W. Bert Foster

“ I dared not take the gems with me from the brig, for Leroyd knew about them, or suspected their presence, and he would have killed us all for them, I fear.
But they are hidden in the steel lined closet—the one I showed you in the cabin. Caleb knows where it is. Go to the reef at once and get the jewels, before some one else gets there. There are diamonds enough to make you fabulously rich, if Anson appraised them rightly.
I am so weak that I cannot write longer.
[146] These will probably be my last words on earth to you, my son. Live uprightly; fear God; and hold sacred your mother’s memory. ”

“ A sharp lookout was kept day and night, but it was not until after the Bermudas had faded from sight that anything other than passing sailing vessels and steamers were sighted. At night the whaleback ran very slowly, indeed, so that naught might escape her, but during the day she traveled at a high rate of speed.
Just before sunrise one morning Brandon was aroused by a commotion on deck. He leaped from his berth at once, and having been to sea long enough now to know how to dress quickly, was outside in less than a minute. ”

“ Fortune has at last come to the Tarrs, but I shall not share it; your uncle Anson was not benefited by it, and death will overtake me soon, too. But you, my son, I pray may regain the fortune which I have hidden aboard the brig.
We committed a grave error in leaving the wreck; I know that now. The hull of the Silver Swan was uninjured, and she may outlast many gales. I shall put these papers into Caleb Wetherbee’s hands ere I am called, and he, I know, will help you to regain the fortune which first belonged to Anson. Be guided by him, and trust him fully. ”

“ He believed that the privation they had suffered had at length affected even Captain Horace Tarr’s brain.
“I’m not crazy, Caleb,” said the captain faintly. “I tell you I should have been immensely wealthy. Brandon should have never wanted for anything as long as he lived, nor should I; and I had already decided to give the brig to you.”
“What—what d’ye mean if ye ain’t crazy?” cried Caleb, in bewilderment.
“Do you remember the man who came aboard the brig at Cape Town, just before we sailed?” asked Captain Tarr, in a whisper, evidently saving his strength as much as possible for his story. ”

“ The farm which had come into Arad Tarr’s possession in what he termed a “business way,” contained quite one hundred acres of cultivated fields, rocky pastures, and forest land.
It was a productive farm and turned its owner a pretty penny every year, but judging from the appearance of the interior of the house and the dilapidated condition of the barn and other outbuildings, one would not have believed it.
There was sufficient work on the farm every year to keep six hired hands beside Brandon and the old man, himself, “on the jump” every minute during the spring, summer, and fall. ”

“ The waves were tossed toward the wind driven, leaden clouds with awful fury, breaking like surf over the whaleback; but the steamer withstood the fearful [232] shocks as easily as she had the choppy waves which preceded the gale.
She kept but little headway, however, and as the black night shut down about the craft, Brandon realized fully the terrible risks and hazardous chances taken by “those who go down to the sea in ships.” ”

“ The “scaly” ward politician who held the onerous position of deputy sheriff, and who had sought to arrest the boy, had not been successful, Brandon’s friends knew, for the man haunted the pier at which the whaleback lay, day and night.
“If he don’t come tonight, Adoniram,” Caleb declared, “we shall sail in the morning, just the same—and that by the first streak of light, too. You will be here, and I can trust you to look out for the lad. I must be away after those di’monds. Don’ll turn up all right, I know right well; and we mustn’t let them swabs get ahead of us, and reach the brig first.” ”

“ With hands that trembled slightly Brandon placed the instrument to his eye and ranged it upon the stern of the derelict. Long and earnestly did he examine the lettering upon it, and then closed the glass with a snap.
“The Silver Swan—thank God!” he said.
“Oh, I’m so glad, for your sake, Don!” exclaimed Milly, tears of happiness shining in her eyes. “You’ll get your father’s diamonds and be rich.”
“Riches on a wreck won’t do us much good,” returned Don grimly. “I’d rather be a pauper ashore.” ”

“ Coffin after a prolonged gazing through his glass at the wreck, “that that doesn’t have the same appearance as that vessel the boys are on. What do you think, Mr. Wetherbee?”
Caleb had doubts in that direction himself.
“I tell ye what it is,” he said: “the Success had a mast for’ard. This one hain’t.”
“It’s my opinion that’s the hull of a brig, just the same,” Mr. Coffin declared.
Suddenly Caleb uttered an exclamation.
“That’s no steamship,” he declared. “See her colors and open ports. Why, it’s a man o’ war!”
“Right you are,” returned the mate.
“It’s the Kearsarge,” added Mr. Bolin. ”

“ I believe that Leroyd suspected something back there at Cape Town, for he came into the cabin on an errand just as that friend of poor Anson gave the package into my hands, and I caught him snooping about the companionway several times afterward. It was he I feared most when we left the brig, and therefore dared not take the diamonds with me.”
“I’ll shoot him yet,” muttered the old seaman fiercely, with his weather eye cocked over the top of the chest. “I hated the sight o’ that fellow when he first boarded the brig at New York. His face is enough to bring bad luck to any ship.” ”

“ Brandon muttered as he crossed the littered barnyard, “and this drizzle will mellow up the earth in great shape. As soon as it stops, Uncle Arad will dig right in and work to make up for lost time, I s’pose.” ”

“ It is that evil looking man—the one who has chartered the brig—Jim Leroyd.”
“He!” she exclaimed, in surprise. Then after a little silence she added:
“He is an evil looking man; I’ve told father so more than once, but he says that a man is not always as bad as he looks. Father has seen so many people and so much of the world, that I seldom question his judgment; but I have been impressed from the first that there was something wrong about him—and about that Mr. Weeks, who is in partnership with him, and whom we expect to meet at Savannah. ”

“ The girl’s face worked pitifully at this question.
“Father is dead,” she sobbed, “and the crew took to the boats while I was below. That was early this morning.”
“And you’ve been here alone ever since!” said Brandon pityingly.
At that instant there was a slight exclamation from Swivel, and the small cable by which they were endeavoring to gain the larger one, came in over the rail with fearful suddenness.
All three were sent sprawling on the deck.
“What is it?” gasped Milly.
“The rope’s parted,” cried Brandon in horror.
“Never mind; don’t you give up, missy,” Swivel exclaimed. ”

“ I could sail the Great Eastern with Lawrence Coffin for mate.”
“I thought so,” said Mr. Pepper, laughing gleefully. “Then I’ve got a man by the name of Bolin for third. He’s a good man, and knows his business, too.”
“That would make Don’s duties pretty light,” said Caleb reflectively.
“Of course. I shall put in rather a larger crew than a whaleback usually carries—fourteen at least,” Mr. Pepper added; “to handle the cargoes I shall expect the steamer to recover.”
“Well, well,” said Caleb, rising; “let’s sleep on it. It’s never best to decide on anything too quickly.” ”

“ The deputy sheriff, whose name was Snaggs, by the way, would not give it up, however, but still remained on the wharf.
Mr. Coffin, who had begun to take a lively interest in the proceedings, was pacing the inclined deck of the whaleback on the side furtherest from the pier, a few minutes past midnight (everybody on board was still awake at even this late hour) when his ear caught the sound of a gentle splash in the black waters just below him.
He stopped instantly and leaned over the rail.
“Hist!” whispered a voice out of the darkness. “Toss me a rope. I want to come aboard.” ”

“ A man was coming down the path—a sinister faced, heavily bearded man, who slouched along so awkwardly that Brandon at first thought him lame. But the boy had seen a few sailors, besides his father, in his life, and quickly perceived that the stranger’s gait was caused simply by a long experience of treading the deck of a vessel at sea. ”

“ Brandon’s glass had been turned upon the figure on the wreck for the few moments during which the others had been discussing the possibility of saving the poor creature. Now he exclaimed hurriedly.
“That’s not a man—it’s a woman! Don’t you see her skirts blowing in the gale? She is alone on the wreck.”
Caleb seized his own glass again, and Mr. Bolin dived into the cabin for his.
“You’re right, lad,” the captain declared. “Either all the men have been swept overboard, or the white livered rascals have taken to the boats and abandoned her.” ”

“ Swivel is in the West—that land of bracing and salubrious climate—for after he recovered from the accident he sustained on the wreck, the doctors told him that he could never live and be strong in the East again. So, with the assistance of Caleb, Adoniram, and Brandon, who quarreled not a little as to who should do the most for him, he was sent West, and a glorious start in business life was given him in that rapidly growing country. ”

“ They were a very jolly party indeed at the breakfast table, for the old sailor had recovered, to some extent at least, his equanimity when in the presence of Miss Frances.
“Now, Caleb, have you decided to accept my offer of last evening?” Adoniram inquired, as they arose after the meal.
“Let’s see the steamer,” returned the sailor, noncommittally; so the merchant and his two guests went down to the docks at once.
To a person who has never seen a whaleback steamer, the first view of one is certainly a most surprising sight. ”

“ The suite contained a dining room of comfortable size, and a chart room and offices on the port side of the cabin.
Below deck were the quarters of the crew, forward and aft, and they were as comfortable as those on a palatial ocean steamship.
[178] “It’s a wonderful boat,” Brandon declared, as they examined the engine.
“It is that,” the ship owner assented. “I paid a pretty penny for her, but she’s worth it—every cent. She’ll outride any gale that ever blew, as long as you keep her in deep water. ’Twould be hard to sink her. ”

“ But I won’t let this treasure idea keep me from going to work, and working hard, too. If I don’t get the money, why I don’t want to be roaming about the world like Uncle Anson, with nothing to do in life but hunt for wealth. I believe I’ll get a place on some vessel any way, for there’s a good deal of the sailor in me as there was in father. ”

“ Milly had informed him that Captain Frank was exceedingly hard on all stowaways (as sea captains usually are, in fact) , and he had no doubt but that he would be placed in a very uncomfortable, if not dangerous, position if the doughty captain should discover him.
Leroyd, of course, would step forward at once and declare that he (Brandon) was wanted in New York for robbery, and that fact could be proved by telegraphing, [219] should the Savannah officers desire to do so. Then, if the whaleback steamer was not in, he should be absolutely friendless, and at the mercy of the vindictive sailor. ”

“ There’s been more than one man gone into that dive that never come out arterwards, now I tell ye.”
“You are wrong, Caleb,” declared Mr. Pepper confidently “It was not luck—’twas Providence.”
“Mebbe you’re right, old man,” returned the mate. “Now, lad, come in here and tell us all about yourself before we do anything further. We want to get a thorough understanding o’ the case.”
They had arrived at the shipping merchant’s office, but it was locked and Mr. Pepper had to use his own private pass key.
“Weeks has gone out,” the old gentleman explained, ushering them in. “It’s his dinner hour.” ”

“ By your own confession you don’t know where the treasure is hid; but I do. Somehow I’m going [119] to find the wreck of the brig and get—whatever it was father hid. But first, I want those papers that I may know what the—the treasure consists of.”
“Oh, ye do? Well, how be ye goin’ ter prove that I’ve got the docyments?”
“Very easily indeed,” Brandon responded frankly. “I’m going to look up the sailor who was with you on the raft. If father gave you the papers he doubtless knows it, and I don’t believe that there are two men as dishonest as you, Wetherbee.” ”

“ Brady, holding one hand to his bruised face, and shaking the other fist at the sailor. “I’ll have ye jugged—that’s wot I’ll do——”
And just then he stopped, for in the doorway leading to the bar room stood Adoniram Pepper, flushed and breathless, and behind him the burly forms of two blue-coated policemen.
“Thank goodness, the boy is safe!” gasped the little merchant. “Are you hurt, Caleb?”
“Some shaken up, but that’s all, shipmate,” declared the mate of the Silver Swan. “I got here just in time to keep that brute Leroyd from choking the lad to death.” ”