The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-01-05

passed him In the street. but he soon
and Captain Ivy, who told him all my
story since was freed from jail. Then
he said | should be confined In a mar
row space near to Kingston. and
should have no freedom but the adj
miral had his way. and was given
freedom Of the whole island till word
should come from the admiralty what
should be done with me.
"Well, we had--Michael and but
twenty pounds between us; and IL
there was not plenty Of free food in
the island, God knows what. would
have become of usl But there 1t was.
fresh In every field. by every vayside.
ut every doorway. And one day at
Kingston ! met man, one Cassandro
Biatt, who had an obsession for ad-
venture, and he came and spoke to me
privately. He said he knew me from
peoples talk. and would | listen to
him? What was there to do? He was
clean-cut rogue, If ever there was
one, but rogue of parts, as he
proved; and lent an ear.
NOW, what think yon was his
story? Well, but thls-that of the
coast of Haiti. there was a ship which
had been sunk with every man on
board, and with the ship was treasure
without contingencies belonging to
Spaniard of high place, who was TAX
ing them to Paris. There had been
searching for the ship, but none had
found 1t; but he, Cassandro Biatt had
su.e knowledge, got from an obi-man.
Ut the place where II lay. 1t would
not be an expensive business but,
cheap as II was, he had no means Of
raising cash for the purpose; while |
could. no doubt, raise the needed
money II set about il. That was how
lie put Il to me. Would do It?
why should I tell Biait the truth
about myself? He knew it. Cassan-
dro was an accomplished liar. and a
man Of merit of his kind. This obi
mans stnry have never believed yet
how 'tkt1e Bldtt TO know where thu
ireasnre.shlp was ! do not know now,
While I am very fitch Uecuusr of IL all.
Yes. out we went through the har.
hor OF Kingston, beyond the splendid
defenses. OF Port Royal and the men.
nfwar there, pnst the Palisades and
Rock fort, ana away to the place OF
trcaslire.trove. We found lt--that lost
sallcon; mud we found the treasure
box of the captains cabin. We found
gold, TOO but the treasure-box was
The chief thing; and we made 1t ours
after many a lard day.
How INDUCED one of the big men
of Jumaicn to be banker and skipper
for US need not be told; but he Is one
of whom inen have dark sayings
chiefly, take II, because he does bold.
Inconlprehenslble things. That bust
ness paid him well, for when the rent
VI the ship was met, and the few men
on II pald--slaves they were chiefly
he p0cketed ten thousand pounds.
while Dlatt and 1 each pouclIed forty
thousand, and Michuei two thousand.
Aye, TO be sure, Michael was In 1t He
is In ALI 90, and Is as good as men of
ten times his girth and history. Mi
cbael VIII be d rich man one day. In
Two yeiirs his two thousand have
grown to four, and he misses no
chance.
I'm bound TO say this--one Of the
strnlghtest men ever met liar with.
al, was Cassandro Blatt. He took his
jewels and vanished up the seas In q
flourish. He would not even have an.
other try at the gold in the bowels OF
the ship.
1--WE got plenty to All my paunch,
and I'll go while I've enough It's the
men that don't go 10 time that get left
in the cnd'--that's what he said.
And he was right; for other mer
went after the gold and got some OF
IT, and were caught by French and
South American pirates and lost all
they had gained. Still another group
went and brought away ten thousand
pounds, and lost IL in fighting with
Spanish buccaneers. So Blatt was
right, and went away content, while ]
stayed here--because husband
bought the land and house where
have my great sugar plantation. 1t Is
an enterprise of volume, but 1t Is not
beyond my capacity, and all would be
we'll IL were normal in mind and
body; but ] am not. | have a past
that stinks TO heaven, as Shakespeare
says.
Men do not treat me badly here,
for have property and money. and
this is q land where these Two things
mean more than anywhere else. even
more than in republic like that where
you live. But what can you expect
of d chief justice, who need not be
a lawyer, as this one is not. and has
other means Of earning income which,
though not dsloyal, are lowering To-
The status Of chief justice? And
not the chief justice alone. I have
seen French officers entertained at Gov
eminent house who we're guilty Of
inhumnhitles and cruelties. The gov
crnor, Lord Mallow, Is much to blame
On him lies the responsibility 10 him
must 10 the discredit. For myself,
feel his. enmity on every hand: !