Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1128 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 er a oe me ~ would do, who took the trouble to land, that the figland had once been a haunt of pirates—of Cap- tain Kidd—and he had found preserved in a bottle, a chart, wherein was laid down clear information of yarticular localities where Kidd had concealed his casark. which chart Ned Trusthim left bis old mess- mate, Benny Haven, as he did all and singular, whatever he possessed. One of these hiding-places duly marked on the enart. was at the bottom of the creat cistern. Hie and his companions had sounded it, and found trhat they believed to be a big square chest at the Futtom, which they had never been able to get out, being unable to drain off the water, although they | had hewn steps, for greater ease in getting at it, be- fore their interest in it had died out, along with the final hope of escape from the island. ‘‘ Poor Ned1”’ Said Uncle Benny, commiseratingly, after Julian had finished reading the letter. ‘S his long-wished-for kingdom was at last comprised only in this one little island.”’ “Tt was, indeed, hard for him, after he had set bis heart on being a king,’’ said Julian, aside to Maggie. “I would much retuaer be a prince some- where else.”’ ‘‘Perhans you may be yet—who knows?”’ response of the young girl, in the same tone. The box was duly shut again and fastened, and in charge of the two men detailed by the commander was conveyed aboard ship and deposited in Uncle Benny’s state-room. The special party then adjourned from the rock to the beach, where the Hong Kong had first struck, It was then found that Cavtain James’s fears had not been without foundation. All the stores had been washed away by the great tidal wave, and the ship’s hulk had entirely disap- peared. ‘* Our arrival was none too soon,” said the princess to Captain James, when these facis were ascer- tained. “An arrival for which I shall never cease to be grateful to you,’’ was his response. ‘*You do me too much honor,’ was her negative reply, her black eyes flashing under her long lashes, and with a rising flush on her cheeks. They moved leisurely up the slope, followed by Julian and the girls, whither the commander and Uncle Benny and most of the crew and passengers had already preceded them, on their way to the great cistern. The statement that a large chest of Captain Kidd’s Ione-hidden treasure was at the bottom of if, and the declaration of Captain James; confirmed by Uncle Benny, as legatee of the discoverer, that whatever was found should be equally divided, had produced anunwonted excitement, Aécordihzly, that afternoon, a3 soon as the neces- sary appliances could be procured, Julian and the ezptain, with a detail of men from the Punjab, went to work to drain the cistern. This they soon found was no easy task. Tt required the whole day an la part of the next before a channel could be cut through the solid rock deep enough, and with fall enough to empiy it to the bottom. This labor was watched and cheered forward by all the passengers and those of the crew unoccnu- pied, and with a special interest by the Princess Isaeca, and the young girls Jesso and Maggie, At last, however, the task was accomplished, the water got lower and lower, and the treasure was revealed. A huge, square chest of iron reposing at the bot- tom, so’ corroded with rust that the outlines of its original construction could hardly be traced. A large hawser was brougnt and passed round it, At first it seemed alinost as immovable as the rock itself, but at length it yielded, médving slowly from the bed of its long repose, and was dragged remorse- lessly ont. By this time the curiosity of all was greatly ex- cited, as may be supposed, and the chest was in- stantly surrounded. That this was a portion of the long-hidden trea- sure of the ancient [reebooters, raise expectation to fever heat, and speculation was rife among the crew, and bets offered as to the amount of money it contained, and whether it was in Spanish doubloons, Mexicsn ck lars, or ingots aud bars, such as were in Uncle Denny's box, That the treasure was’ imniense was evident, so it was argued, from its weight. was the The chest was so incrusted, that neither lock nor | hinges were visible or traceable, and for all outward evidence to the contrary, it might have been a solid | mass of iron. A sledge and crow were hastily brought to burst it open. A few vigorous blows did the work: the chest fell asunder—and what a treasure was revealed! it was packed full of stones, the same sandstone formation that composed the ledge. The only thing in addition thereto was a small, round roll wrapped.in some kind of cloth, which fell | away in decay on its being lifted out, It was a small proof-glass, such as is used in test- | 1 See. n being thin rol of writing paper, The cork was removed, the Raper taken out and unrolled by Captain James in the midst of a small sea of upturned faces, variously filled. with wonder- ment, curiosity and disappointment, It contained the following words in plain writing, in a remarkably good state of preservation: “TO YOU who shalt. hear these words-KNOW THIS, That no treasure is equal w a contented mire and no happiness so great as that of the cheerfi cpirit, Kxow 7?K1s, also, That there is no pleasure ' | _“ Never wo | without toil, and no life without a burden; and with- ' out honest, steadfast labor there can be neither rest nor reward. If, then, You are digappointed in seeking for fruits in trees you have not planted, take encouragement in theso my parting words— YE are not the first fools who have sought for Kidd’s treasure, nor will ye le the last!” There was neither signature nor date. “Rather a severe joke on us!’ commented Capt, James to those about him—smiling at the rueful and disappointed faces around him. ‘*Pirite Capen good preachee! all same—hab less buz—buz—and more baked pig!’’ muttered one of the steward’s men—a Chinaman, which was follow- ed by a laugh and brighter faces, mind, my lads,” said Captain James | cheerily, to the crew, *‘ you shall not go unrequited for your labor, Fortunately I still have, despite the loss of, my ship, of which I was chief owner, some- thing to my credit in the Bank of England, And I hereby authorize your commander,” turning to that gentleman, who stood behind him, ‘to distribute among you one thousand glollars in gold on our ar- vival in port—as a pleasant memorial of this adven- ture here.” ‘And your commander is authorized to make a similar distribution from me!” said the princess. These announcements were received with a great deal of cheering, and the group around the iron chest speedily dissolved; each man declaring confidential- ly to his immediate neighbor, his belief that old of the Hong Kong, vas sufficient to | Captain Kidd never left any treasure anywhere. One who had been the most zealous in emptying the cistern, aftirmed his entire conviction that there never was such a manas Kidd—the pirate. To which his more philosophic hearer—who han- pened to be Uncle Benny, demurred ; but asserted that the words contained in the paper found weuld still hold true, were it otherwise: ‘* No treasure is equal to a contented mind, and no happiness so great as that of the cheerful spirit!’ That afternoon—and a bright and lovely one it was, they weighed anchor, and the Punjab resumed het course for Bombay and the Hast. They took with them many mementoes of the island, Captain James, after earnest consultation with Julian and Uncle Benny, had decided to return di- rect to India, taking them with him. Accordingly, two days thereafter, when the Pun- jab spoke a steamer bound for New York, in addi tion to the usual passengers’ letters sent by her, Captain James forwarded to his agents a detailed account which he had prepared concerning the loss and his destination homeward He also sent to his agents’ lawyer an authorization from him, as Julian’s natural and chosen guardian, with instructions to ta immediate logzal procee ings against Squire Lawson for his usurpation in the name of the law. The passage out to Bombay was marked by no further incident necessary to record herein—save, perhaps, that Captain James's attention to the prin- , Tore cess became of a very decided character, anc 1) wes more than rumored that a wedding would be tlie happy result at the close of the voyage. Which consummation, his nephew, Julian, being more interested perhaps than any one else, high! approved, as be vold Maggie, and Uncle Benny; tor ’ hey could now all live happily together, as.becan fast friends who loved. each other, in the new coun- try to which they were going. Unele Benny spent most of his time, inshis state room, studying Capt. Kidd's chart—as he termed paper left bim by poor Ned Trusthim, spendit many hours (with his parrot oking gravely om) au with Julian and the girls poring over it, and thus: ‘ - ’ ‘ e ' c a ‘ 7. | Oe bs he expressed it, on the day of arrival—" he had not altorether lost his time by going to sea as “‘a ven l- man passiger.”’ On landing at Bombay a telegram by cable from his agents’ lawyer in New. York, informed Captain | Janies, that his mstructions had been complied with prontp ey and that Squire Lawson had fled, having yeen charged with nialfeasance in office and em bezzlement. This last information was all that was wanting inducs the princess to take Maggie to her home a heart, and she declared it to be her intention, formally adopt her as Jesso’s sister, { would gladly linger, in the interest of my halt million readers, over the gayety and festivities, wit which the oecasion of the marriage of the princes: to Captain Jemes was celebrated, and honored ; for, I am assured that no more joyous event bas trans. pired anywhere. Shs And of one fact we may be positive—that from that moment dated anew the beginning of bappic: days than any of cur characters Lad ever known. ‘ith which pleasant assurance, I bid my readers, 'one and all—ti) we meet again—a most cordial aclieu. tO nd {i , THE END. held to the light, it was seen to contain a | THE Dime Dialogues No. 32 Containing eighteen Minor Dramas. Extravaganzas, Rurlesques, Farces. Dress and Humorous Pieces, for the Amateur Stage, Parlors. Schools and Exhibitions. 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