Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1921-09-08

Away smiled the Bonny Lass, sailing
once for all out Of the story. AS for
Captain Sampson, there is long gap
In his history, hazily filled by the
story of his having been lieutenant to
BenttO ROnitO, and one Of the two
survivors when Bonito's black flag
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 a back street Of Bristol.
Here was living certain Hopper
down, who had been boatswuin on the
BOnny Lass ut the time that she so
resrettably 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 slOlEs.
and had 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 ut last gave up their secret. With
stiffening fingers he traced rough
map, to refresh Hopperdown's men,
DRY after the lapse of time since
either had seen the wave-bcaten cliffs
Of Leeward island. For Captain
Sampson had never been able to re-
turn to claim the treasure which he
had left to Bill Halliwells silent
guardianship. If he had. indeed,
sailed with Bonito. he had kept his
secret from his formidable command
err. Even as he had dealt with Bill
Halltwell, so might Bonito deal by him
or at least the lions share must he
yielded to the pirate captain. And
the passion Of Captain SIMPSONS life
had come to lie his gold-his hidden
hoard Oh far-or I.eeward island. It
was his, now, all his. The only other
who knew its hiding place. his for
lner mate, had been killed in Havana
in tavern brawl. The secret OF the
bright unattainable treasure was all
the. .artaisss~- own. -. He.'Areml.set Of
the dOublOons. glOated over them,
lOnged for them with "a ceaseless
gnawing passion Of desire. And in
the end he died, In Hopperdown's lit
tie shop in the narrow Bristol by
street.
H0pperdOwn, an aging man himself.
aud in his humble way contented, fell
straightway victim to the gold-virus.
iIe sold all he had. and bought pms
sage in. a suiling ship for Valparaiso.
trusting that once so far on the way
he would find means to accomplish the
rest. But tile 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 tile Atlan-
tic Hopperdown was dead.
The old man died In the house of q
niece. to. whom by way of legacy he
left his map. For years the map lay
among other papers in drawer. and
her son. himself sailor. He learned
from her Its history, and having been
in the Pacific. and heard the tales and
runOrs that cling about Ieeward
island like the everlasting surf of it's
encOmpassing seas, this granddaughter
of old Hoppertlown's. by name David
jenkins. became for the rest of his
days follower Of the ignis fatuns.
All his restless, hungry life he spent
in wandering up and down the seas.
ever on the watch for some dimly i'm
agined chance by which he might come
ut the treasure. And so ut last he
wandered into the London hospital
where he died.
And to me the widest feature Of the
whole wild tale was that ut the last
he should have parted with the cher
ished secret Of lifetime to Miss
Higglesby- Browne.
In general way. every one Of US
knew his history. Even had had an
outline Of 1t from Cuthbert vane.
But SO fur nobody had seen tile map.
And now we we're to see 1t; the time
that INTERVIEWED before that great
event had already dwindletl to min
utes. to seconds
But no; for Miss Browne arose and
hogan to make a speech. The begin
ming Of 1t dealt in large and gener-
alizing manner with comradeslllp and
loyalty. and the necessity of the prop
er mental attitude in approaching the
business we had In hand. did not
listen closely. The truth is. wanted
to see that map. Under the spell of
the island. had almost begun to
believe in the chest Of tioubloons.
| Suddenly I awoke with a start to
the fact that Miss Brown was talking
about me. Yes. l, Individually. was
the Young Person whose motives In
attaching herself to tile party were
81 DIT variance with the amlty and
mutual confidence which filled all 9th.
er brensts. II was I who had uttered
words that were painful and astound.
iEg to one conscious Of unilnpugnable
motives. In the days of toll to come
| we we're rernin(1ad the YOnnp Poranr