Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-11-17
CHAPTER v-contlnued.,

TN this nrSt DAY we gathereO IN the
cool of the afternoon about our table
of packlng-b boxes for an event which
even l, whose role was that Of skep-
tic, found exciting. Miss Browne was
at last to produce her map and re-
veal the secret Of the island. So far,
except In general terms, she had i'm
parted 1t to no one. Everybody, in
coming along. had been buying pig
In a poke-though to be sure Aunt
Jane had paid for 1t. The Scotman.
Cuthbert Vane had told me incidental
~, had insured himself against loss
by demanding a retaining fee before
hand. Somehow my opinion, both Of
his honesty and of his intelligence,
had risen since knew this. As to
Cuthbert yane, he had come purely
in a spirit of adventure, and had paid
his own expenses from the start.
However. now the great moment
was at hand. But before 1t comes,
l will here set down the treasure
story of Leeward island, as gathered
1t later, little here and there, and
pieced 1t together into coherent
whole through many dreaming hours
In 1890, the city Of Lima, in Peru,
being threatened by the revo'u on
aries under Bolivar and San Martin.
cautious folk began to take thought
for their possessions. To send them
out upon the high seas under for
eign flag seemed to offer the best hope
OF safety, and soon there was more
gold aflOat on the Pacific than at any
time since the sailing of the great
plate -gaIleons Of the Seventeenth cen
fury. Captain Sampson, of the brig
BOnny Lass, found himself with a
passenger for nowhere in particular
IN the shape of certain Spanish mer-
chant Of great wealth, reputed Gus
todlan Of the private funds of the
bishop Of Lima. This gentleman
brought with him, besides some scanty
personal baggage-fOr he took ship
in haste-a great lron-bound chest.
Your stout sailors Of the Benny Lass
staggered under the weight Of It.
The Bonny Lass cruised north along
the coast, the passenger desiring to
put in at Panama in the hope that
word might reach him there Of quiet
er times at home. But somewhere or
Ecuador on dark and starless night.
the merchant Of Lima vanished over
board--and what could you expect
asked Captain Sampson In effect.
~when a iubber like him would stay
on deck in q galeT' Strange to say.
the merchants body-Servant met the
fate Of the needless also.
Struggling his shoulders at the care
lessness Of passengers. Captain Samp
son bore away to Leeward island, per
haps from curiosity to see this Old
Fefuge Of the buccaneers, where the
spells OF the sack Of GuayaQuII were
said 70 have been buried. Who knows
hut that he, too, was bent on treasure
seeklngP Be that as It may, the little
brig found her way into the bay on the
northeast side Of the island, where
she anchored. Water was needed. and
there IL refreshment in tropie fruits
after q diet Of salt horse and hard
tack. So all hands had a holiday
ashore, where the captain did not dis.
dain to join them. Only he went
apart. and had other occupation than
warmlng up the palms for coco
nuts.
One fancies, then, a mOonless night.
q crew sleeping or double grog, gen
erously allowed them by the captain;
1 boat putting OF from the Bonny
Lass. n which were captain, mate,
md one BIN Elalliwell. able seaman.
man or mighty muscle: and as FIRE. ght
nn object large, angular and ponder
pus ~ that the boat Jagged heavily
|sncaih the r0wers strokes.
Later Bin the able seaman. grows
on the strength Of
hle sxcursoh with his betiers. Il
word and blow With the cap
aln 81 tie h0ny Lass aud BIN l.
'inrfuiFnlir niFp'7'1d ''l. ~
81 ~ living le serves DE rnFpoae
4 ~ -rntan. 81 ~ lh1l tIer