diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:51:05 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:51:05 -0700 |
| commit | e2e5ff3967ba55533acb380d7e70cebc326c8dff (patch) | |
| tree | aa046492bd21bcdc68c1773e9acb93777485265f | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 17415-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 106352 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 17415-h/17415-h.htm | 2046 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 17415-h/images/im1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 44481 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 17415-h/images/im2.jpg | bin | 0 -> 30405 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 17415.txt | 1413 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 17415.zip | bin | 0 -> 28648 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 3475 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/17415-h.zip b/17415-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4235add --- /dev/null +++ b/17415-h.zip diff --git a/17415-h/17415-h.htm b/17415-h/17415-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..51408e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/17415-h/17415-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2046 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Money Island, by Andrew Jackson Howell, Jr.</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + hr.full { width: 100%; } + pre {font-size: 75%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Money Island, by Andrew Jackson Howell, Jr.</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Money Island</p> +<p>Author: Andrew Jackson Howell, Jr.</p> +<p>Release Date: December 30, 2005 [eBook #17415]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MONEY ISLAND***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Irma Spehar, Cori Samuel,<br /> + and the <a href="http://www.pgdp.net/">Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team</a><br /> + from page images generously made available by<br /> + the <a href="http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/">Joyner Library of East Carolina University</a></h3> +<p> </p> +<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;" cellpadding="10"> + <tr> + <td valign="top"> + Note: + </td> + <td> + Images of the original pages are available through the North + Carolina History and Fiction Digital Library of the Joyner + Library, East Carolina University. See + <a href="http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/historyfiction/document/hom/"> + http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/historyfiction/document/hom/</a> + </td> + </tr> +</table> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> + +<h1><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a> +MONEY ISLAND.</h1> + +<h2>ANDREW J. HOWELL, Jr.</h2> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + + +<h4><i>Copyright, 1908, by</i><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a><br /> +ANDREW J. HOWELL, JR.</h4> + + +<h5>Commercial Printing Co.,<a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a><br /> +Wilmington N.C.</h5> +<p> </p> + +<h4><br />CONTENTS: +<a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a></h4> + +<table summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr><td> </td><td>Page.</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#MONEY_ISLAND">Money Island</a></td><td align="right">5</td></tr> +<tr><td><a href="#THE_CONQUEST_OF_JAMESBY">The Conquest of Jamesby</a></td><td align="right">51</td></tr> +</table> + +<hr /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 387px;"> +<img src="images/im1.jpg" +alt="The Little Island Among the Marshes" title="The Little Island Among the Marshes" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MONEY_ISLAND" id="MONEY_ISLAND"></a>MONEY ISLAND.<a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a></h2> + + +<p>This is the story of the buried treasure +on Money Island, which lies in Greenville +Sound, not far from Wilmington, North +Carolina. It was told by Mr. Jonathan +Landstone many years ago, and is a part +of another story which follows, and which +will explain something further about the +mysterious little island that blinks in the +sunlight and tries to hide its secret. The +words are Mr. Landstone's and were written +by him, to make sure that the story +would be told correctly when the time +came to publish it.</p> + + +<p><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a><br /> +<span style="font-size: smaller">(Mr. Landstone's MS.)</span></p> + +<p>My grandfather lived in Charleston, +S.C. My home is in Philadelphia. In +my boyhood I visited him several times. +He was a fine old man, and was very fond +of me. He used to tell me many stories +of the good old colonial days. He said +his father was a pirate; but that pirates +in those days were gentlemen. Although +they made game of the King's revenue +on the high seas, it was regarded as nothing +very wrong; and, although they +played havoc with the Spanish shipping, +it was but the assertion of a time-honored +right of Englishmen, who never did +love Spaniards. They were, many of +them, ingloriously hanged, it is true, but +it was by the King's officers, and not by +the people.</p> + +<p>However, not to defend pirates, or indeed +to condemn them, I will tell you +what my grandfather narrated about his<a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a> +father, who was Capt. John Redfield. He +was a gallant seaman, who consorted with +Charles Vane and other doughty corsairs +of those days of romance upon the seas.</p> + +<p>When Captain Kidd forsook the King's +commission to run down the pirates on +the American coast, and organized his +formidable squadron, Captain Redfield +was chosen as his trusted counsellor, to +accompany the brilliant leader on his adventures. +He gave up his own ship, and +was with Captain Kidd on many voyages, +being entrusted with many a commission +of importance.</p> + +<p>One fine spring morning, while off the +Carolina coast, Captain Kidd was pacing +his deck, enjoying the warm splendor of +the early sunshine. He had just returned +from a successful voyage among +the Spanish colonies of the south, and +was gaily attired after the manner of a +Spanish cavalier. He wore a cocked hat,<a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a> +decked with a yellow band and a black +plume, and a coat of black velvet which +reached down to his knees. His trousers +were blue, and were adorned by large +golden knee-buckles. He wore massive +silver buckles on his shoes. With his +well-proportioned body, neatly trimmed +beard, and steady, alert eyes, he presented +as fine a picture of a man as could +have anywhere been found. His manner +had the dignity and repose of a beneficent +prince, as he gave his orders for the day +and received the salutations of his men.</p> + +<p>The ship had passed the Cape of Fear, +and was making in towards the shore-line, +which Captain Kidd was observing +with great interest. Some near-by point +was evidently the destination. At length, +at his orders, the sails were lowered and +the anchor dropped. "We will lie here +to-day," he remarked, "and have a little +rest."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a>This information met the ready approbation +of the men, who soon disposed +themselves in careless groups about the +ship. They knew it would be a day of +idleness; because there were no forays to +be made upon the land, for the reason +that there wore no human habitations in +those parts. To the buccaneers the locality +was well known as furnishing a safe +retreat when retirement from active work +was desired.</p> + +<p>During the day there were singing, +dancing, feasting. It was a day such as +only a gallant corsair could have with +his merry crew. The hours sped swiftly; +and at dusk anchors were weighed, and +the ship moved a few miles to the northward.</p> + +<p>Captain Kidd, standing at the prow, +called Captain Redfield to him. "Captain," +said he, "I wish to entrust you +with a most important service. I am<a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a> +somewhat overstocked. I have not failed +to be generous to the men; but still I do +not feel at ease for a journey to New England. +You appreciate the situation. I +wish to make a deposit; and, as our interests +along the coast are now beginning +to be extensive, I desire to detail +you as a resident of Carolina to keep an +oversight for me. You will live on this +coast near the location of to-night's deposit. +You will find the climate agreeable, +and other things favorable. I will +hand you for your own use, in case of +need, gold to the value of one thousand +pounds. Is it agreeable, Captain?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, sir; your wishes are my orders."</p> + +<p>"Then, swear by the Holy Virgin that +you will faithfully watch over the stuff; +that you will not touch the chests or their +contents, nor give any information or +suggestion that might lead any one to +their discovery—in fact, that you will<a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a> +not disclose to any one the object of your +residence in this secluded place."</p> + +<p>Captain Redfield doffed his hat, and, raising +his right hand, said, "Captain, I so +swear."</p> + +<p>"Your hand with the oath, Redfield. +You are a trusty fellow, and I have the +fullest confidence in you."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Captain."</p> + +<p>"But, hold," Captain Kidd continued in +his great benevolent voice, "I had forgotten +the conditions. They are: You are +to keep the engagement, if necessary, for +five years. Our calling; as you know, is +a little uncertain. At the end of that +period, if I have not returned, you will +be at liberty to take up the smaller chest +to be deposited to-night, and use the contents, +subject to such division—not to +exceed one-half to each of us—as I may +demand on my return. The same conditions +will apply to the other chest for an<a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a> +additional period of five years. In the +event, however, of any special need, I +may send an order for some of the stuff. +But look you for my signet. See!" And +he drew from his pocket a piece of resin +upon which he had stamped his signet. +"Keep that to prove the genuineness of +my written orders. Is everything satisfactory, +Redfield?"</p> + +<p>"Everything is satisfactory, Captain."</p> + +<p>Captain Redfield was a man of stalwart +build. His height was six feet or more, +and his movements were quick and firm. +His face was beardless and wore an expression +of stability and energy.</p> + +<p>The two stood for some time upon the +prow of the ship, and discussed the locality +of the proposed hiding of the precious +booty. Then Captain Kidd called +two men by name, who promptly responded. +He said, "I have trusted you in +times past, and I desire to do so again.<a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a> +I believe you will not betray my confidence. +We are going to make another +deposit to-night. I have long had the location +in mind. Now, swear by the Holy +Virgin that you will not disturb the stuff +yourselves, nor in any way aid or abet +any one else in doing so."</p> + +<p>They swore with deep earnestness.</p> + +<p>The group continued there awhile, until +the moon rose and shed its silver splendor +on the rolling water about them, +touching the white-capped breakers with +a soft and magic radiance as they dashed +upon the near-by beach.</p> + +<p>Then orders were given for the lowering +of the boat.</p> + +<p>Captain Kidd proceeded to the lockers +of the ship, which opened into his cabin; +and, with the aid of Captain Redfield, +drew forth two iron chests. These he +carried to the outer deck, and carefully +lowered them to the boats by means of<a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a> +ropes. From a respectful distance the +sailors who had no hand in this work +watched the proceedings with eager interest.</p> + +<p>Firearms, shovels, and axes were then +placed in the boat. Four rowers took +their positions; and Captains Kidd and +Redfield climbed down the rope ladder, +and sat in the stern. Everything was +ready, and word was given to ply the +oars.</p> + +<p>Soon the ship became a mystic shape +in the dim distance; and, as the inlet was +entered, it was lost entirely to view. By +tortuous passages among the marshes, +they drew up at the island—Money +Island.</p> + +<p>"Island the fourth!" said Captain Kidd +jocularly. "Magnificent indeed will be +the buccaneer's castle in Merry England +when they all give up their wealth! Ha, +a fine life this; but I suppose as fine a<a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a> +one when the retired merchant from the +South Seas brings his well-earned fortune +to a corner of old England. Not Captain +Kidd then, men, but John So-and-So, a +wise and revered merchant. Ha! Do +you see the game?"</p> + +<p>The sailors sprang upon the land and +pulled the boat well in from the water. +The officers stepped lightly ashore, and +railed against the low-lying branches, +which whipped their faces. The trees +were thick and low, making passage beneath +them arduous and slow. However, +the whole island was small and soon traversed; +and, finally, a spot was selected +as being accessible and suitable to the +purpose.</p> + +<p>Two deep holes about ten feet apart +were dug, and the chests brought and +deposited within them. Some of the +earth was replaced; and then they sought +two small trees to plant above the chests.<a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a> +This was accomplished slowly and carefully, +so that the growth of the trees +would not be stopped.</p> + +<p>At length the task was completed; and +the little island bore within its bosom +wealth sufficient to buy an earldom. The +silence of the dreary solitude sealed the +secret; and there was no man who might +discover it, other than those who laid the +chests in their earthly hiding place. The +moon gave testimony to the hidden treasure, +and bore its silent witness through +the many decades that followed.</p> + +<p>Upon leaving the island, they rowed +to the mainland, which was but a short +distance away; and there Captain Redfield +hid in three places in the ground +the money which Captain Kidd had supplied +him for his own needs, and as compensation +for his services until his return. +The axes and shovels, also, were secreted +in the woods.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a>It was past midnight when they returned +to the ship, which set sail at +break of day towards the north. By +sunset they reached Albemarle Sound, +the rendezvous of some companion buccaneers; +and there waited for several +days feasting and engaging in jovial pastimes.</p> + +<p>Meantime, a small sloop was procured +for Captain Redfield; and, having been +supplied with necessary provisions and +household comforts, and manned by four +sturdy men who knew naught of the buried +treasure, but engaged for the service +on goodly pay, it sailed for the captain's +new home near Money Island.</p> + +<p>Upon reaching their destination, the +pioneer residents set to work at once to +construct temporary quarters, and were +soon provided with a comfortable house. +According to the plans of the Commander-in-Chief, +the men who accompanied<a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a> +Captain Redfield were to understand that +they were to engage in any service that +might come to hand. They were to clear +the land and till it, build houses and +fences, and do such other work as might +tend to prepare the locality for a more +permanent settlement in case it should +be desired to inaugurate such an enterprise.</p> + +<p>The sloop gave them communication +with the outside world, enabling them to +visit Charleston, where a colony had been +lately planted, and the several settlements +to the north. It also afforded Captain +Redfield opportunity to find a wife, +whom he brought to Rindout, as he +styled his new home. There the party +lived in the quiet enjoyment of a life with +nature, which abundantly supplied, during +the frequent periods of recreation, +every facility for hunting, fishing, and +other sports.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a>One year passed, and another reached +its seventh month; and the party had experienced +nothing to arouse more than a +passing interest. There had been no visitors +to their settlement, not even an Indian.</p> + +<p>On one October morning, however, a +ship was seen lying off the inlet. This +was a sight which caused a considerable +stir among them. Captain Redfield debated +the question within himself whether +or not it was the ship of the Commander-in-Chief, +and if it would be wise to +go out and pay her a visit. But he hesitated, +not wishing to jeopardize the commission +imposed upon him.</p> + +<p>Finally, a boat was seen approaching +the shore, bearing a flag at its prow. In +due course this was recognized as the ensign +of Captain Kidd; and everything +wag hastily arranged to receive the leader +with due honor and welcome.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a>As the boat drew near, though, it was +discovered that he was not among the +occupants; but on a seat at the stern, and +with dignified mien, sat Max Brisbau, an +old shipmate of Captain Redfield's, and +a former companion in the service of +Captain Kidd.</p> + +<p>Brisbau alighted, and, extending his +hand to Captain Redfield with suave complacency, +stated that he had came upon +a little service for Captain Kidd, and +would later communicate his object. He +showered courtly attentions upon his +host, who exhibited unfeigned pleasure +in welcoming him.</p> + +<p>The visiting boat's crew consisted of +six men, who enjoyed the companionship +of Captain Redfield's assistants, mingling +with them in their various pursuits. All +the graces of hospitality were generously +displayed, and mirth and good cheer +possessed the men.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a>In the afternoon Captain Redfield was +entertaining his guest in his private room. +Brisbau said he would now advise him +regarding the commission upon which he +was sent; which was, in fact, none other +than the execution of an order from Captain +Kidd for the two cheats that he had +secreted in that neighborhood. Captain +Redfield was to be awarded a generous +portion, and his arduous service as guardian +of the treasure would terminate. In +the name of Captain Kidd, he graciously +extended thanks for the faithfulness +which Captain Redfield had shown in the +discharge of his duties, and gave him assurances +of the high esteem and confidence +of the gallant leader.</p> + +<p>The words were very pleasing; but +Captain Redfield hesitated to make answer. +"It may or may not be true," said +he after a pause, "that Captain Kidd has +buried possessions in this immediate<a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a> +locality. It is not to be denied that he has +secreted treasure along the coast, but +where? That is the question. I have +some knowledge of the hiding place of +some of it, but must have some written +order over the signature and seal of the +Captain to warrant me in disclosing it."</p> + +<p>Brisbau promptly responded that he +had such a communication from Captain +Kidd, and proceeded to draw it from an +inner pocket of his coat. He failed to +find it, and with a great show of annoyance +and a sudden recollection, he exclaimed +with an oath that he had left it +on the dressing table on his ship.</p> + +<p>What was to be done? He would send +immediately out to the ship, and have the +paper brought to him. No, that was +hardly worth while. He assured Captain +Redfield that he would hand him the paper +on their return to the ship, with Captain +Redfield accompanying him.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a>That, Captain Redfield replied, would +hardly be satisfactory. His obligation +was to give information as to the hidden +treasure only upon a well attested written +order from Captain Kidd. Brisbau +cajoled, implored, and vehemently asserted +the injury to his feelings which +the foolish reluctance of his friend caused +him.</p> + +<p>By intuition, Captain Redfield became +convinced, on account of a certain weakness +in the attitude of Brisbau in defending +his request, that there were deceit +and treachery in his conduct. Therefore, +he coolly stated his determination to +make no movement in the matter without +the authority about which he had spoken.</p> + +<p>At this Brisbau rose in great anger and +exclaimed, "I shall have the money, or +your life will be no more than Jack Kettle's, +who flaunted his opposition before +Captain Kidd himself!"</p> + +<p><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a>Hardly had he spoken when Captain +Redfield in the flash of a thought for self-preservation, +sprang upon him. Brisbau, +equally as quick, met the onset and +moved as best he could to avoid the +grasp that threatened him.</p> + +<p>They were quite alone. Redfield was +entirely unarmed, but his opponent wore +a sword at his side, with pistol and knife +hanging from his belt. Having made the +assault, the only safety for Redfield lay +in his gaining the ascendency over his +opponent by sheer physical effort, to enable +him to keep Brisbau from using the +weapons at his side. He missed the +hold around both arms which he had +planned, but firmly secured Brisbau's +right arm, while his own right hand +grasped the other's wrist. These advantages +he succeeded in holding, although +he could do nothing towards disarming<a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a> +Brisbau or binding him more securely as +a captive.</p> + +<p>They struggled long and furiously. +Redfield, whose position required his utmost +exertion, gradually became exhausted; +but he had a desperate determination +to win the mastery over Brisbau, +who was likewise weary from the +struggle and doggedly angry. He feared +a result disastrous to himself if he gave +his opponent an opportunity to use his +weapons.</p> + +<p>Finally, just at a critical moment, Mrs. +Redfield appeared. She started at the +sight which met her eyes; but, seeing +the situation at a glance, she ran back +into the room out of which she had come, +and quickly reappeared with a rope. +With a woman's ready wit, she had found +the means of bringing victory to her husband. +She threw the rope around Brisbau's +shoulders and wound it over his<a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a> +arms until he was powerless to resist further. +He was then easily bound and tied, +body and legs, to a chair, grumbling his +angry displeasure at the turn of affairs.</p> + +<p>Captain Redfield paused a little while +to recover his balance, and sat down +to cogitate the matter of the disposition +of his prisoner; and, also, to watch for +the return of his men from an excursion +they had gone upon for the entertainment +of their guests. They were slow in coming, +and an annoying suspicion grew upon +him. He could not tell what the attitude +of Brisbau's men might be; or if a +conflict between them and his own men +were to occur, what consequences might +ensue. At any rate, he wished to avoid +such a conflict if it were by any means +possible; but he feared it could not be +done. His good wife was greatly concerned, +and urged upon him some amicable +settlement with Brisbau, even to the<a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a> +delivery of part of the treasure; for, after +all, she thought, his claim might be just.</p> + +<p>An hour later, one of Captain Redfield's +men returned; and, to his great dismay, +informed him that an agreement had been +made with the visiting seamen which +would affect their standing with him, but +would work him no harm. He said that, +upon the arrival of the other men, the +matter would be discussed with the Captain, +and meantime he would take no +steps toward providing a defense for him +in a conflict which was not likely to occur.</p> + +<p>This disclosure was startling, and a +shock to the spirit which had upheld +Captain Redfield. His first impulse was +to attack the man for what he considered +the basest treachery, but he desisted. +Parley with him he could not. He could +only await the consequences of the compact +which had been hinted at. But<a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a> +upon one thing he was determined—not to +disclose any knowledge of the secreted +treasure without first having in hand the +credentials from Captain Kidd which he +had demanded. His honor had been +pledged to such a course, and he would +not forsake his trust.</p> + +<p>The men came. But they looked with +indifference upon the bound prisoner. +There was no display of the strong feelings +which had been anticipated. The +situation was obvious. So far as Captain +Redfield was concerned, he felt that he +had been forsaken, betrayed. There was +no man who stood with him. In vain he +pleaded with his men to stand by him in +his defense against a most dastardly plan +to wrong him. He then inquired their +attitude towards Brisbau, and received +an evasive answer.</p> + +<p>At length he gave up the struggle, and +sought to learn the purpose of the men<a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a> +who had all now gathered before him; +those of his own company, and those who +had come with Brisbau. One of them as +spokesman, a new-comer, informed him +that he and his friends had accompanied +Captain Brisbau for the purpose of securing +some of the buried treasure, which +was known to be in that neighborhood; +and they intended to find the booty before +leaving. He also stated that Captain +Redfield's men, upon learning about the +hidden treasure, had agreed to become +confederates; and that their master would +be treated in every way as a friend, and +be given a full share of the treasure, provided +he would properly inform them and +Captain Brisbau, whom they intended to +release immediately, as to its location. +If he for any reason should refuse so to +favor them, he and his wife would be +treated as prisoners, and dealt with as +might seem best—until, of course, he<a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a> +would consent to aid them in their project.</p> + +<p>The response that came was firm and +unmistakable. The brave custodian +averred that he would not betray his +trust, even in the very face of death. +Nor did days of urging and threatening +turn him from his purpose.</p> + +<p>Brisbau was released, and given to understand +that the men were in control of +affairs; and that his animosity towards +Captain Redfield must cease.</p> + +<p>The woods were scoured for the treasure. +Days passed, and weeks, and the +search was incessant; but there was no +discovery made. Captain Redfield and +his wife, now prisoners in chains, were +urged and implored; but he could not be +persuaded to give the information, although +the mental tension he suffered +was almost unbearable.</p> + +<p>One day on a sudden determination, +Brisbau set sail with his men and<a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a> +companions, together with the prisoners. +His purpose was to take a short cruise +and then return; meantime allowing Captain +Redfield a further opportunity to disclose +his secret; otherwise—and he repeated +his threat made upon his first day +at Rindout.</p> + +<p>The ship stopped at Charleston, and, +almost immediately upon its arrival, it +was seized under a suspicion of piracy, +and a search made for evidences of the +unlawful traffic. The prisoners were released +through some favor of the authorities, +but Brisbau and his men were imprisoned. +In the hands of the king's officers +their lives were in great jeopardy, +but they finally escaped the scaffold.</p> + +<p>As to Captain Redfield and his wife, +the unexpected release was a most welcome +boon. For her he had felt the tenderest +and most agonized solicitude. The +temptation to acquiesce in the demand of<a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a> +his captors and thus free her from the +trying situation came often to him with a +weight under which he almost broke +down. When it was over, the joy of freedom +was as great as the suffering had been +while they were prisoners. He lived +thereafter at Charleston, and soon outgrew +the suspicion with which he was +at first regarded, of having being connected +with the buccaneers. He determined +to settle down to an honest, industrious +life. My grandfather was born soon after.</p> + +<p>Captain Redfield was never afterwards +known to refer to anything connected +with a pirate in conversation with any +one; and I have never learned whether +or not he ever afterwards visited Rindout. +I know he was wealthy; but then he +worked hard and saved his earnings, and +I do not believe he increased his store from +the hidden chests on Money Island. The +story I have now written he told to my<a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a> +grandfather in his old age, and, upon relating +it, he urged the greatest caution in +his use of it.</p> + +<p>Twice my grandfather made unsuccessful +efforts to find the chests. He +urged that I, his grandchild, should keep +the knowledge of the treasure as a family +heritage; but that I might do as I +liked about it. After giving the subject +very careful thought, I have now given +up the secret of Money Island, and have +not withheld a single detail which was +told me. Of course, nearly a century and +a half has elapsed since the precious +booty was hidden. The story, therefore, +is old, but I do not believe it has suffered +from age. Captain Kidd was executed +in London not long after the hiding +of the treasure, and his associates +gave up their old calling; and probably +no one has since disturbed the precious +chests.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a> +Now, as to when I first heard Mr. Landstone's +story. It was when I was a boy +in the early forties, and the events connected +with its telling have modified its +conclusion, as will presently be seen. I +have heretofore spoken very little of the +subject to any one; and when I have +done so at all, it has been to one or two +intimate friends as a matter of particular +confidence. In my old age, however, I +am going to let my tale forsake its hiding-place +and become public property.</p> + +<p>My parents owned a summer home on +Greenville Sound not far from Money Island. +To us children it was the very +heart of life. The best pleasure of the +year was confined to the four months spent +there from the first of June to the last<a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a> +day of September. We rowed, sailed, +fished, swam, hunted, frolicked, and ran +the whole gamut of youthful delights. +Those good days are yet vivid in memory; +and it is a matter of regret with me that +my grandchildren—as fine boys and girls +as ever lived—cannot have the same wild, +wholesome fun at the Sound as fell to my +lot when I was a boy.</p> + +<p>The time that I now speak of, however, +was about the middle of May, the +balmy month of soft breezes and bright +flowers. I had been particularly studious +in school, and my father agreed to +let me spend three days at the Sound in +company with a young friend. We arranged +our food supply, took the old family +rockaway, and set out early in the +morning, as happy a pair of boys as ever +started on a project of pleasure.</p> + +<p>After spending an hour or two at the +Sound house, arranging our fishing tackle<a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a> +and looking after the boats, which had +been hauled up for the winter, we started +out on a sail towards the beach. It was +a fine day for sailing, and the breeze bore +us away as smoothly and quickly as if +we had been in a balloon. As we passed +Money Island, we observed a boat moored +on the south side, and tried to locate +the occupants; but we could see nobody, +and concluded that it belonged to a fishing +party who had, for some reason, left +the boat tied there.</p> + +<p>We sailed on; and when we had gone +perhaps half a mile away. I happened to +turn around, and was surprised to see +two men stealthily embarking in the boat +with what appeared to be shovels and +rods of some kind. This sight was too +much for our youthful imagination. So +we decided at once to change our course, +and essayed to follow at a distance the +movements of the other boat. This we<a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a> +had no difficulty in doing; and we afterwards +learned that we were successful +in our efforts to avoid the suspicion of +purposely following it.</p> + +<p>The men sailed down the Sound a short +distance to the south, and made for the +shore in a little cove at a somewhat secluded +place.</p> + +<p>We were familiar with the locality, and +decided to wait until later for a closer +observation. Accordingly, we bore once +again toward the beach, and enjoyed an +hour watching the breakers roll upon the +shore, and in picking up curios, such as +are always to be found upon the sea +beach.</p> + +<p>Upon our return, we passed close to +the little cove into which the boat had +gone, and could readily discern through +the trees a tent not far inland; in front of +which were seated the two strangers, +watching a pot hung over a fire made<a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a> +upon the ground. This excited an additional +flutter of wonderment with us. Indeed, +what we had seen, coupled with +the current tradition regarding Money +Island, soon wrought us up into a fever +of excitement; for it was very suggestive +of a search for the treasure on the +island.</p> + +<p>I had heard from my early childhood +that Captain Kidd, the historic and lordly +pirate, who reigned supreme upon the +high seas during the seventeenth century, +was supposed to have buried some of +his booty on Money Island. Everybody +was familiar with the tradition; and I +doubt if there is, even now, a single person +reared in the town of Wilmington, of +in the vicinity of the Sound, who has not +likewise been told the same indefinite +story about the little island. But the +presence of these two strangers, and their +somewhat mysterious conduct, gave the<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a> +tradition a touch of reality such as it +could never have otherwise had.</p> + +<p>We concluded that these men had evidently +some positive information on the +subject, and were showing their confidence +in that information by prosecuting +a search for the hidden treasure, at much +trouble and expense. This was clear to +us, and we talked the matter over that +night with eager interest. We surmised +every possible case that might have furnished +the strange visitors with a working +clue to the discovery of the treasure. +Speculation ran high. But there was one +thing that we became agreed upon, and +that was, to become, if possible, parties +to the secret enterprise. We pondered +with boys' shrewdness how this should +be done. This we could not decide upon; +but we determined to play a venture toward +the desired end. The attitude of +innocent curiosity seemed best suited to<a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a> +our purpose. So we planned to draw up +at Money Island in the morning if we observed +that the men were there; and to +approach them in an unsuspicious manner, +as if we had just happened to stop at +the Island without any definite motive. +This should work as a capital ruse, and, +we felt confident, it would initiate a connection +on our part with the mysterious +search.</p> + +<p>That point settled, we concluded to investigate +the tent and its occupants as +well as we might under the cover of darkness, +and we promptly set out upon that +project. We approached within a hundred +feet of the tent, and saw the men +still sitting in the light of the fire at the +tent door; but there was no discovery of +importance. They were merely talking +quietly and carelessly about some ship +that one of them seemed to be interested +in. We could hear their conversation<a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a> +distinctly, and we were also able to take +a good observation of their appearance.</p> + +<p>One of them was a man upwards of sixty, +of robust build and gray hair and +beard. He had a kind face, which bore +the aspect of one accustomed only to the +quieter walks of life, unfamiliar with adventure +and ill-suited to an enterprise +such as they were now apparently engaged +upon. The other man had a +weather-beaten face with a long nose, +and a swagger of manner which betokened +the sailor. This, we afterwards learned, +had been his occupation. We watched +them for about an hour; but finally +withdrew in the hope of making a better +acquaintance in the morning.</p> + +<p>Soon after daylight we began eagerly +to watch for the boat, which appeared +around a bend in the Sound after the lapse +of an hour or so and headed straight for +the Island. We loitered about the yard<a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a> +a little while longer, and then made ready +our yacht without any appearance of +haste.</p> + +<p>On setting sail, we made for the beach; +but, upon reaching there, turned back at +once and sailed for Money Island in an +indirect course. We soon reached there +and stepped upon the shore. The men +immediately dropped their implements. +They returned our salutation pleasantly. +We observed with much surprise the disturbed +state of the ground and the holes +which had been dug; and then began to +make inquiries as innocently as we could +as to their object. Our plans of the night +before began to work successfully.</p> + +<p>By sheer force of persistence, we won +our way into their confidence, and worked +with them until late in the afternoon. +For they were indeed on a determined +search for Captain Kidd's buried treasure.</p> + +<p>We were in constant expectation of<a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a> +discovering the chests of gold—two iron +chests, which Mr. Landstone, the elder +gentleman, assured us he felt positive +were there. But the discovery was not +made, and they said this had been the +fourth day of labor on the Island.</p> + +<p>The conclusion was reached that, either +the surrounding water had encroached +upon that portion of the Island where the +treasure had been buried, and had thus +imposed an almost impossible barrier to +its being unearthed; or that the chests +had become imbedded beneath the massive +roots of two dwarfed old oaks which +stood gnarled and storm-worn in the centre +of the island. To the task of removing +these trees the men felt entirely unequal +after their days of work; and, +therefore, it was decided to wait a day +or two, and approach the task of doing so, +if at all, with renewed spirit.</p> + +<p>Upon invitation, we boys accompanied<a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a> +the men to their camp and had supper +with them. We were entertained by stories +of adventure and travel, of sea voyage, +of Indian warfare; and, finally, after +several requests of Mr. Landstone, with +the story of Money Island. He said he +would tell it upon condition that its secrecy +would be kept inviolate, at least +for many years. So, in the weird light of +a large pine-wood fire among the trees, +we had the story of Money Island, told +in the living voice of a capital story-teller, +in almost the same words as are used in +the MS he gave me that night, and which +has now been publicly printed.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Landstone finished, we boys +sat in breathless amazement, overcome +by the glamour of romance which the +story had thrown around the mysterious +little island.</p> + +<p>The old sailor forgot his pipe, which +turned over and dropped its contents to<a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a> +the ground. "Aye, sir," he exclaimed, +"we will surely uproot those trees in the +morning!" And that became the decision +of us all.</p> + +<p>I remember that, after a long pause, I +asked, to reassure myself, "Mr. Landstone, +do you really believe that story?" +He laughed and said, "Well, you see I +am on an undertaking I have had in mind +for nearly fifty years. Yes, I believe +those chests are there."</p> + +<p>That was enough. I did not sleep an +hour that night; and the next morning +we were early at the task of searching +for the treasure. And a stupendous undertaking +it proved to be. All day we +labored at one tree. The roots were massive +and wide-spread, and the work of +cutting and removing them required the +utmost exertion. Finally, just before +sunset, we completed the task, and began +to dig for the treasure in the earth below.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a>Already water had begun to percolate +into the hole, and ere we had gone much +deeper, it flooded it so that we found it +impossible to continue the excavation. +Then we resorted to our sounding rod +again for a last ray of hope, and almost +immediately it struck something hard! +Our spirits rose within us.</p> + +<p>I tore off my clothes, and jumped into +the water. After working for some time, +with the aid of a shovel, I brought to the +surface a piece of rusty sheet iron. Nothing +more could be found. We gathered +round the worn sheet of metal, and held +a solemn consultation.</p> + +<p>The conclusion was reached that the +piece of iron which we found was in reality +a part of one of Captain Kidd's chests, +which had become rust-eaten and crumbled, +and which had been torn asunder +by the growing roots of the tree, and +parts of it carried in various directions by<a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a> +them as they had spread, scattering the +contents through the ground.</p> + +<p>We became animated with a new purpose; +and the old sailor seized a shovel +and began vigorously to throw more +earth from the excavation; but darkness +was falling, and we urged him to wait +until the next morning.</p> + +<p>"What about the sand already thrown +out?" some one exclaimed at this juncture. +The suggestion had hardly been +offered before we all bent forward, and +thrust our hands into the pile of wet, +black sand lying about us.</p> + +<p>I at once felt something round and suggestive. +"Look at this!" I cried. It was +a blackened gold coin! In the darkness +we hurriedly sifted the sand with our +fingers; and each one soon found several +pieces of money.</p> + +<p>With feverish energy, we thus labored +until late in the night, meeting with<a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a> +constant success; and, when we stopped, every +one had a precious pile to carry back +to the shore. The coins were all corroded +and misshapen through the action of the +salty mud in which they had lain, and +the disturbance caused by the roots of +the trees. A few silver coins were found, +but all were in a very worn condition; +some being little more than ragged discs +of the thickness of paper. Others, or +the remains of them, crumbled into a +black powder at the touch of our fingers. +The gold was in better preservation; and +we secured a goodly store of it.</p> + +<p>We secreted our treasure in the woods +on shore, and early the next morning returned +to our work. I can well remember +our exultant feeling as we set out in +our boats. "Boys," Mr. Landstone called +out, as we were sailing over the narrow +stretches of water toward the island, +"how do you feel?"</p> + +<p>"<a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a>I feel like—like—" I answered, rising +in my seat and lifting my hat to cheer.</p> + +<p>"None of that!" he said quickly—but +I knew I was about to express the excited +feeling of us all.</p> + +<p>As to our further success, I would say +that it was unabated during nearly the +whole day. I think we secured every +piece of precious metal that had been +buried beneath the tree. The following +day we uprooted the other tree, but failed +to find any trace of more booty. We +concluded that the remaining chest had +probably been removed; but that is still +an unsettled question.</p> + +<p>Besides the coin, we had discovered the +remains of much silver plate; but it was +of little value, being almost entirely destroyed. +But the gold—there was an +abundance of it, and we were all made +rich!</p> + +<p>In the meantime our parents appeared<a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a> +on the scene to learn the cause of our +protracted absence from home. It is +needless to say that there was no rod of +correction held over us that day.</p> + +<p>If I had taken care of my share of the +treasure as I should have done after my +father's death, I would be living in luxury +and comfort to-day; but, even regretting +my poor judgment, I can now thank +a good Providence that I have been sustained +through a long life, which has had +an undue share of misfortune, by the +splendid fortune which came to me in +that happy May of long ago.</p> + +<hr /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 369px;"> +<img src="images/im2.jpg" +alt=""The decaying hulks of blockade runners that rise a little here and there above the waves"" +title=""The decaying hulks of blockade runners that rise a little here and there above the waves"" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="THE_CONQUEST_OF_JAMESBY" id="THE_CONQUEST_OF_JAMESBY"></a><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a> +THE CONQUEST OF JAMESBY.</h2> + + +<p>I reached home for tea a little late, and +saw my young friend Jamesby in the back +yard where he had gone to admire my +fowls, in which I take a just pride. Old +Henry, my colored servant, was playing +the part of host; for there was no one +else at home. When I made my appearance, +the chickens had evidently become +a matter of secondary interest.</p> + +<p>Jamesby, a rising young banker of the +city, was sitting on an empty box near +the fence, and Henry was standing before +him, leaning upon his cane, chuckling +and talking in his customary deferential +manner, which has always made him a +very acceptable servant about my premises.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a>I approached without being observed, +and did not hail them, for I did not wish +to intrude too suddenly upon what appeared +to be a very amusing subject of +conversation. I heard Jamesby say +laughingly, "Why, it was in the paper +this morning—five or six columns of it! +It was a great big yarn. I can't imagine +why he never told you anything about +it."</p> + +<p>I knew what they were talking about. +I was well aware that I had told my tale +of Money Island for publication; for had +I not been sought after by men, women, +and children for every imaginable explanation +and sidelight relating to the story +which might have been omitted from the +MS furnished the printer? And had I +not been asked to repeat by living voice +facts in the narrative which I had written, +as I thought, with entire clearness +in the published story? The boys had<a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a> +all read the story, and I had been put to +my wits' end to answer the questions +asked by them; but I had assured several +of them that if they would take a copy of +the paper, go to the Island and there read +it on the very spot where the treasure +had been buried, and then and there take +a careful survey of the situation, there +would be no difficulty in their comprehending +even the slightest detail. This +seemed to me to be a very sensible suggestion; +and I suppose some of them will +carry it out.</p> + +<p>While I really enjoyed the experience +of having entertained so many people +that day, I was fairly well fatigued when +I reached home, where I thought I could +at least be quiet and free from the constant +inquiries of interested friends.</p> + +<p>But here was Jamesby with designs +against me! He had dashed my fond +hopes of rest; although he was somehow<a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a> +always considerate and endurable. I +could never become impatient with him, +even if I knew he was going to make demands +upon me for more information +concerning Money Island.</p> + +<p>"What is Uncle Henry telling you, +Jamesby?" I asked on drawing closer to +them.</p> + +<p>"Oh," he answered in a somewhat self-conscious +manner, "he was about to tell +me of an experience of his in money digging."</p> + +<p>Now, I had heard old Henry tell that +story before. It was one which seemed +to justify his very sober ideas as to money +getting by any other means than by one's +daily work.</p> + +<p>"Well, Henry," I said, taking my seat +also on the box, "did you really ever dig +for money?"—as if I had never before +heard him say anything about it. The<a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a> +implied doubt would, I knew, make him +all the more ready to talk.</p> + +<p>He replied promptly, with a grin of interest, +"Yes, sah, cose I tried money +diggin'."</p> + +<p>Then he paused as if to await an invitation +to proceed. "Go on, Uncle Henry," +urged Jamesby.</p> + +<p>Henry shifted his position, and, leaning +upon his cane from another angle, +went on: "'Twas dis away. Once uponer +time me an' John Gomus an' John +Flowers, we was round at Mr. Holmes' +stables, right back of Mr. Kidder's whey +I uster keep my horse and kyart; dere +was woods right dare den, sah, an' a +graveyard; an' I had a horse and kyart of +my own. So one evenin' an ole white +'oman come fum de Sound, an' she tole +us that a sperit had done tole her whey +some money was buried; an' she wanted +us to come down dere and dig it up; she<a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a> +couldn't dig for it, but she knowed whey +'twas—de sperit had tole her. So we got +togedder and made a club to go down—three +of us. De place was on Wrightsville +Sound, not fur from Mr. Wright's +place.</p> + +<p>"De sign was, dat one read de Bible +back'ards, and no one speak—all hadter +go by signs, an' dat'd keep de sperits fum +pesterin' us. John Gomus, he had de rod +goin' roun', an' fonn' a place to stick it. +I dunno why he stick it whey he did. +De rod pinted right down dere; and right +whey de rod pinted we digged. When +we commence diggin', it was about half-past +eight o'clock, and we worked hard, +sah. We digged a hole big enough to set +a small house in. John, he kep' bearin' +on de rod, an' de rod it kep' goin' down. +Den de rod at las' struck sumpn; and we +was so glad, thinkin' we'd struck de pot! +Every one was rejoiced! We didn' talk,<a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a> +but jes fling up de dirt! An' when we dig +down dere, sah, what you spose 'twas. +Nothin' but a big ole cow's horn. An' +after all dat diggin'! We done an' digged +a hole 'bout fifteen or twenty feet across, +and goodness knows how deep; an' 'twas +'bout four in de mornin' before we quit. +We pack up an' come back home, feelin' +jes as cheap as a wet chicken.</p> + +<p>"De ole 'oman come 'roun agin, an' tole +us dat de money was dere; fer de sperit +had tole her agin 'twas dere. But we +warn't anxious to try for it agin. We +thought we done enough."</p> + +<p>Old Henry chuckled, and limped away; +and we both laughed heartily at his droll +yarn. Jamesby enjoyed the tale particularly; +and, although I felt that it might +somehow be at my expense, I was duly +amused.</p> + +<p>When Jamesby descended from his hilarious +heights, he turned to me rather<a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a> +gravely, and said, "Now, I want it from +your own lips; did you really dig for +money on Money Island?"</p> + +<p>I answered, "I did."</p> + +<p>"And," he continued, "was that a true +story you told about it?"</p> + +<p>"Now, Jamesby," I replied, "I really +cannot endure this doubt cast upon the +truthfulness of my story. I decline to +discuss the matter. You have read the +paper, and you know me as the author of +the story."</p> + +<p>"But," he added in rather a comical +tone, "there are some things which (with +all due respect for your trustworthiness) +call for a more positive confirmation."</p> + +<p>I knew I would not have written anything +on so important a subject without +proper consideration; and he knew it too. +However, I realized the fact that an effort +to believe such a story as I had offered to +the public may have made a somewhat<a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a> +weighty demand upon credulity, at least +with some people. To answer his last +suggestion, I merely drew out of my +pocket a copy of the "Savannah Morning +News", containing an account of a stranger's +mysterious movements about Warsaw +Island near Savannah, and his sudden +disappearance, leaving good evidence +that he had carried with him a hidden +treasure found there, and which tradition +had stated lay upon the Island. I also +reminded him of the fact that Dutch Island +near Savannah is full of what are +known as "treasure holes", which have +been made by persons seeking the buried +booty of the pirates of the olden times. +He knew all about these; and he had also +heard that some of the enterprising explorers +into the mysteries of that island +had been successful.</p> + +<p>But Jamesby was still incredulous. So +I turned the conversation to my fowls;<a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a> +and he was very ready to admit that I +had told the genuine thing in describing +to him some of the excellent points of my +prize birds. There was no doubt that I +could exhibit several specimens which +any fancier would be proud of.</p> + +<p>Jamesby remained to tea, so that we +could go to the lodge together, and I enjoyed +the quiet stroll down town with +him. We had hardly entered the hall, +though, before the historian of the town, +who is also a leading Mason, approached +me regarding my Money Island revelations. +"Sir," he said, "I regard it +throughout as a most interesting and +plausible narrative; and I am glad we +have been favored by being allowed to +read it. I have made a study of the pirates +who infested our coast in the early +colonial days, and I know that this section, +particularly the lower region of the +Cape Fear, was a favorite rendezvous for<a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a> +them. It is known upon most reliable +information that there are immense quantities +of captured treasure secreted along +the coast, and the wonder is that there +have not been some really serious efforts +to find it."</p> + +<p>Another gentleman added, "Yes, and +they also buried treasure further down +South; for at my old home (and I speak +the honest trath) I have stood in the hole +from which my friend, Mr. Coachman, +unearthed accidentally a small fortune, +which gave him a very comfortable start +in life."</p> + +<p>The conversation lingered in this absorbing +vein until the meeting was opened, +much to my relief; for I had been +surfeited with the subject of money finding +for that day, at least. But that was +not all; for, during the solemnity of the +opening exercises, I heard some one telling, +in an undertone, of a negro who had<a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a> +found a roll of old bank notes in a log +which had been hauled to a saw mill to +be cut.</p> + +<p>The next day I was still aware that I +possessed an unusual attraction; and I +resigned myself patiently to the service +of all my inquiring friends. Jamesby actually +stopped by my office to walk up +with me at lunch time. He was willing +to move along slowly with me, for now +in my old age I find I have to walk slowly. +I knew it would have been more natural +for him to have gone on briskly; but +he was polite and assured me that the +pleasure of my company was better than +too much time spent at his meal.</p> + +<p>We stopped on the way at a newspaper +office. The editor and proprietor had observed +our approach and they were +awaiting us with looks of amused interest. +"Hello!" the proprietor said cheerily, +"you have really stimulated the<a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a> +enterprise of the town. Why have you +kept so reticent on that subject all these +years?"</p> + +<p>Of course, I knew what subject was +referred to; for I had been living for those +two days in an atmosphere filled with +the phantoms of hidden gold, buried +treasure, marvelous discoveries, pirates +and other engaging topics of thought; +and I now looked for nothing else.</p> + +<p>"In my opinion," he continued, "it was +a very good story. Of course, it goes +without saying that it is true. I tell you, +sir, that it is my judgment that this whole +section of coast line is rich in gold. Not +only did those pirates bury gold here, +but, during the Civil War, the Confederate +blockade runners, when fearing capture, +were known repeatedly to throw +gold into the sea along the beach, sometimes +by the keg full; and not one dollar's +worth of it has ever yet been recovered,<a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a> +so far as I can learn. It is all right +there where they dropped it. And besides +that, at least on one occasion, it is +a well proven fact that a chest of gold +was buried by the commander of one of +the blockade runners in the marsh grass +on the shore not far below Wilmington; +and there is no evidence that it has ever +yet been unearthed. In fact, all knowledge +of the exact spot has been lost, I +understand."</p> + +<p>"Yes," interposed the editor, "it is all +quite reasonable; and, as something germain +to the subject, I can cite an interesting +instance. When, soon after the +War our old Confederate naval captain +bought his home on Greenville Sound and +was preparing to build his residence, he +had the old house which stood upon the +site torn down, and, upon the carpenters +coming one morning to begin the erection +of the new building, they found an<a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a> +immense excavation right where the old +house stood. Now, that old building was +in former years used by a Portuguese as +an inn for the entertainment of sailors +from the vessels in the port of Wilmington; +and, there being certain traditions +in regard to some money having been +buried beneath it, it was natural to conclude +that the excavation resulted from +an energetic effort to find the money. +The hole was made at night, but by whom +it has never been found out. The incident +was shrouded in a mystery which +has never been cleared."</p> + +<p>We talked still further along that vein, +the editor emphatically asserting his assured +belief in the possibility of recovering +quantities of gold from the seashore +below Wilmington, and from the decaying +hulks of blockade runners that rise a +little here and there above the waves, +where they met a disastrous check to<a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a> +their efforts to slip into the harbor.</p> + +<p>As we started out again upon the street, +Jamesby said, "Well, sir,—pardon my +frankness—but I must say that I have +never found your company so interesting +before; and I shall be equally frank in +saying that—I have never been able yet +to believe half the tales I have heard +about the mysterious discovery of buried +treasure. There is something so unsubstantial +about most of them. Of course, +there may be some exceptions, and—"</p> + +<p>"Jamesby," I interrupted in good humor, +"don't let your frankness expire for +the lack of the proper courage. Let your +speech continue during the whole run of +an honest statement. But it's all right. +I have some indisputable proofs—"</p> + +<p>"Good morning!" It was young Riggins +who joined us. "I read that story +of yours, sir. It was good, I must say. +It is just like something that happened<a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a> +in my own personal experience. A few +months ago, I was down at Homosassa, +Florida; and, while I was there, some +clam diggers discovered a large chest of +old Spanish coin. They sold them to the +Government for thirty thousand dollars, +and have now retired from the clam business."</p> + +<p>That was a tale rather to the point, and +Jamesby received it soberly; but I laughed +out of sheer appreciation of another +good yarn.</p> + +<p>I did not see Jamesby for several days. +I knew it was his busy season; but I really +wished to know how he fared. So, +I decided to look him up. He was a happy, +enthusiastic, ingenuous young fellow, +and I had become quite accustomed to +having his cheerful company occasionally.</p> + +<p>I found him sitting at his desk in intense +abstraction; but he soon observed +me standing before him, and quickly<a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a> +arose with a hearty welcome, such as he +alone knew how to extend.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, sir," he said enthusiastically, +"it is a magnificent project!"</p> + +<p>"What is?" I answered. "I don't +know—"</p> + +<p>"Oh," he continued, absently, "I forgot; +it was my brother I was talking +with. But I have investigated thoroughly +the whole subject of those blockade +runners, and I believe the prospect of +success is worth a giant effort for the recovery +of some of that money from the +sea. There must be untold quantities of +it lying there, inviting even a meagre attempt +to get it. The boats can be chartered +cheaply; and I have learned that +the necessary divers can be secured on +an equitable division of the spoils. There +are many details of the organization of +the enterprise which I have thought out."</p> + +<p>His voice had an eager ring, and his +eyes sparkled with interest.</p> + +<p>"Jamesby, my boy," I answered calmly, +"you are decidedly on the right track. +I wish you all good fortune."</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MONEY ISLAND***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 17415-h.txt or 17415-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/4/1/17415">http://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/4/1/17415</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution.</p> + + + +<pre> +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license)</a>. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org">http://www.gutenberg.org</a> + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/</a> + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/17415-h/images/im1.jpg b/17415-h/images/im1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a355b32 --- /dev/null +++ b/17415-h/images/im1.jpg diff --git a/17415-h/images/im2.jpg b/17415-h/images/im2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f52f9a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/17415-h/images/im2.jpg diff --git a/17415.txt b/17415.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b47f6ff --- /dev/null +++ b/17415.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1413 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Money Island, by Andrew Jackson Howell, Jr. + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Money Island + + +Author: Andrew Jackson Howell, Jr. + + + +Release Date: December 30, 2005 [eBook #17415] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MONEY ISLAND*** + + +E-text prepared by Irma Spehar, Cori Samuel, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net/) from page +images generously made available by the Joyner Library of East Carolina +University (http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 17402-h.htm or 17402-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/4/0/17402/17402-h/17402-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/4/0/17402/17402-h.zip) + + Images of the original pages are available through the North + Carolina History and Fiction Digital Library of the Joyner + Library, East Carolina University. See + http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/historyfiction/document/hom/ + + + + + +MONEY ISLAND. + +by + +ANDREW J. HOWELL, Jr. + + + + + + + +Copyright, 1908, by +Andrew J. Howell, Jr. +Commercial Printing Co., +Wilmington N.C. + + + + + +CONTENTS: + Page. + + Money Island 5 + + The Conquest of Jamesby 51 + + + + +[Illustration: The Little Island Among the Marshes] + + + + +MONEY ISLAND. + + +This is the story of the buried treasure on Money Island, which lies in +Greenville Sound, not far from Wilmington, North Carolina. It was told +by Mr. Jonathan Landstone many years ago, and is a part of another story +which follows, and which will explain something further about the +mysterious little island that blinks in the sunlight and tries to hide +its secret. The words are Mr. Landstone's and were written by him, to +make sure that the story would be told correctly when the time came to +publish it. + + +(Mr. Landstone's MS.) + +My grandfather lived in Charleston, S.C. My home is in Philadelphia. In +my boyhood I visited him several times. He was a fine old man, and was +very fond of me. He used to tell me many stories of the good old +colonial days. He said his father was a pirate; but that pirates in +those days were gentlemen. Although they made game of the King's revenue +on the high seas, it was regarded as nothing very wrong; and, although +they played havoc with the Spanish shipping, it was but the assertion of +a time-honored right of Englishmen, who never did love Spaniards. They +were, many of them, ingloriously hanged, it is true, but it was by the +King's officers, and not by the people. + +However, not to defend pirates, or indeed to condemn them, I will tell +you what my grandfather narrated about his father, who was Capt. John +Redfield. He was a gallant seaman, who consorted with Charles Vane and +other doughty corsairs of those days of romance upon the seas. + +When Captain Kidd forsook the King's commission to run down the pirates +on the American coast, and organized his formidable squadron, Captain +Redfield was chosen as his trusted counsellor, to accompany the +brilliant leader on his adventures. He gave up his own ship, and was +with Captain Kidd on many voyages, being entrusted with many a +commission of importance. + +One fine spring morning, while off the Carolina coast, Captain Kidd was +pacing his deck, enjoying the warm splendor of the early sunshine. He +had just returned from a successful voyage among the Spanish colonies of +the south, and was gaily attired after the manner of a Spanish cavalier. +He wore a cocked hat, decked with a yellow band and a black plume, and +a coat of black velvet which reached down to his knees. His trousers +were blue, and were adorned by large golden knee-buckles. He wore +massive silver buckles on his shoes. With his well-proportioned body, +neatly trimmed beard, and steady, alert eyes, he presented as fine a +picture of a man as could have anywhere been found. His manner had the +dignity and repose of a beneficent prince, as he gave his orders for the +day and received the salutations of his men. + +The ship had passed the Cape of Fear, and was making in towards the +shore-line, which Captain Kidd was observing with great interest. Some +near-by point was evidently the destination. At length, at his orders, +the sails were lowered and the anchor dropped. "We will lie here +to-day," he remarked, "and have a little rest." + +This information met the ready approbation of the men, who soon disposed +themselves in careless groups about the ship. They knew it would be a +day of idleness; because there were no forays to be made upon the land, +for the reason that there wore no human habitations in those parts. To +the buccaneers the locality was well known as furnishing a safe retreat +when retirement from active work was desired. + +During the day there were singing, dancing, feasting. It was a day such +as only a gallant corsair could have with his merry crew. The hours sped +swiftly; and at dusk anchors were weighed, and the ship moved a few +miles to the northward. + +Captain Kidd, standing at the prow, called Captain Redfield to him. +"Captain," said he, "I wish to entrust you with a most important +service. I am somewhat overstocked. I have not failed to be generous to +the men; but still I do not feel at ease for a journey to New England. +You appreciate the situation. I wish to make a deposit; and, as our +interests along the coast are now beginning to be extensive, I desire to +detail you as a resident of Carolina to keep an oversight for me. You +will live on this coast near the location of to-night's deposit. You +will find the climate agreeable, and other things favorable. I will hand +you for your own use, in case of need, gold to the value of one thousand +pounds. Is it agreeable, Captain?" + +"Aye, sir; your wishes are my orders." + +"Then, swear by the Holy Virgin that you will faithfully watch over the +stuff; that you will not touch the chests or their contents, nor give +any information or suggestion that might lead any one to their +discovery--in fact, that you will not disclose to any one the object of +your residence in this secluded place." + +Captain Redfield doffed his hat, and, raising his right hand, said, +"Captain, I so swear." + +"Your hand with the oath, Redfield. You are a trusty fellow, and I have +the fullest confidence in you." + +"Thank you, Captain." + +"But, hold," Captain Kidd continued in his great benevolent voice, "I +had forgotten the conditions. They are: You are to keep the engagement, +if necessary, for five years. Our calling; as you know, is a little +uncertain. At the end of that period, if I have not returned, you will +be at liberty to take up the smaller chest to be deposited to-night, and +use the contents, subject to such division--not to exceed one-half to +each of us--as I may demand on my return. The same conditions will apply +to the other chest for an additional period of five years. In the +event, however, of any special need, I may send an order for some of the +stuff. But look you for my signet. See!" And he drew from his pocket a +piece of resin upon which he had stamped his signet. "Keep that to prove +the genuineness of my written orders. Is everything satisfactory, +Redfield?" + +"Everything is satisfactory, Captain." + +Captain Redfield was a man of stalwart build. His height was six feet or +more, and his movements were quick and firm. His face was beardless and +wore an expression of stability and energy. + +The two stood for some time upon the prow of the ship, and discussed the +locality of the proposed hiding of the precious booty. Then Captain Kidd +called two men by name, who promptly responded. He said, "I have trusted +you in times past, and I desire to do so again. I believe you will not +betray my confidence. We are going to make another deposit to-night. I +have long had the location in mind. Now, swear by the Holy Virgin that +you will not disturb the stuff yourselves, nor in any way aid or abet +any one else in doing so." + +They swore with deep earnestness. + +The group continued there awhile, until the moon rose and shed its +silver splendor on the rolling water about them, touching the +white-capped breakers with a soft and magic radiance as they dashed upon +the near-by beach. + +Then orders were given for the lowering of the boat. + +Captain Kidd proceeded to the lockers of the ship, which opened into his +cabin; and, with the aid of Captain Redfield, drew forth two iron +chests. These he carried to the outer deck, and carefully lowered them +to the boats by means of ropes. From a respectful distance the sailors +who had no hand in this work watched the proceedings with eager +interest. + +Firearms, shovels, and axes were then placed in the boat. Four rowers +took their positions; and Captains Kidd and Redfield climbed down the +rope ladder, and sat in the stern. Everything was ready, and word was +given to ply the oars. + +Soon the ship became a mystic shape in the dim distance; and, as the +inlet was entered, it was lost entirely to view. By tortuous passages +among the marshes, they drew up at the island--Money Island. + +"Island the fourth!" said Captain Kidd jocularly. "Magnificent indeed +will be the buccaneer's castle in Merry England when they all give up +their wealth! Ha, a fine life this; but I suppose as fine a one when +the retired merchant from the South Seas brings his well-earned fortune +to a corner of old England. Not Captain Kidd then, men, but John +So-and-So, a wise and revered merchant. Ha! Do you see the game?" + +The sailors sprang upon the land and pulled the boat well in from the +water. The officers stepped lightly ashore, and railed against the +low-lying branches, which whipped their faces. The trees were thick and +low, making passage beneath them arduous and slow. However, the whole +island was small and soon traversed; and, finally, a spot was selected +as being accessible and suitable to the purpose. + +Two deep holes about ten feet apart were dug, and the chests brought and +deposited within them. Some of the earth was replaced; and then they +sought two small trees to plant above the chests. This was accomplished +slowly and carefully, so that the growth of the trees would not be +stopped. + +At length the task was completed; and the little island bore within its +bosom wealth sufficient to buy an earldom. The silence of the dreary +solitude sealed the secret; and there was no man who might discover it, +other than those who laid the chests in their earthly hiding place. The +moon gave testimony to the hidden treasure, and bore its silent witness +through the many decades that followed. + +Upon leaving the island, they rowed to the mainland, which was but a +short distance away; and there Captain Redfield hid in three places in +the ground the money which Captain Kidd had supplied him for his own +needs, and as compensation for his services until his return. The axes +and shovels, also, were secreted in the woods. + +It was past midnight when they returned to the ship, which set sail at +break of day towards the north. By sunset they reached Albemarle Sound, +the rendezvous of some companion buccaneers; and there waited for +several days feasting and engaging in jovial pastimes. + +Meantime, a small sloop was procured for Captain Redfield; and, having +been supplied with necessary provisions and household comforts, and +manned by four sturdy men who knew naught of the buried treasure, but +engaged for the service on goodly pay, it sailed for the captain's new +home near Money Island. + +Upon reaching their destination, the pioneer residents set to work at +once to construct temporary quarters, and were soon provided with a +comfortable house. According to the plans of the Commander-in-Chief, the +men who accompanied Captain Redfield were to understand that they were +to engage in any service that might come to hand. They were to clear the +land and till it, build houses and fences, and do such other work as +might tend to prepare the locality for a more permanent settlement in +case it should be desired to inaugurate such an enterprise. + +The sloop gave them communication with the outside world, enabling them +to visit Charleston, where a colony had been lately planted, and the +several settlements to the north. It also afforded Captain Redfield +opportunity to find a wife, whom he brought to Rindout, as he styled his +new home. There the party lived in the quiet enjoyment of a life with +nature, which abundantly supplied, during the frequent periods of +recreation, every facility for hunting, fishing, and other sports. + +One year passed, and another reached its seventh month; and the party +had experienced nothing to arouse more than a passing interest. There +had been no visitors to their settlement, not even an Indian. + +On one October morning, however, a ship was seen lying off the inlet. +This was a sight which caused a considerable stir among them. Captain +Redfield debated the question within himself whether or not it was the +ship of the Commander-in-Chief, and if it would be wise to go out and +pay her a visit. But he hesitated, not wishing to jeopardize the +commission imposed upon him. + +Finally, a boat was seen approaching the shore, bearing a flag at its +prow. In due course this was recognized as the ensign of Captain Kidd; +and everything wag hastily arranged to receive the leader with due honor +and welcome. + +As the boat drew near, though, it was discovered that he was not among +the occupants; but on a seat at the stern, and with dignified mien, sat +Max Brisbau, an old shipmate of Captain Redfield's, and a former +companion in the service of Captain Kidd. + +Brisbau alighted, and, extending his hand to Captain Redfield with suave +complacency, stated that he had came upon a little service for Captain +Kidd, and would later communicate his object. He showered courtly +attentions upon his host, who exhibited unfeigned pleasure in welcoming +him. + +The visiting boat's crew consisted of six men, who enjoyed the +companionship of Captain Redfield's assistants, mingling with them in +their various pursuits. All the graces of hospitality were generously +displayed, and mirth and good cheer possessed the men. + +In the afternoon Captain Redfield was entertaining his guest in his +private room. Brisbau said he would now advise him regarding the +commission upon which he was sent; which was, in fact, none other than +the execution of an order from Captain Kidd for the two cheats that he +had secreted in that neighborhood. Captain Redfield was to be awarded a +generous portion, and his arduous service as guardian of the treasure +would terminate. In the name of Captain Kidd, he graciously extended +thanks for the faithfulness which Captain Redfield had shown in the +discharge of his duties, and gave him assurances of the high esteem and +confidence of the gallant leader. + +The words were very pleasing; but Captain Redfield hesitated to make +answer. "It may or may not be true," said he after a pause, "that +Captain Kidd has buried possessions in this immediate locality. It is +not to be denied that he has secreted treasure along the coast, but +where? That is the question. I have some knowledge of the hiding place +of some of it, but must have some written order over the signature and +seal of the Captain to warrant me in disclosing it." + +Brisbau promptly responded that he had such a communication from Captain +Kidd, and proceeded to draw it from an inner pocket of his coat. He +failed to find it, and with a great show of annoyance and a sudden +recollection, he exclaimed with an oath that he had left it on the +dressing table on his ship. + +What was to be done? He would send immediately out to the ship, and have +the paper brought to him. No, that was hardly worth while. He assured +Captain Redfield that he would hand him the paper on their return to the +ship, with Captain Redfield accompanying him. + +That, Captain Redfield replied, would hardly be satisfactory. His +obligation was to give information as to the hidden treasure only upon a +well attested written order from Captain Kidd. Brisbau cajoled, +implored, and vehemently asserted the injury to his feelings which the +foolish reluctance of his friend caused him. + +By intuition, Captain Redfield became convinced, on account of a certain +weakness in the attitude of Brisbau in defending his request, that there +were deceit and treachery in his conduct. Therefore, he coolly stated +his determination to make no movement in the matter without the +authority about which he had spoken. + +At this Brisbau rose in great anger and exclaimed, "I shall have the +money, or your life will be no more than Jack Kettle's, who flaunted his +opposition before Captain Kidd himself!" + +Hardly had he spoken when Captain Redfield in the flash of a thought for +self-preservation, sprang upon him. Brisbau, equally as quick, met the +onset and moved as best he could to avoid the grasp that threatened him. + +They were quite alone. Redfield was entirely unarmed, but his opponent +wore a sword at his side, with pistol and knife hanging from his belt. +Having made the assault, the only safety for Redfield lay in his gaining +the ascendency over his opponent by sheer physical effort, to enable him +to keep Brisbau from using the weapons at his side. He missed the hold +around both arms which he had planned, but firmly secured Brisbau's +right arm, while his own right hand grasped the other's wrist. These +advantages he succeeded in holding, although he could do nothing towards +disarming Brisbau or binding him more securely as a captive. + +They struggled long and furiously. Redfield, whose position required his +utmost exertion, gradually became exhausted; but he had a desperate +determination to win the mastery over Brisbau, who was likewise weary +from the struggle and doggedly angry. He feared a result disastrous to +himself if he gave his opponent an opportunity to use his weapons. + +Finally, just at a critical moment, Mrs. Redfield appeared. She started +at the sight which met her eyes; but, seeing the situation at a glance, +she ran back into the room out of which she had come, and quickly +reappeared with a rope. With a woman's ready wit, she had found the +means of bringing victory to her husband. She threw the rope around +Brisbau's shoulders and wound it over his arms until he was powerless +to resist further. He was then easily bound and tied, body and legs, to +a chair, grumbling his angry displeasure at the turn of affairs. + +Captain Redfield paused a little while to recover his balance, and sat +down to cogitate the matter of the disposition of his prisoner; and, +also, to watch for the return of his men from an excursion they had gone +upon for the entertainment of their guests. They were slow in coming, +and an annoying suspicion grew upon him. He could not tell what the +attitude of Brisbau's men might be; or if a conflict between them and +his own men were to occur, what consequences might ensue. At any rate, +he wished to avoid such a conflict if it were by any means possible; but +he feared it could not be done. His good wife was greatly concerned, and +urged upon him some amicable settlement with Brisbau, even to the +delivery of part of the treasure; for, after all, she thought, his claim +might be just. + +An hour later, one of Captain Redfield's men returned; and, to his great +dismay, informed him that an agreement had been made with the visiting +seamen which would affect their standing with him, but would work him no +harm. He said that, upon the arrival of the other men, the matter would +be discussed with the Captain, and meantime he would take no steps +toward providing a defense for him in a conflict which was not likely to +occur. + +This disclosure was startling, and a shock to the spirit which had +upheld Captain Redfield. His first impulse was to attack the man for +what he considered the basest treachery, but he desisted. Parley with +him he could not. He could only await the consequences of the compact +which had been hinted at. But upon one thing he was determined--not to +disclose any knowledge of the secreted treasure without first having in +hand the credentials from Captain Kidd which he had demanded. His honor +had been pledged to such a course, and he would not forsake his trust. + +The men came. But they looked with indifference upon the bound prisoner. +There was no display of the strong feelings which had been anticipated. +The situation was obvious. So far as Captain Redfield was concerned, he +felt that he had been forsaken, betrayed. There was no man who stood +with him. In vain he pleaded with his men to stand by him in his defense +against a most dastardly plan to wrong him. He then inquired their +attitude towards Brisbau, and received an evasive answer. + +At length he gave up the struggle, and sought to learn the purpose of +the men who had all now gathered before him; those of his own company, +and those who had come with Brisbau. One of them as spokesman, a +new-comer, informed him that he and his friends had accompanied Captain +Brisbau for the purpose of securing some of the buried treasure, which +was known to be in that neighborhood; and they intended to find the +booty before leaving. He also stated that Captain Redfield's men, upon +learning about the hidden treasure, had agreed to become confederates; +and that their master would be treated in every way as a friend, and be +given a full share of the treasure, provided he would properly inform +them and Captain Brisbau, whom they intended to release immediately, as +to its location. If he for any reason should refuse so to favor them, he +and his wife would be treated as prisoners, and dealt with as might seem +best--until, of course, he would consent to aid them in their project. + +The response that came was firm and unmistakable. The brave custodian +averred that he would not betray his trust, even in the very face of +death. Nor did days of urging and threatening turn him from his purpose. + +Brisbau was released, and given to understand that the men were in +control of affairs; and that his animosity towards Captain Redfield must +cease. + +The woods were scoured for the treasure. Days passed, and weeks, and the +search was incessant; but there was no discovery made. Captain Redfield +and his wife, now prisoners in chains, were urged and implored; but he +could not be persuaded to give the information, although the mental +tension he suffered was almost unbearable. + +One day on a sudden determination, Brisbau set sail with his men and +companions, together with the prisoners. His purpose was to take a short +cruise and then return; meantime allowing Captain Redfield a further +opportunity to disclose his secret; otherwise--and he repeated his +threat made upon his first day at Rindout. + +The ship stopped at Charleston, and, almost immediately upon its +arrival, it was seized under a suspicion of piracy, and a search made +for evidences of the unlawful traffic. The prisoners were released +through some favor of the authorities, but Brisbau and his men were +imprisoned. In the hands of the king's officers their lives were in +great jeopardy, but they finally escaped the scaffold. + +As to Captain Redfield and his wife, the unexpected release was a most +welcome boon. For her he had felt the tenderest and most agonized +solicitude. The temptation to acquiesce in the demand of his captors +and thus free her from the trying situation came often to him with a +weight under which he almost broke down. When it was over, the joy of +freedom was as great as the suffering had been while they were +prisoners. He lived thereafter at Charleston, and soon outgrew the +suspicion with which he was at first regarded, of having being connected +with the buccaneers. He determined to settle down to an honest, +industrious life. My grandfather was born soon after. + +Captain Redfield was never afterwards known to refer to anything +connected with a pirate in conversation with any one; and I have never +learned whether or not he ever afterwards visited Rindout. I know he was +wealthy; but then he worked hard and saved his earnings, and I do not +believe he increased his store from the hidden chests on Money Island. +The story I have now written he told to my grandfather in his old age, +and, upon relating it, he urged the greatest caution in his use of it. + +Twice my grandfather made unsuccessful efforts to find the chests. He +urged that I, his grandchild, should keep the knowledge of the treasure +as a family heritage; but that I might do as I liked about it. After +giving the subject very careful thought, I have now given up the secret +of Money Island, and have not withheld a single detail which was told +me. Of course, nearly a century and a half has elapsed since the +precious booty was hidden. The story, therefore, is old, but I do not +believe it has suffered from age. Captain Kidd was executed in London +not long after the hiding of the treasure, and his associates gave up +their old calling; and probably no one has since disturbed the precious +chests. + + * * * * * + +Now, as to when I first heard Mr. Landstone's story. It was when I was a +boy in the early forties, and the events connected with its telling have +modified its conclusion, as will presently be seen. I have heretofore +spoken very little of the subject to any one; and when I have done so at +all, it has been to one or two intimate friends as a matter of +particular confidence. In my old age, however, I am going to let my tale +forsake its hiding-place and become public property. + +My parents owned a summer home on Greenville Sound not far from Money +Island. To us children it was the very heart of life. The best pleasure +of the year was confined to the four months spent there from the first +of June to the last day of September. We rowed, sailed, fished, swam, +hunted, frolicked, and ran the whole gamut of youthful delights. Those +good days are yet vivid in memory; and it is a matter of regret with me +that my grandchildren--as fine boys and girls as ever lived--cannot have +the same wild, wholesome fun at the Sound as fell to my lot when I was a +boy. + +The time that I now speak of, however, was about the middle of May, the +balmy month of soft breezes and bright flowers. I had been particularly +studious in school, and my father agreed to let me spend three days at +the Sound in company with a young friend. We arranged our food supply, +took the old family rockaway, and set out early in the morning, as happy +a pair of boys as ever started on a project of pleasure. + +After spending an hour or two at the Sound house, arranging our fishing +tackle and looking after the boats, which had been hauled up for the +winter, we started out on a sail towards the beach. It was a fine day +for sailing, and the breeze bore us away as smoothly and quickly as if +we had been in a balloon. As we passed Money Island, we observed a boat +moored on the south side, and tried to locate the occupants; but we +could see nobody, and concluded that it belonged to a fishing party who +had, for some reason, left the boat tied there. + +We sailed on; and when we had gone perhaps half a mile away. I happened +to turn around, and was surprised to see two men stealthily embarking in +the boat with what appeared to be shovels and rods of some kind. This +sight was too much for our youthful imagination. So we decided at once +to change our course, and essayed to follow at a distance the movements +of the other boat. This we had no difficulty in doing; and we +afterwards learned that we were successful in our efforts to avoid the +suspicion of purposely following it. + +The men sailed down the Sound a short distance to the south, and made +for the shore in a little cove at a somewhat secluded place. + +We were familiar with the locality, and decided to wait until later for +a closer observation. Accordingly, we bore once again toward the beach, +and enjoyed an hour watching the breakers roll upon the shore, and in +picking up curios, such as are always to be found upon the sea beach. + +Upon our return, we passed close to the little cove into which the boat +had gone, and could readily discern through the trees a tent not far +inland; in front of which were seated the two strangers, watching a pot +hung over a fire made upon the ground. This excited an additional +flutter of wonderment with us. Indeed, what we had seen, coupled with +the current tradition regarding Money Island, soon wrought us up into a +fever of excitement; for it was very suggestive of a search for the +treasure on the island. + +I had heard from my early childhood that Captain Kidd, the historic and +lordly pirate, who reigned supreme upon the high seas during the +seventeenth century, was supposed to have buried some of his booty on +Money Island. Everybody was familiar with the tradition; and I doubt if +there is, even now, a single person reared in the town of Wilmington, of +in the vicinity of the Sound, who has not likewise been told the same +indefinite story about the little island. But the presence of these two +strangers, and their somewhat mysterious conduct, gave the tradition a +touch of reality such as it could never have otherwise had. + +We concluded that these men had evidently some positive information on +the subject, and were showing their confidence in that information by +prosecuting a search for the hidden treasure, at much trouble and +expense. This was clear to us, and we talked the matter over that night +with eager interest. We surmised every possible case that might have +furnished the strange visitors with a working clue to the discovery of +the treasure. Speculation ran high. But there was one thing that we +became agreed upon, and that was, to become, if possible, parties to the +secret enterprise. We pondered with boys' shrewdness how this should be +done. This we could not decide upon; but we determined to play a venture +toward the desired end. The attitude of innocent curiosity seemed best +suited to our purpose. So we planned to draw up at Money Island in the +morning if we observed that the men were there; and to approach them in +an unsuspicious manner, as if we had just happened to stop at the Island +without any definite motive. This should work as a capital ruse, and, we +felt confident, it would initiate a connection on our part with the +mysterious search. + +That point settled, we concluded to investigate the tent and its +occupants as well as we might under the cover of darkness, and we +promptly set out upon that project. We approached within a hundred feet +of the tent, and saw the men still sitting in the light of the fire at +the tent door; but there was no discovery of importance. They were +merely talking quietly and carelessly about some ship that one of them +seemed to be interested in. We could hear their conversation +distinctly, and we were also able to take a good observation of their +appearance. + +One of them was a man upwards of sixty, of robust build and gray hair +and beard. He had a kind face, which bore the aspect of one accustomed +only to the quieter walks of life, unfamiliar with adventure and +ill-suited to an enterprise such as they were now apparently engaged +upon. The other man had a weather-beaten face with a long nose, and a +swagger of manner which betokened the sailor. This, we afterwards +learned, had been his occupation. We watched them for about an hour; but +finally withdrew in the hope of making a better acquaintance in the +morning. + +Soon after daylight we began eagerly to watch for the boat, which +appeared around a bend in the Sound after the lapse of an hour or so and +headed straight for the Island. We loitered about the yard a little +while longer, and then made ready our yacht without any appearance of +haste. + +On setting sail, we made for the beach; but, upon reaching there, turned +back at once and sailed for Money Island in an indirect course. We soon +reached there and stepped upon the shore. The men immediately dropped +their implements. They returned our salutation pleasantly. We observed +with much surprise the disturbed state of the ground and the holes which +had been dug; and then began to make inquiries as innocently as we could +as to their object. Our plans of the night before began to work +successfully. + +By sheer force of persistence, we won our way into their confidence, and +worked with them until late in the afternoon. For they were indeed on a +determined search for Captain Kidd's buried treasure. + +We were in constant expectation of discovering the chests of gold--two +iron chests, which Mr. Landstone, the elder gentleman, assured us he +felt positive were there. But the discovery was not made, and they said +this had been the fourth day of labor on the Island. + +The conclusion was reached that, either the surrounding water had +encroached upon that portion of the Island where the treasure had been +buried, and had thus imposed an almost impossible barrier to its being +unearthed; or that the chests had become imbedded beneath the massive +roots of two dwarfed old oaks which stood gnarled and storm-worn in the +centre of the island. To the task of removing these trees the men felt +entirely unequal after their days of work; and, therefore, it was +decided to wait a day or two, and approach the task of doing so, if at +all, with renewed spirit. + +Upon invitation, we boys accompanied the men to their camp and had +supper with them. We were entertained by stories of adventure and +travel, of sea voyage, of Indian warfare; and, finally, after several +requests of Mr. Landstone, with the story of Money Island. He said he +would tell it upon condition that its secrecy would be kept inviolate, +at least for many years. So, in the weird light of a large pine-wood +fire among the trees, we had the story of Money Island, told in the +living voice of a capital story-teller, in almost the same words as are +used in the MS he gave me that night, and which has now been publicly +printed. + +When Mr. Landstone finished, we boys sat in breathless amazement, +overcome by the glamour of romance which the story had thrown around the +mysterious little island. + +The old sailor forgot his pipe, which turned over and dropped its +contents to the ground. "Aye, sir," he exclaimed, "we will surely +uproot those trees in the morning!" And that became the decision of us +all. + +I remember that, after a long pause, I asked, to reassure myself, "Mr. +Landstone, do you really believe that story?" He laughed and said, +"Well, you see I am on an undertaking I have had in mind for nearly +fifty years. Yes, I believe those chests are there." + +That was enough. I did not sleep an hour that night; and the next +morning we were early at the task of searching for the treasure. And a +stupendous undertaking it proved to be. All day we labored at one tree. +The roots were massive and wide-spread, and the work of cutting and +removing them required the utmost exertion. Finally, just before sunset, +we completed the task, and began to dig for the treasure in the earth +below. + +Already water had begun to percolate into the hole, and ere we had gone +much deeper, it flooded it so that we found it impossible to continue +the excavation. Then we resorted to our sounding rod again for a last +ray of hope, and almost immediately it struck something hard! Our +spirits rose within us. + +I tore off my clothes, and jumped into the water. After working for some +time, with the aid of a shovel, I brought to the surface a piece of +rusty sheet iron. Nothing more could be found. We gathered round the +worn sheet of metal, and held a solemn consultation. + +The conclusion was reached that the piece of iron which we found was in +reality a part of one of Captain Kidd's chests, which had become +rust-eaten and crumbled, and which had been torn asunder by the growing +roots of the tree, and parts of it carried in various directions by +them as they had spread, scattering the contents through the ground. + +We became animated with a new purpose; and the old sailor seized a +shovel and began vigorously to throw more earth from the excavation; but +darkness was falling, and we urged him to wait until the next morning. + +"What about the sand already thrown out?" some one exclaimed at this +juncture. The suggestion had hardly been offered before we all bent +forward, and thrust our hands into the pile of wet, black sand lying +about us. + +I at once felt something round and suggestive. "Look at this!" I cried. +It was a blackened gold coin! In the darkness we hurriedly sifted the +sand with our fingers; and each one soon found several pieces of money. + +With feverish energy, we thus labored until late in the night, meeting +with constant success; and, when we stopped, every one had a precious +pile to carry back to the shore. The coins were all corroded and +misshapen through the action of the salty mud in which they had lain, +and the disturbance caused by the roots of the trees. A few silver coins +were found, but all were in a very worn condition; some being little +more than ragged discs of the thickness of paper. Others, or the remains +of them, crumbled into a black powder at the touch of our fingers. The +gold was in better preservation; and we secured a goodly store of it. + +We secreted our treasure in the woods on shore, and early the next +morning returned to our work. I can well remember our exultant feeling +as we set out in our boats. "Boys," Mr. Landstone called out, as we were +sailing over the narrow stretches of water toward the island, "how do +you feel?" + +"I feel like--like--" I answered, rising in my seat and lifting my hat +to cheer. + +"None of that!" he said quickly--but I knew I was about to express the +excited feeling of us all. + +As to our further success, I would say that it was unabated during +nearly the whole day. I think we secured every piece of precious metal +that had been buried beneath the tree. The following day we uprooted the +other tree, but failed to find any trace of more booty. We concluded +that the remaining chest had probably been removed; but that is still an +unsettled question. + +Besides the coin, we had discovered the remains of much silver plate; +but it was of little value, being almost entirely destroyed. But the +gold--there was an abundance of it, and we were all made rich! + +In the meantime our parents appeared on the scene to learn the cause of +our protracted absence from home. It is needless to say that there was +no rod of correction held over us that day. + +If I had taken care of my share of the treasure as I should have done +after my father's death, I would be living in luxury and comfort to-day; +but, even regretting my poor judgment, I can now thank a good Providence +that I have been sustained through a long life, which has had an undue +share of misfortune, by the splendid fortune which came to me in that +happy May of long ago. + + +[Illustration: "The decaying hulks of blockade runners that rise a +little here and there above the waves"] + + + + +THE CONQUEST OF JAMESBY. + + +I reached home for tea a little late, and saw my young friend Jamesby in +the back yard where he had gone to admire my fowls, in which I take a +just pride. Old Henry, my colored servant, was playing the part of host; +for there was no one else at home. When I made my appearance, the +chickens had evidently become a matter of secondary interest. + +Jamesby, a rising young banker of the city, was sitting on an empty box +near the fence, and Henry was standing before him, leaning upon his +cane, chuckling and talking in his customary deferential manner, which +has always made him a very acceptable servant about my premises. + +I approached without being observed, and did not hail them, for I did +not wish to intrude too suddenly upon what appeared to be a very amusing +subject of conversation. I heard Jamesby say laughingly, "Why, it was in +the paper this morning--five or six columns of it! It was a great big +yarn. I can't imagine why he never told you anything about it." + +I knew what they were talking about. I was well aware that I had told my +tale of Money Island for publication; for had I not been sought after by +men, women, and children for every imaginable explanation and sidelight +relating to the story which might have been omitted from the MS +furnished the printer? And had I not been asked to repeat by living +voice facts in the narrative which I had written, as I thought, with +entire clearness in the published story? The boys had all read the +story, and I had been put to my wits' end to answer the questions asked +by them; but I had assured several of them that if they would take a +copy of the paper, go to the Island and there read it on the very spot +where the treasure had been buried, and then and there take a careful +survey of the situation, there would be no difficulty in their +comprehending even the slightest detail. This seemed to me to be a very +sensible suggestion; and I suppose some of them will carry it out. + +While I really enjoyed the experience of having entertained so many +people that day, I was fairly well fatigued when I reached home, where I +thought I could at least be quiet and free from the constant inquiries +of interested friends. + +But here was Jamesby with designs against me! He had dashed my fond +hopes of rest; although he was somehow always considerate and +endurable. I could never become impatient with him, even if I knew he +was going to make demands upon me for more information concerning Money +Island. + +"What is Uncle Henry telling you, Jamesby?" I asked on drawing closer to +them. + +"Oh," he answered in a somewhat self-conscious manner, "he was about to +tell me of an experience of his in money digging." + +Now, I had heard old Henry tell that story before. It was one which +seemed to justify his very sober ideas as to money getting by any other +means than by one's daily work. + +"Well, Henry," I said, taking my seat also on the box, "did you really +ever dig for money?"--as if I had never before heard him say anything +about it. The implied doubt would, I knew, make him all the more ready +to talk. + +He replied promptly, with a grin of interest, "Yes, sah, cose I tried +money diggin'." + +Then he paused as if to await an invitation to proceed. "Go on, Uncle +Henry," urged Jamesby. + +Henry shifted his position, and, leaning upon his cane from another +angle, went on: "'Twas dis away. Once uponer time me an' John Gomus an' +John Flowers, we was round at Mr. Holmes' stables, right back of Mr. +Kidder's whey I uster keep my horse and kyart; dere was woods right dare +den, sah, an' a graveyard; an' I had a horse and kyart of my own. So one +evenin' an ole white 'oman come fum de Sound, an' she tole us that a +sperit had done tole her whey some money was buried; an' she wanted us +to come down dere and dig it up; she couldn't dig for it, but she +knowed whey 'twas--de sperit had tole her. So we got togedder and made a +club to go down--three of us. De place was on Wrightsville Sound, not +fur from Mr. Wright's place. + +"De sign was, dat one read de Bible back'ards, and no one speak--all +hadter go by signs, an' dat'd keep de sperits fum pesterin' us. John +Gomus, he had de rod goin' roun', an' fonn' a place to stick it. I dunno +why he stick it whey he did. De rod pinted right down dere; and right +whey de rod pinted we digged. When we commence diggin', it was about +half-past eight o'clock, and we worked hard, sah. We digged a hole big +enough to set a small house in. John, he kep' bearin' on de rod, an' de +rod it kep' goin' down. Den de rod at las' struck sumpn; and we was so +glad, thinkin' we'd struck de pot! Every one was rejoiced! We didn' +talk, but jes fling up de dirt! An' when we dig down dere, sah, what +you spose 'twas. Nothin' but a big ole cow's horn. An' after all dat +diggin'! We done an' digged a hole 'bout fifteen or twenty feet across, +and goodness knows how deep; an' 'twas 'bout four in de mornin' before +we quit. We pack up an' come back home, feelin' jes as cheap as a wet +chicken. + +"De ole 'oman come 'roun agin, an' tole us dat de money was dere; fer de +sperit had tole her agin 'twas dere. But we warn't anxious to try for it +agin. We thought we done enough." + +Old Henry chuckled, and limped away; and we both laughed heartily at his +droll yarn. Jamesby enjoyed the tale particularly; and, although I felt +that it might somehow be at my expense, I was duly amused. + +When Jamesby descended from his hilarious heights, he turned to me +rather gravely, and said, "Now, I want it from your own lips; did you +really dig for money on Money Island?" + +I answered, "I did." + +"And," he continued, "was that a true story you told about it?" + +"Now, Jamesby," I replied, "I really cannot endure this doubt cast upon +the truthfulness of my story. I decline to discuss the matter. You have +read the paper, and you know me as the author of the story." + +"But," he added in rather a comical tone, "there are some things which +(with all due respect for your trustworthiness) call for a more positive +confirmation." + +I knew I would not have written anything on so important a subject +without proper consideration; and he knew it too. However, I realized +the fact that an effort to believe such a story as I had offered to the +public may have made a somewhat weighty demand upon credulity, at least +with some people. To answer his last suggestion, I merely drew out of my +pocket a copy of the "Savannah Morning News", containing an account of a +stranger's mysterious movements about Warsaw Island near Savannah, and +his sudden disappearance, leaving good evidence that he had carried with +him a hidden treasure found there, and which tradition had stated lay +upon the Island. I also reminded him of the fact that Dutch Island near +Savannah is full of what are known as "treasure holes", which have been +made by persons seeking the buried booty of the pirates of the olden +times. He knew all about these; and he had also heard that some of the +enterprising explorers into the mysteries of that island had been +successful. + +But Jamesby was still incredulous. So I turned the conversation to my +fowls; and he was very ready to admit that I had told the genuine thing +in describing to him some of the excellent points of my prize birds. +There was no doubt that I could exhibit several specimens which any +fancier would be proud of. + +Jamesby remained to tea, so that we could go to the lodge together, and +I enjoyed the quiet stroll down town with him. We had hardly entered the +hall, though, before the historian of the town, who is also a leading +Mason, approached me regarding my Money Island revelations. "Sir," he +said, "I regard it throughout as a most interesting and plausible +narrative; and I am glad we have been favored by being allowed to read +it. I have made a study of the pirates who infested our coast in the +early colonial days, and I know that this section, particularly the +lower region of the Cape Fear, was a favorite rendezvous for them. It +is known upon most reliable information that there are immense +quantities of captured treasure secreted along the coast, and the wonder +is that there have not been some really serious efforts to find it." + +Another gentleman added, "Yes, and they also buried treasure further +down South; for at my old home (and I speak the honest trath) I have +stood in the hole from which my friend, Mr. Coachman, unearthed +accidentally a small fortune, which gave him a very comfortable start in +life." + +The conversation lingered in this absorbing vein until the meeting was +opened, much to my relief; for I had been surfeited with the subject of +money finding for that day, at least. But that was not all; for, during +the solemnity of the opening exercises, I heard some one telling, in an +undertone, of a negro who had found a roll of old bank notes in a log +which had been hauled to a saw mill to be cut. + +The next day I was still aware that I possessed an unusual attraction; +and I resigned myself patiently to the service of all my inquiring +friends. Jamesby actually stopped by my office to walk up with me at +lunch time. He was willing to move along slowly with me, for now in my +old age I find I have to walk slowly. I knew it would have been more +natural for him to have gone on briskly; but he was polite and assured +me that the pleasure of my company was better than too much time spent +at his meal. + +We stopped on the way at a newspaper office. The editor and proprietor +had observed our approach and they were awaiting us with looks of amused +interest. "Hello!" the proprietor said cheerily, "you have really +stimulated the enterprise of the town. Why have you kept so reticent on +that subject all these years?" + +Of course, I knew what subject was referred to; for I had been living +for those two days in an atmosphere filled with the phantoms of hidden +gold, buried treasure, marvelous discoveries, pirates and other engaging +topics of thought; and I now looked for nothing else. + +"In my opinion," he continued, "it was a very good story. Of course, it +goes without saying that it is true. I tell you, sir, that it is my +judgment that this whole section of coast line is rich in gold. Not only +did those pirates bury gold here, but, during the Civil War, the +Confederate blockade runners, when fearing capture, were known +repeatedly to throw gold into the sea along the beach, sometimes by the +keg full; and not one dollar's worth of it has ever yet been recovered, +so far as I can learn. It is all right there where they dropped it. And +besides that, at least on one occasion, it is a well proven fact that a +chest of gold was buried by the commander of one of the blockade runners +in the marsh grass on the shore not far below Wilmington; and there is +no evidence that it has ever yet been unearthed. In fact, all knowledge +of the exact spot has been lost, I understand." + +"Yes," interposed the editor, "it is all quite reasonable; and, as +something germain to the subject, I can cite an interesting instance. +When, soon after the War our old Confederate naval captain bought his +home on Greenville Sound and was preparing to build his residence, he +had the old house which stood upon the site torn down, and, upon the +carpenters coming one morning to begin the erection of the new building, +they found an immense excavation right where the old house stood. Now, +that old building was in former years used by a Portuguese as an inn for +the entertainment of sailors from the vessels in the port of Wilmington; +and, there being certain traditions in regard to some money having been +buried beneath it, it was natural to conclude that the excavation +resulted from an energetic effort to find the money. The hole was made +at night, but by whom it has never been found out. The incident was +shrouded in a mystery which has never been cleared." + +We talked still further along that vein, the editor emphatically +asserting his assured belief in the possibility of recovering quantities +of gold from the seashore below Wilmington, and from the decaying hulks +of blockade runners that rise a little here and there above the waves, +where they met a disastrous check to their efforts to slip into the +harbor. + +As we started out again upon the street, Jamesby said, "Well, +sir,--pardon my frankness--but I must say that I have never found your +company so interesting before; and I shall be equally frank in saying +that--I have never been able yet to believe half the tales I have heard +about the mysterious discovery of buried treasure. There is something so +unsubstantial about most of them. Of course, there may be some +exceptions, and--" + +"Jamesby," I interrupted in good humor, "don't let your frankness expire +for the lack of the proper courage. Let your speech continue during the +whole run of an honest statement. But it's all right. I have some +indisputable proofs--" + +"Good morning!" It was young Riggins who joined us. "I read that story +of yours, sir. It was good, I must say. It is just like something that +happened in my own personal experience. A few months ago, I was down at +Homosassa, Florida; and, while I was there, some clam diggers discovered +a large chest of old Spanish coin. They sold them to the Government for +thirty thousand dollars, and have now retired from the clam business." + +That was a tale rather to the point, and Jamesby received it soberly; +but I laughed out of sheer appreciation of another good yarn. + +I did not see Jamesby for several days. I knew it was his busy season; +but I really wished to know how he fared. So, I decided to look him up. +He was a happy, enthusiastic, ingenuous young fellow, and I had become +quite accustomed to having his cheerful company occasionally. + +I found him sitting at his desk in intense abstraction; but he soon +observed me standing before him, and quickly arose with a hearty +welcome, such as he alone knew how to extend. + +"I tell you, sir," he said enthusiastically, "it is a magnificent +project!" + +"What is?" I answered. "I don't know--" + +"Oh," he continued, absently, "I forgot; it was my brother I was talking +with. But I have investigated thoroughly the whole subject of those +blockade runners, and I believe the prospect of success is worth a giant +effort for the recovery of some of that money from the sea. There must +be untold quantities of it lying there, inviting even a meagre attempt +to get it. The boats can be chartered cheaply; and I have learned that +the necessary divers can be secured on an equitable division of the +spoils. There are many details of the organization of the enterprise +which I have thought out." + +His voice had an eager ring, and his eyes sparkled with interest. + +"Jamesby, my boy," I answered calmly, "you are decidedly on the right +track. I wish you all good fortune." + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MONEY ISLAND*** + + +******* This file should be named 17415.txt or 17415.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/4/1/17415 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: +https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/17415.zip b/17415.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8e70ccc --- /dev/null +++ b/17415.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..43bdbd0 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #17415 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17415) |
