For the same reason it was thought unwise to
risk a man or two aboard the sloop to sail her to the mainland.
Indeed, we ourselves were glad to get safely home with our
doubloons in the teeth of a tropical gale."
"This is a very interesting story, Senor Gonzales," said Dugald
Shaw quietly, "and as you say, your visit here deprives us of
nothing, but merely saves us further unprofitable labor. We are
grateful to you."
The Spaniard bowed.
"You do me too much honor. But as you remark, the story is
interesting. It has also the element of mystery. For there
remains the question of what became of the owner of the sloop. His
final preparations for leaving the island had evidently been made,
his possessions removed from the hut, provisions for the voyage
brought on board the sloop--and then he had vanished. What had
befallen him? Did the gold carry with it some deadly influence?
One plays, as it were, with this idea, imagining the so melancholy
and bloody history of these old doubloons. How, in the first
place, had he found them? Through chance--by following some
authentic clue? And then, in the moment of success, he
disappears--pouf!" And Senor Gonzales disposed of the unknown by
blowing him airily from the tips of his fingers.
"However, we have the treasure--the main point, is it not? But I
have often wondered--"
"If you would like to hear the rest of the story," said Mr.
Pages:
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250