The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1924-03-21

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1t was evident that the mansion
no matter what state it was in was
going to be their abode. Soon the
lexpidition had moved slowly forth.
After a few minutes of trudging in
the fire beach sand, with the sea on
their left and with the tropical trees
and foliage, and chatting parrots
and monkeys on their right, they
arrived at their destination.
The red brick mansion, it appear
ed, had been constructed many years
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go. Its windows were long and mar
row giving spectral aspect to the
place. Its half matched roof proved
that it had not been inhabited for
a long while. An old tumbled down
chimney also added to the picture
of desolation it presented. Surround
ing the mansion was an old rickety
liorn fence with half open, sagging
gates. Tall swamp grass surrounded
the door yard. Outside the fence
from all sides of the house nothing
could be seen but dismal swamp
with its tropical foliage.
The pirates were now in the house
searching for anything which might
please their fancy but thorough
search revealed nothing OF value.
The lower floor consisted of three
rooms one center room, trifie
larger than the others; but all had
bare upholstered walls. As usual the
buccaneers could not define the kit
chen from the parlor. The upper
floor consisted of three rooms also,
probably bed rooms.
After heated discussion as to
the salty of their treasure Captain
Thetis barked forth, Tear up them
there boards, We'll put tn treasure
down thar" The sailors tore up the
boards, revealing the earth only a
| few feet below. The treasure was
slowed away, the boards replaced
and the preparations for supper
were begun. The Portuguese, who
are of a very superstitious nature
did not like the idea Of remaining
here over night. But command was
a command especially when Thetis
roared it forth.
1t was now nearly evening and,
after brief bite of sailors biscuit
and a cup of steaming broth, the
buccaneers sprawled out on the floor
of the dark, damp, musty old man
sion, each with his respective rum
bottle within easy reach, and soon
they had fallen into drunken
slumber. Muddy boots, muskets, pow
der hams, and ships utensils We're
scattered everywhere. The long win
dows let in a cold, pale, slim, pill
lar of light on body of sleeping
drunken men. The moon light start
ed its streak on the floor near the
wall, then continued its way on the
wall several objects being visible
in this streak. Outside everything
was as still as death. The beautiful
moonlight flooded all the island and
glittered on the various pools of
stagnate water. Further on you
could hear the booming of the surf
on the rocky coast.
1t was nearing midnight. Can you
imagine yourself there with those
lusty buccaneers in that lonely cor
ner of the world? The captain had
fallen asleep like the rest; but his
sleep was irregular, as it was brok-
en- by sharp pains in his back, for
he, the drunken lazy bones, had lain
down on broken rum bottle. He
turned over for the express purpose
of removing the broken rum bottle.
But what was that? A noise! Thetis
uttered an oath. He thought. it was
one of his crew in the heaven Of
his drunken dreams. For once my
captain, you are mistaken! Sleep
had sobered him somewhat and he
cast a half closed eye toward the
door. There was nothing there, but
leaning against the wall in the
moonlight admitted by the door was
skeletoni The captain had lit
tie sense and so he did not cry out.
BY this time several of the crew
were awake. Suddenly noise came
from the north east of the house,
it slowly came around to the first
window. Crench, crench. You could
not imagine the captains surprise.
He rubbed his eyes and pinched him
self to see if he was awake. He
thought it might be drunken mans
dream but it wasn't. The awakened
members of the crew were quiet
Except for the teeth chattering of
several Then came yell from a
lFrenchman. "Tu 'est-ce que c'est que
ca 2" When he saw the skeleton he
cried out utterly exhausted, "Mon
Dieu". Instantly every buecaneer
was trying to get on his feet but
rum had weakened their legs. Some
thing at the window attracted their
attention. 1t was an oval shaped OBJ
ject, hairy, and shaped like half
of small cannon ball. 1t was NOV
ing-moving upwards. Oaths were
heard. 1t was head. 1t had eyes,
yes, large, CLASSY, round eyes, and
the mouth was very wide and oval
shaped, it was half open, and pro-
jecting from it were two long white
fangs. Was it a phantom? The
moonlight made it appear worse.
Suddenly it disappeared and reap
:, peared in the doorway. 1t was a