
by the living God I'd have stood my
trial for manslaughter. or whatever
they cali 1t. It'll soon be all right, old
man." he said, taking Sailors wound
ed paw in his hand, "soon be all
right" Sailor wagged his tail vigor-
ously, to show that gunshot
through one of his legs was a mere
nothing.
"Yesw said Charlie, as we sat at
lunch in the snack. under the tama-
rid tree; "we've got him safe there
under decks all right; chained up like
buoy. II he can get away. I'll be-
lieve in the devil"
won't you tell me about itT /
asked.
mot much to tell; too easy alto
gether. I waited couple Of days at
the mouth of Goose river. Then / got
tired and left the sponger with the
captain and two or three men, while
went up the river with a couple OF
guns and Sailor, and a man to pole
the skiff-just for some duck-shooting,
you know. We lay low for two days
on the marshes and then Sailor got
shifting the wind one morning, as If
there was something around he didn't
care much for. He grew more and
more excited and, at last, as we neared
a certain mangrove copse to which all
the time he had been pointing, he
barked two or three times and let
him go. Poor old fellow"
As he told the story. Sailor, who
seemed to understand every word, rub
bed his head against his masters
hand.
HE went into the mangroves, just
as he'd go after duck, but he'd hardly
gone In when there were two shots
and he came out limping, making for
me. But by this / was close up to the
mangr0ves myself, and In another
minute l was inside; and there was
Tobias-hls gun Mt his shoulder. He
had pot at me. but before he could
try another knocked him down with
my fire and Well. we've got him all
right. And now you can go after your
treasure as soon as you like. I'll take
him over to Nassau and you can fool
around for the next month or so. OF
course wei need you at the trial. but
that won't come of for couple Of
months. Meanwhile. you can let me
know where you are. in case I should
need to get hold Of you"
"All right. old man." said, but I
wish you were coming along with me-"
I've got all the treasure want"
laughed Charlie. "Send me word
where you are, a. soon a. you get
chance; and good luck TO you, old
chap. and your doubloons and pieces
Of eight !"
Then he walked down to Ne row
boat and aoon M waH aboard tho
oDopger. Her sails ran 10 and thov