Arizona state miner., 1926-04-17

DANoN' ~ ~ COAA1Cll 1CIPS VIII 6NI
out of town and put to sea in fast
sloop he hath in a little river near
where was the ancient town of Nom
bre de Dios, so that we shall have
sure tidings of the Santissima Trini-
dads coming and be prepared for
her"
"But what of her course?" I scruti-
nized the map. "There are three sep
arate exits from the Caribbean into
the Atlantic"
You have clapped on to the nub of
our problem said Murray. "'Twas
the piece of information l was at most
pains to obtain The Santissima
Trinidad will head for the Mona pas
sage. / will show you why. The first
aim Of the Spaniards is to conceal
her voyage; she sails a course which
keeps her as much as possible in open
seas. And the best exit for that pur
pose is the opening between Hispan-
lola and Porto Rico
my intent is that the Royal James
shall ply off the westerly mouth of
the passage from about the end of
August, avoiding all intercourse with
shipping and keeping as far out to
sea as is practicable. When Diego
appears we will restrict the space of
our beat, and twill be impossible for
the treasure ship to escape us. If
she runs we can catch her, and at
fighting I can take any don under a
ship-o'the-line."
$50 much I heard you declare to
Colonel O'Donnell aboard the brig"
I said. "But what comes next? You
take the Santissima Trinidad-and
then?''
He moved his forefnger over the
surface of the map and brought it to
rest in front of tiny outline sketched
in ink on the expanse Of sea east of
Cuba and somewhat to the north of
Hispaniola. Northward of this spot
stretched the far-f1ung myriads of the
Bahamas.
'That is what you have heard Flint
and RE refer to as the Rendezvous,
and Spyglass island" he answered.
TT has other names, I believe. Some
have called it Treasure island, al
though / know Of no treasure upon it.
'Tis said that Kidd discovered it, and
certeS, others of the old-time buc-
cancers were wont to maintain them
selves there We are bound thither
now to ref1t and careen, and when we
have the treasure safe under matches
we will return to the island to divide
it and concert arrangements for de-
livering their share to Colonel
ODonnells friends"
"What will Flint say to your fetch
ing in strangers to your hiding placer"
I asked.
furrow deepened betwixt my
great-uncle's lambent eyes.
Hell not like it, Robert" he adj
mitted "I have O'Donnell's word to
betray none of our secrets and indeed
it's to his own interest to keep hidden
his part in this affair; but Flint may
we'll make trouble. 'Tis a determined
dog, and a greedy. Look you, boy,
will you stand by me in the affair?
For the girls sake, if for no other
reason"
"Why not leave her aboard the
treasure ship2"'
He regarded me askance
'It may be we must sink"
I started up.
"Now, that I'll ha' naught to do
with I ha' told you I'd fight if you
butchered the defenseless'
He waved me back.
peace, peace! We cannot carry CT
all the Spaniards in any case, and"
He hesitated.
"-O'Donnell must be protected" he
concluded.
Against what?"
"Wagging tongues. 1 tell you his
part must never be known The San
tissima Trinidad disappears and with
her the treasure and all her company
There's no other way"
"Take the treasure, if you must"
1 retorted; "but do not stain your
hands with the blood of men who have
not harmed you"
II must slay some Of them In all
probability" returned my great-uncle.
what difference between that and
Staying all?"
l remembered the thrill of reproba-
tion with which even the most de-
voted adherents Of King George had
heard of the butchery of the Scots
wounded after ~Culloden.
There's but one thing to do" l
said. you must make pretense of
bearing off the daughter, and you can
imprison the father, too, in order to
silence his objections"
"a fit role for pirate captain
unused my great-uncle. "El Captain
Rrrip-Rrrap and how he devoured the
virgin! 1 can hear the stories that
will be told in the Havana wine-shops.
But I must have my price, Robert.
If l spare such Spaniards as escape
our great guns and the boarding
cutlasses, will you agree to stand
back of me in the division of the
spoils with Flint?"