A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 26: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A QUEER RACE. 23 actly what it is you want me todo. If it is a case of div- ing, | don’t think I am the man for you; for, though a fair swimmer, I could never stay long under water, “and I don’t understand diving-bells. “No, no, sir; the Santa Anna never foundered; she is on the sea, not under it. You surely don’t think, sir, as God A’ mighty would let all that money go to Davy Jones’ locker? As far as I can make out, all the ship’s company died of thirst. When that dokyment wus written, they was dreadful short of water; and the ship became a derelict, and went on knocking about all by herself—is, may be, knocking about yet—she was teak- built and very stanch—or otherwise she has run aground on some out-of-the-way island, or drifted into a cove or inlet of the sea. Anyhow, she is worth looking after; and [ have always thought as if some gentleman would give me a helpin’ hand—somebody with more ’ead and edycation than I have myself—we should be sure to suc- ceed in the end; nay, I am sure we should—l feel it; [| know it. Will you help me, Mr. Erle? I[ cannot tell you how—I am only a common seafaring man; but you are a scholar, with a head like a book. They s say as you knows ‘ Lloyd’s Register’ by heart, and a man as can learn ‘Lioyd’s Register’ by heart can do anything.” “You are very complimentary, Bolsover, and I am ex- treinely obliged for your good opinion. But you give mc credit for a good deal more cleverness than I possess; for, tempting as is an offer of half a siipload of gold and silver, I really don’t see what I can do. If | were a skipper and had a ship, or arich man and owneda yacht, I might possibly help you; but you must see yourself that I cannot go about exploring every island, and inlet, and cove in the world, or keep sailing round it until I spot the derelict Santa Anna, particularly as you don’t seem to have the least idea where she was when last heard of.”’ ‘‘’There you are mistaken, Mr. Erle. I could a’most put my finger on the very spot. But will you read the dokyment? Then you will know all about it--more than I know myself, for a man as can learn ‘ Lloyd’s Regis- ter ’°——” ‘<The document! The paper your father found! You surely don’t mean to say you have it?” I exclaimed, in ry comicboo A <S (E(0) m