Year: 1872

with fire; my breath was choked my brain
began to swim. -.


Now or never, thought l.. After some
struggling managed tohold the knife against
the timber with the back of one hand and
with the other opened its blade. Directly il
was opened l thrust it into my diving dress
which, with the pressure Of the air, was dis
tended like balloon. With the bubbling
sound that denoted the escape of the air
through the hole thus made, came an imme.
diate sense of relief. The hope of 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 of my
trowsers. took some of the cord that had
bound me, and after tying it as tight as 1 could
round my leg above the hole, was able to turn
on my regular escape valve and breathe with
comparative freedom.


In few moments gained the wreck, and
closing the valve, was rapidly borne to the
surface. I came up just under the quarter,
and as 1 laid my hand on the rope-ladder to
climb up the side, heard Bleggs' voice: e.


"Governor's a long time down. Something
queer there; wouldn't let me stay down-sig
nailed me to 60 up at once. Found the swag,
perhaps, and wants it for himself! | wonder
when he means coming up?"


"Nowp said I, climbing up, and showing
myself over the bulwarks. Bleggs fell back
as if he was shot.


"Seize him and bind him hand and foot !!
said to the men, who obeyed me with some
wonder, and not very readily. Luckily, he
wss too surprised to resist When told the
story of his villainy, the crew were for throw:
ing him overheard then and there, but this
positively forbade.


At this moment, looking in the direction Of
our fisher friend, I saw him preparing to slip
his cable and make for shore, Immediately
ordered three of the crew into the boat to give
chase. They caught him, after smart race.


To make long story short, we traced the
stolen treasure to this mans hut, on the oppo.
site side of the island to ours, and he and
Bleggs were taken before the nearest magis'
trate, and the case laid before him.


Then learned the manner of Bleggs' rapid
return. Apparently guessing my suspicious,
he had gone to the island instead Of the main.
land-had broken into the stores and found
the paper. This he showed to the man who
was with him, saying he fancied he had some,
and that I must have overlooked it, and so, OF
course, there was no need to 60 on shore.


The magistrate discharged Bleggs' accom-
plice. The treasure-ships were not our prop
erty, and the man was not in our employ, so
there was no case against him.


But with Bleggs it was quite another affair,
said the justice; though it was unnecessary to
90 into that part of the question, as he should
commit him for trial on the charge of attempt
ing to murder.


AS he said this my over-pent feelings gave
way, and turning round giddily, as if in search
of support, I fell all in heap, on the floor.


From that time there was long blank,
until came to myself and found was lying
abed, attended by nurse, who seemed very
glad to find I was sensible, as we'll she might,
poor woman, for had been raging with brain
fever. But 1 was forbidden to talk, and, in.
deed, scarcely cared to do so, l was so weak.


My recovery was very, very slow. At last,
when I was strong enough, they told me that
had been laid up for long time, during
which my enemy had been kept in prison, un-
til growing weary of confinement, he had con.
fessed all to Mr.. Turton, and being allowed
to plead guilty, had been transported.


l asked what time af the year it was, for |
saw through my bedroom window that the
branches of the trees we're bare. was told
it was October.


Then came back to me the bitter thought
that the year was nearly run out, and [ was
as badly off as at the commencement of it. |
saw had lost chance of winning Polly. Nay,
my long silence might have led her to think
me faithless.


The worry and disappointment brought on
relapse, and for another month l lay at
deaths door and was another three weeks ere
I could muster strength to rise from bed.


Then I wrote to Mr. Turton to ask him for
the wages that were due at the time of my
illness, and to thank him for his kindness in
providing me, as learned he had done, with
nursing and medical attendance.


In couple of days 1 received letter from
him inclosing me a check for thousand
pounds, with the thanks of the company for
my fidelity and vigilance in their interests:
They had raised an immense quantity of
treasure.


need hardly say how grateful I was, or
how soon I gained health and strength then.
I made my way up to town as soon as could,
and then went straight to Polly.


1t was the day before Christmas day, and
she was putting up the holly. l saw her
through the window; so slipped in quietly
by the back door, and crept up and caught
her in my arms 1t was foolish trick, for
she just gave me one look and then tainted
dead of.


But no harm came oft, and. Well, sir,
the thousand pounds satisfied the farmer, and
we were married. And better wife man
couldn't have.


FURNISH COOP READ1NG.-One of the
pleasantest and noblest duties of the head of
the family is to furnish its members with good
reading. In times which are past it was con-
sidered enough to clothe and feed and shelter
a family. This was the sum Of parental duty.
But lately it has been discovered that wives
and children have minds, so that it becomes
necessary to educate the children and furnish
reading for the whole household. It has been