Year: 1866

serve himself first, that instead of handing
it to the young officer, he placed it to his
own lips and nearly emptied it.
Now, sir!


sNo-T would rather have food
so you shall, sir. Here's biscuit =
! And, while I'm gone for something better,
as there's bad characters about this here
beach, perhaps you'd better give me the
little treasure you spoke of, and let me put
it in my strong box ?


Il will not part with it! A lock of my
dear Helen's hair! 1t is the only treasure
the only remembrance-I shall ever have
| of herp


why, you don't mean for to say, that's
the treasure you spoke of, do your


lit is-it isl


'And you have no money, rings or jew
els =


sNone-none! This is better tIan jew.
elsv


A dark malignant look passed over the
coarse face of the pirate, and setting his
teeth, he said, in low, Kissing voice:


perhaps, cap'n you'll just step this way,
and III show you short cut out of the
cave. Over mere, sir, if you please. 1t
amt so dark when you get used to itp


The young officer ,ose family to his feet,
as he said, Very well, very well-I will
find some means of rewarding you if you
will lead me to house.


sOf course-oh, of coursev


Ned Bowers felt conviction in his
mind, approaching to a certainty, that the
intention of the pirate was to lead the
young officer to the brink of the well which
had been spoken of, and then by one push
to plunge him into its depths. 1t was time
to iDtefere! Two more steps and they had
got close to the cask beneath which he was
hidden.


sAvast there p cried Ned, as he dashed
the cask from over him and sprang to his
feet why, you piratical scoundrel, what
do you mean by cold .blooded murder, like
this {?


The pirate uttered shout of surprise
and terror, and but that, a faintness came
over the young officer which compelled Ned
to fling one arm around him and hold him
up, DO doubt Bowers would have got hold
of the rufian But as it was, with bound,
he got towards the entrance of the cavern
which opened on toe gorge, and there he
stood at bay, with a couple of pistols in his
hands which he plucked from his apparel,
and presented at Ned and the young officer.
For a moment or two the rufisu looked
anxious and alarmed, for he did not Know
what powers of aggression or defence Ned
Bowers ght have; and, although murder
might not be distasteful to him, conflict
presented itself to his imagination in very
different colors.


1t old not, however, require much con-
sideration to enable the pirate to see that
the sudden appearance Of Ned Bowers
merely presented him with two unarmed
men instead of one. With malignant cry
of triumph he then advanced step nearer
to them.


sSo-ho! That's it, is it? And they
did't think to look under an empty cask for
man! Well, what's the odds, now p
Down you both 60, for you know great
deal too much, take it, for the safety of
the Gull and the Cave'


Hold !-oue moment! said Ned Bow
ers. Il have something to say to you to
your advantage


Say it quickly, then, before send
bullet to help you to another world !!


DO you want money!


money ?-yes What do you want to
say?'


Just this-that if you will help me and
Lieutenant Tanning, here, to the nearest
town, and do what you can tofnd the young
lady, Miss Sinclair, you shall be well re-
warded.


'Helen-my Helen! exclaimed the
young officer. Does she yet live? For
the love of heaven, tell me y


'She lives


The Lieutenant reeled backward with
joyful emotion, as he said in grateful tones


Thank heaven thank heaven


The pirate advanced another step


do you take me for such an idiot as to
trust myself to your promises in any town,
or anywhere else, but where l can have
your lives in my hands? Yet, stay bit
/ want to know something! Was there
any treasure on board the Wave ?


There was !! said the Lieutenant, in
weak voice. There was! Life is again
dear to me. She lives, and I would fain
live Tell me by what inexplicable rea-
sou can you be moved to threaten US with
death ? What can we have done or said
to you, defenceless as we are, that could
induce you to place the heavy guilt of
murder on your soul|


where was the treasure ?-speak at
once"


sIu the state cabip-about Fifty thou.
sand dollars in gold For this information,
which you may make useful to you-for
the safe would sink among the rocks and
may be recovered-you will lay aside your
pistols, and let us depart in peace?'


'Ha Good, that! No! You are so
near slipping your cables, that | don't
mind telling you what my reasons for it are;
that the pirate schooner Gull owns me as