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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. 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