Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-12-30

Captain Sampson, there Is q long ga
In his history, hazily filed by tn
story OF his having been lieutenant {,
Benito Bonito. and one Of the tw'
survivors when Bonitos black fa,
was brought down by the British frig
ate Espiegle. But sober history
knows nothing OF him until he reap
pears years later, an aged and broken
man. In back street of Bristol
Here was living a certain Hopper
down. Who had been boatswain on the
Benny Lass at the time that she SO
regrettably lost her passengers over
board. He saw and recognized his old
skipper hobbling along the Bristol
quays, and perhaps from pity took the
shabby creature home with him.
| Hopperdown dealt In sailors Stops
and had a snug room or two behind
the shop. Here for while the for
mer Captain Sampson dwelt, and af-
ter swift Illness here he died. With
the hand Of death upon him, his grim
lips at last gave up their secret. With
stiffenlng fingers he traced rough
map, to refresh Hopperdown's men,
DRY after the lapse Of time since
either had seen the wave-beaten cliffs
OF Leeward island. For Captain
Sampson had never been able to re-
turn to claim the treasure which he
had left to BIZ Halllwell's silent
guardianship. If he had, indeed,
sailed with Bonito he had kept his
secret from his formidable command
er. Even as he had dealt with Bill
Halllwell, so might Bonlto deal by him
or at least the lions share must be
yielded TO the pirate captain. And
the passion of Captain SIMPSONS life
had come to be his gold-his hidden
hoard on far-ofr Leeward Island. 1t |
was his, now, all his. The only other |
who knew Its hiding place, his for
mer mate, had been killed In Havana |
In tavern brawl. The secret of the
bright unattainable treasure was all
the captains own. He dreamed of
the doubloons. goated over them,
longed for them with ceaseless
gnawing passion of desire. And In
the end he died, In Hopperdown's lit
tie shop In the narrow Bristol by
street.
Hopperdown, an aging man himself,
and In his humble way contented, fell
victim to the gold-virus.
lie sold all he had, and bought pas
sage In sailing ship for Valparaiso,
trusting that once so far on the way
he would find rnaonc IN occoD,nIiob tbo |
rest. But the raging of the fever In
his thin old blood brought him to his
bed, and the ship sailed without him.
Before she was midway in the Allan
fc Hopperdown was dead.
The old man died I'm the house of a
liece, to whom by way of legacy he
eft his map For years the map lay
Imong other papers In a drawer, and
lere II was at length discovered by
Ter son, himself sailor He learned
rom her its history, and having been
n the Pacific, and heard the tales and
umors that cling about Leeward Y
sland like the everlasting surf of its
ncompassing seas. this granddaughter
T old Hopperdown's, by name David
enkins, became for the rest of his Y
avs a follower of the ignis fatuus. q
IL his restless, hungry life he spent
/ wandering up and down the seas. r.
YER on the watch for some dlmly i'm 81
gined chance by which he might come n
the treasure. And so at last he
into the London hospital a
here he died. .,
And TO me the widest feature OF the NJ
hole wild tale was that at the last q,
: should have parted with the cher n
he'd secret OF lifetime to Miss
lgglesby Browne. .,
In general way, every one of us
lew his history. Even | had had an A,
itline OF II from Cuthbert yane. :,
Ut so far nobody had seen the map. a,
nd now we were TO see IL: the time u
AT interviewed before that great ..
ent had already dwindled 10 min
rs. 10 seconds g,
But no; for Miss Browne arose and kr
gan 10 make a speech The begin
* OF IL dealt IN large and gener- so
ziDg manner with comradeshlp and m,
MY hih TIC nt'fNrll4 ti the prop IN
mental attitude in approaching the
slness We had 40 hand. / did not NJ,
ZEN closely. The truth Is. wanted a.
see fbaf map. Under the spell OF Is
Island, J had almost begun 10 up
leye Ia the chest 81 doubloons. pa
'uddeniy } awoke with start 10
faci fhai Miss brown Vas fating ~
ui me. Yes 4 iadubliobly, was VII
Young Person whose motives ID anl
lohipg herself a. the parry Bepe W.
ni yaglapee Win fAe anliy snd
nal confidence Which nlled aU ON pul
4epsls u Wa : sbo bad attend .
da ihai Nflr palpful nnl Qsl0uud ~
Az DNr e4Asnpnf M snluipusuahlf
lYfH Az tip ae}s ~ ipil ~ conn f.
aff uWlnafa ille l0Ws Person
'u m}tef fn1ld hhlp Nv sbsfr
NQ4ld pa hQl HANnllp pN|llf ll0Nf
M ilsf Nlff 1lN b Nnf eNil
liH NY feVNf lHe0p fp4la ~