, 1926-04-21
CHAPTER XI-Continued

cast loose from the prize, Master
Martin and make all sail. The course
is so'east by south"
AYE, aye, sir"
There was an interval of silence
after he had gone. The shouts of the
pirates echoed from the deck, with
the creaking of halyards and Tapping
of sails. The Royal James seemed to
shake herself as she sided free of the
battered hull of the Santissima Trinl-
dad, and through the stern windows
showed the bowsprit and fo'csle of
the Spaniard, still smothered beneath
a mess of canvas and broken spars
and rigging. Slowly we drew past
her.
Murray rose.
IF you will pardon me, l have much
TO see to on deck. Should you desire
any refreshment do but ring that bell
and state your wants to the steward.
Robert, if you and Peter can so far
submerge your HanOverian sympathies
i should appreciate such aid as you
might render in the accounting of
the treasure
Peter and l went with him. as much
TO escape the company of the Irish
man as to satisfy our curiosity re
garding the chests and boxes we had
glimpsed in transit across the Saints
sim Trinldad's deck. Twas a marvel
Gus concentration of wealth. The col
umns of figures l set down never
condescended to detail-5,000 pieces of
eight, they would rum, or 10000
doubloons, 1900 onzas. 10000 castel-
lanos, $4,000 eights, and so on. There
was upward of two hundred thousand
pounds in bar silver, ffty-pound ingots
sheathed by threes in thick canvas
Jackets to facilitate their transport
by mule-trains-each mule carrying q
Toad of three hundred pounds. There
was a quantity, too, of gold bullion,
each ingot of eighty pounds in its own
canvas jacket. There were n chest of
precious stones, the value of which
we could only guess at, and three
chests Of plate.
The total value. by the government
estimates upon each package, chest or
keg, was 81, 800 in English money.
exclusive of the jewels and the plate;
n we did not conclude the recount
ing and bestowal of the treasure in
Ben Gums wine-cellar until an hour
past dusk when Murray dismissed all
hands with an extra ration of rum.
In the cabin we found Colonel
o'Donnell asleep sprawled on the
table with his head rested on his
folded arms, "A puddle of wine by his
elbow. My uncle's eyebrows twltched
upward.
This gentleman is q chamberlain
to King james, Robert" he remarked,
"a knight of Malta and of Santiago
In Spain, a colonel of Spanish engi
neers and lord Of | know not how
many bog-manors In Ireland II he had
his rights. And look mt him ="
"Who brought him to this?" / re-
torted.
mot /, my boy! To intrigue is not
necessarily TO license appetite. Well,
well, It's doubtly fortunate I Induced
him to fetch along the little maid.
Consider her plight in a Spanish con
vent, II anything happened to her
father"
"Conside' ner plight in a pirate ship,
n anything happened to him! 2" !
ieered.
He appealed to Peter, whlmsIcally
humorous.
"Stap me. the boy wears upon my
nerveal Was ever n youth so callow
In his assurance OF righteousness? ?"
Peters li,tle eyes twlnkled.
"He is right. and you are right.
You are n big rascal. but dot time
maybe you was right"
Don't be nm idiot. Peter" I rasped.
""Tis you are the idiot" affirmed
my great-uncle. Here ARE you and
Peter-two honest men II any ever
were-and myself. with less claim TO
virtue perhaps, but rs acute an In.
terest. II the truth be known. And
all three OF us n-hungering 10 safe.
guard the lass. what mother might
ask moreT'
"And Flint" ! amended. He'd pro-
tect her. | suppose"
Hell never have the chance. Rob
ert," he answered grayely. "You and
Peter have played ducks and brakes.
between you. with my plans; but John
Flint Is not the man TO oyerreach me.
Give him rope, lnd-nnd wen present
him his chhnce to hang.
was up early In the morning. but
Mistress oiDonnoll and my great
uncle were before me. As | climbed
90 the poop | snw them standing by
the weather rnll. Murray expressing
Difference in every line Of his straight
ngure and handsome. old-young face,
the little maid cycling him with n com
icnl mixture OF nntipnthy and respect.
Here Is my nephew. who viii settle
all our remaining doubts, Mistress
Molrn." proclaimed Murray and with