Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 22 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

| ’ ' ' ' ! — a ee ae oe o-oo es 12 Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. = would do, who took the trouble to land, that the island 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 particular localities where Kidd had concealed his treasure, which chart Ned Trusthim left his old mess- mate, Benny Haven, as he did all and singular, whatever he possessed. One of these hiding-places duly marked on the chart, was at the bottom of the great cistern. He and his companions had sounded it, and found what they believed to be a big square chest at the bottom, 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 Ned!’ said Uncle Benny, commiserating|y, after Julian had finished reading the letter. “So his long-wished-for kingdom was at last comprised only in this one little island.”’ ‘*It was, indeed, hard for him, after he had set his heart on being a king,’ said Julian, aside to Maggie. ‘‘Il would much rather be a prince some- where else.”’ ‘*Perhaps you may be yet—who knows?” was the response of the ring J girl, in the same tone. he 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 Captain James’s fears not been without foundation. All the stores had been washed away by the great tidal wave, and the ship’s hulk had entirely p- ‘Our arrival was none too soon,” said the princess to Captain James, when these facts 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 oe flashing under her long lashes, and with a ush on her cheeks. They moved leisurely pi 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 long-hidden treasure was at the bottom of it, and the declaration of Captain James, confirmed by Unele Benny, as lega of the discoverer, that whatever was found should be equally divided, had produced an unwonted excitement. Accordingly, that afternoon, as soon as the neces- sary appliances could be procured, Julian and the captain, with a detail of men from the Punjab, went to work to drain the cistern. This they soon found was no easy task. It required the whole day and a part of the next before a channel could be cut through the solid rock reg Sar Po ay and with fall enough to empty it to the bottom This labor was watched and cheered forward by all the passengers and those of the crew unoccu- ied, and with a special interest by the Princess Deascn? and the young ore cee and Maggie. At last, however, the was scocmaliched, the water Lg lower and lower, and the treasure was 5 eee hest of iro t the bot- e, square chest o n at the to oy pve with rust rete clitnes of its re) 1 construction could hardly be trac A large hawser was brought and passed round it. At first it seemed almost as immovable as the rock itself, but at length it yielded, moving slowly from -_ pee - its long repose, and was dragged remorse- out. By this time the curiosity of all was greatly ex- ci 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 freebooters, was sufficient to 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, Mexican dollars, or ingots and bars, such as were in Uncle Benny's box. That the treasure was immense was evident, so it was argued, from its weight. The chest was so inerusted, 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. 7 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 smal round roll wrapped in some kind of cloth, which fe away in decay on its being lifted out. It was a small proof-glass, such as is used in test- ing irits. n being held to the light, it was seen to contain a thin roll of writing paper. The cork was removed, the pape taken out and unrolled by Captain James in the midst of a small sea of upturned faces, variously filled with wonder- ment, curiosity and disap »intment. It contained the following words in ae 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 mind and no happiness so great as that of the cheerful spirit. Know Tuis, also, That there is no pleasure A -e@ne - — - & em 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 gg By in seeking for fruits in trees you have not planted, take encouragement in these my parting words— Ye are not the first fools who have sought for Kidd's treasure, nor will ye ve 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 = a laugh and brighter faces. ‘Never mind, my lads,” said Captain James cheerily, to the crew, “ you shall not.go unrequited for your labor. Yortunately 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 dollars in gold on our ar- rival 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 grcup around the iron chest speedily dissolved; each man declaring confidential- ty to his immediate neighbor, his belief that old — Kidd never left any treasure anywhere. ne who had been the most zealous in emptying | the cistern, affirmed his entire conviction that there never was such a manas Kidd—the pirate. To which his more philosophic hearer—who hap- pened to be Uncle Benny, demurred ; but asserted that the words contained in the paper found would | 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!" hat afternoon—and a ~ and lovely one it was, _ they weighed anchor, and the Punjab resumed her _ course for Bombay and the East. | uae took with them many mementoes of the wand, Captain James, after earnest consultation with Julian and Uncle Benny, had decided to return di- rect to India, taking them with him, According] , two days thereafter, when the Pun- ab ke a steamer bound for New York, in addi- ion the usual speek letters sent by her Captain James forwarded to his agents a detailed account which he had pre concerning the loss of the Hong Kong, 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 take immediate legal proceed- ings against Squire Lawson for his usurpation in the name of the law. ; The pamege out to Bombay was marked by no further incident necessary to record herein—save, perhaps, that Captain James’s attention to the prin- cess became of a very decided character, and it was more than rumored that a wedding would be the happy result at the close of the voyage. ich consummation, his nephew, Julian, being more interested —_ than any one else, highly epeweredsae he told Maggie, and Uncle Benny; for they could now all live happily together, as became fast friends who loved each other, in the new coun- —_ which they were going. ncle Benny spent most of his time, in his state- apt. Kidd's chart—as he termed the paper left him by poor Ned Trusthim, spendin many hours (with his parrot looking gravely on) an with Julian and the girls poring over it, and thus as he expressed it, on the day of arrival—‘ he had not altogether lost his time by going to sea as a gen’l’- On lan PE at ay vag 8 a nee Sra by cable from his agents’ er in New York, informed Captain James, that his instructions had been complied with eng te and that Squire Lawson had fled, having n charged with malfeasance in office and em- bezzlement. This last information was all that was wanting to _ induce the princess to take gie to her home and | heart, and she declared it to her intention, to room, studying formally adopt her as Jesso’s sister. d gladly linger, in the interest of my half | million renders. over the gayety and festivities, with which the occasion of the of the princess _ to Captain James was celebrated, and honored ; for, I am assured that no more joyous event has trans- I wo pired anywhere. | And of one fact we wey Arg positive—that from that moment dated anew the of happier days than any of cur characters had ever known. With which pleasant assurance, I bid my reade one and all—til) we meet again—a most co adieu. THE END. The Sunnyside Library. 1 Latua Rooke. By Thomas Moore .......... 10¢ 2 Don Juan. By Lord Byron . 3 Parapise Lost. By John Milton......... ... 4 Tue Lapy or Tue LAKe. Sir Walter Scott... 10c. 5 Lucite. By Owen Meredith... 10c. 6 UNDINE, OR THE WaArTeR-Sprritr. 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