Year: 1872

Of the signal line to make sure that this
was the case, I experienced a violent push
from behind, which flung me down on my
face. Before l could recover myself, or
even wonder what was amiss, felt my
hands caught in slip-noose, drawn forci-
bly, together behind, and bound fast by the
wrists.


BY this time had guessed who my as
sailant was. Bleggs had managed some
how to return very much sooner than he
should have done, and had come down and
surprised me.


AS soon he had finished tying my hands
he turned me over on my back, and put
ting his foot on my chest, stood looking at
me for minute or two. Even at that mo-
ment II struck me how strange we must
look-one man looking at the other with
triumph and hatred, the other gazing at
him in alarm and anxiety, but the counte-
nance of each hidden from the other by
the strange expressionless diving helmets.


He raised me to my feet, when violent
struggle ensued. But he was my master
1 was powerloss with my hands bound so
he forced me back against an upright sup
port and lashed me to it.


/ felt a sense of relief, for 1 knew that,
although he had cut my single rope, my
staying down long after he had assembled
would alarm the men in our boat, and some
means would have to be taken to free me.
There were one or two dresseson the island,
in case of accident.


But I had miscalcuated my enemy's
malice. You may have observed in div
er's helmet two little brass disks, perforat-
ed like the nose of watering pot One of
these is constantly in use allowing the su-
pernuous or vitiated air to escape. The
second is for use in case of the other being
clogged or damaged. Both are so arrang-
ed that on being turned half around they
are closed, and shut in the air, whereupon
the diver becomes so buoyant that he rises
at once TO the surface.


Bl0ggs came up to me and made mock
ing bow as if to take farewell, and then
closed both the escape valves of my he'll
met. All the horror of my situation flash
ed on me He intended to murder me.
With every stroke of the air-pump would
come greater pressure of air, which by its
increasing weight would kill me after the
most awful tortures.


Before 1 had recovered from the shock
Bleggs had disappeared, and already the
strokes of the air-pump seemed to beat on
my brain like sledge- hammers. writhed
and twisted and tore at my fastenings with
the strength of a desperate and the fury of
a mad man. The agony became intense.
All of a sudden / felt that / had some
hard substance in my hand. 1t was the knife
picked up. 1 had instinctively gripped
it hard, even in my struggle with Bleggs.
But it was closed. Still the pressure in
creased felt as if my head would burst /;
my eyeballs seemed filled with fire my
breath was choked; my brain began to
swim.


Now or never, thought 1. After some
vain struggling I managed to hold the
knife against the timber with the back of
one hand, and with the other open its blade.
Directly IL was open thrust II into my div
ing-dress, which with the pressure of the
air was dstended like balloon. With
the bubbling sound that denoted the escape
of the air through the hole thus made came





escape from such imminent peril gave me
new courage and fresh strength, and
speedily released myself from my bonds,
and was saved.


The hole / had made was in the leg oi
my trowsers. took some of the cord that
had bound me, and alter tying it as tight
as could round my leg above the hole
Il
valve and breathe with comparative free
| dom.


In few moments had gained the deck
and, closing the valve, was rapidly borne
| tc the surface. | came up just under tho
| qoarter, and as | laid my hand on the rope
ladder TO climb up the side, heard Bleggs'i
voice:


"Governor's long time down. Some
thing queer there's wouldn't let me stay
down-sgnaled me to go up at once. FounC
the swag, p'raps, and wants it for himself
I wonder when he's coming up?"


"Nowr' said climbing up, and show
ing myself over the bulwarks. Bleggs fel
back as if he had been shot.


"Seize him and bind him hand and foot!'
said | to the men, who obeyed me witt
some wonder, and not very readily. Luck
lily he was too surprised to resist When
told the story of his villainy the crew wer
for throwing him overheard then and there
but this positively forbade.


At this moment, looking in the direction
of our fisher friend, saw him preparing
to slip his cable and make for shore. i'm


mediately ordered three of the crew int
the boat to give chase. They caught hir
after smart race.


To make long story short, we trace


the stolen treasure TO this mans hut on tn


opposite side of the island to ours, and h


and Bleggs were taken before the noare'


magistrate, and the whole case laid befor


him.


Then learned the manner of Bleggs


rapid return. Apparently guessing IN


suspicious he had gone to the island instea


of the mainland-had broken into tn


stores, and found the paper. This he show


ed to the man who was with him, sayin


he fancied he had seen some, and that


must have overlooked it, and so of cours


there was no need to go on shore.


Inc iuu9lstIdte ulscnarScu bleSBS III
complice. The treasures hips were not OF
property, and the man was not in our en-
ploy, so there was no case against him.
But with Bleggs 1t was quite another a
fair said the justice; though It was unne
essary to go into that part of the questio
as he should commit him on the charge
, attempting to murder.


, AS he said this my overpent feelini
gave way and turning round giddily as
search Of support, fell all in heap to Il
floor.


l From that time there was long blau
until came to myself, and found was J.
D ing in bed, attended by a nurse, who seen


ed very glad TO find was sensible as W,
t she might, poor woman, for had been ra
, ing with brain fever. But was forbdd,
n | In talk and in1oo1 spnrpalv paroI IN do :