A TREASURE FROM THE DEEP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11784, 5 October 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

A TREASURE FROM THE DEEP.

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Near the mouth of the Niger a vessel lay at anchor. In one of her cabins two men were seated in earnest conversation. Round about were various diving implements. A mysterious Vessel had appeared in those waters, and in trying to evade a warship, whose guns had ordered her to iwaveto, she had struck the rocks in the darkness, and sunk in deep water. James Irton, the elder of the two men, had spent come years in perfecting diving operations by means of compressed oxygen, and his young friend Jack Ryan, bad assisted him financially, and bj practically testing bis inTention. The sunken vessel was believed to he the Bed Star, bailing from the Cupe, and aboard her was a gang of ruffians who had succeeded in committing a gigantic diamond robbery, and had fled from justice witb their booty. Owing to the great depth of water in which the vessel had sunk, the authorities failed to obtain divers who would go down to such a depth, until James Irton contracted for the perilous undertaking on condition that he should receive half of the salvage.

Presently their voices ceased as they beard footsteps along the passage, and Bantze, the diver, entered the cabin. He was a tall, powerfully built man, with a particularly harsh voice, and zatbfer shifty eyes. « Well, wbat luck?' inquired Ir«on, for failure meant ruin to both him and Jack.

* None/ replied Buntze. •' I searched until the electric light in the helmet went out, but it's my belief as she ain't the Red Star. If she is, there is no valuables aboard her.

*Did you come across any dead todies ?' asked Jack. 'Not so much as the body of a f»t. ♦You have left the barge at the 'Yes. There is no sign or wind. The mate brought me off, and we've left Schmidt aboard to keep walch. *We mnst hope for better luck tomorrow. Y-u will go down for the last time,' said Irton. * A'l right. It is risky work at tnat depth of water. But I'm ready.- Seeing a« it ain't late I think I'll have a run ashore. Suppose I can take the dingy. * Certainly. Don't come aboard too late, as you have a hard day 9 work before you.

' Look here, Irton,' exclaimed Jack, when they were all alone, ' I don't beall thai fellow tells us. There isn't a doubt that the vessel is the Red Star, and it's equally certain treasure is aboard her. Either Bontze has n.)t searched her thoroughly or elee he is playing a double game.' « But what can we do, Jack. We are in his hands entirely,' exclaimed Irton.

• I shall go down,' exclaimed Jack. ' Preposterous ! You don't understand the peril. Descending in a few feet of water n one thing, but none hut s thoroughly experienced diver could descend to Fnch depths as the Red J3tarlies, What would Maggie say if

I allowed you to risk your life in such a perilous undertaking. •It's just for your daughter's sake Irton, that I make the venture. There is no disguising the fact that if we return empty handed we shall not have » sixpence in the world ; I doubt even if we shall meet our liabilities. Do you think I am the description of man to let the cirl I love endure poverty, when an effort on my part might bring as all wealth.

'An effort ! It is certain death !' exclaimed Irton. * I don't agree with you,' answered Jack, quietly, opening a locker and taking out a diving suit. llf anyone makes the attempt it shall be myself. You have nude enough saci'ifices for my sake," declared Irton.

* What unsophisticated individuals inventors are. In the first place I made no sacrifices at all. The few hundreds I pnt into the concern were all for my own Bake. I wanted to turn- hem into" thousands. And we will yec Now help me cart these appliances on deck. I am going into the depths this night.' 1 And a few minutes later Jack was rowing towards the barge, which was anchored over the sunken vessel, while Irton was seated in the stern of the boat. He looked worried, for he had grave miso i ivin*»s in his heart. Schmiti ailed them, and they went on » > . /d.

' Has Buntze been aboard to-night ?' demanded Jack, donning his diver's snit.

*He haf rot. My gootness I Vas you mad ! Und venture down yen te storm va3 driving up. You must not go I Get ashore should you not vish your life to lose, and — ' See, Schmidt !' cried Jack. •Go aft ! Do you hear me ? Go 1 Screw on my helmet, Irton, I am determined. Jack was soon equipped, and stepping to the bows of the barge he descended the ladder, and circling his arms around her cable, sank into the. depths of the mighty deep. Swiftly at first, as his weighted dress bore him downward, them more slowly as the pressure of the water increased ; but presently his feet touched the deck of the sunken vessel.

Tho electric lamp in hie helmet, which shone hazily around, gave him sufficient light to view the gloomy depths, where all jvas silent as the grave Ihe pressure on his breast increased, and he could scarcely feel the deck beneath the leaded diver's t boots. As in some weird dream he reached the companion way, then glided slowly downwards.

On into the gloom and deathlike silence he went. The first cabin was empty and a brief search convinced him no treasure was there. Then, he came to another cabin whose door was broken from its top binge, and had swncg inward.

Then a thrill of awe shot through Jack's breast as he gozed at the SQcne. The cabin was well furni*ed, and seated at the end of a table was a young man, dressed in an officer's uniform. His bead was resting on the high back on a chair, and by the gaping jaws and livid face Jack knew that he stood in the presence of Death.

Probably death had come 'to* the wretched man as he slept, for there was no sign of a straggle on the face, and save for the rigidity and ghastly .pallor Jack could almost imagine that he was sleeping stiM.

For some moments he stood gazing at the lifeless form, then he moved toward i>, and now, piled against the cabin aide, be saw several small, iron bonnd cases, as though they had been collected ready for removal. He raised a metal casket which was on the top, and was examining it by the weird light which the electric lamp in his helmet threw, when suddenly it seemed to him the light grew brighter.

All sound was hushed, but turning quickly, he saw a gaunt form close to him. Jack dropped the casket, which sank slowly to the floor. Glaring through a diver's helmet Jack saw the fierce gaze of Buntze, and by. the murderous li.'ht in his in his eyes there could bo little doubt wLat the ruffian's intcatiens were.

Buntze moved slowly forward, and then placed his grip upon his foe, and a struggle for -life-commenced. Their movemenca were hampered by the terriffic pressure of water, but for all that they were none the less fierce. Several times Buntze tried to wrench away the tube that supplied Jack with air from the roservoir at his back, but each time the ruffian was foiled, and presently Jack got his leg round bis foe, and, flinging him sidewayß they both fell to the cabiu floor.

Buntze was underneath, and in falling his helmet had struck against the sharp edge of the iron casket, which completely severed the air tube. With the strength that his awful situation lent him, Bantze flung bis enemy aside, then, staggering to his feet, moved slowly fiom the cabin ; slowly xhough Ms life depended on each second, but, owing to the great pressure of water his feet scarcely touched ' the floor.

Jack, who well knew the wretched man's peril, would have lent him aid, and he shouted to him, forgetting" that his voica was as completely hushed as was that of the lifeless form in the chair besidfi him. Yet be followed on and as he gained the doorway, he. felt a shock as though some violent blow, had been struck. Then a huge black form darted past. It was an enormous shark that had found it's way into the wreck, and now, unable to escape, was dashing abont in its fury. Buntze must have seen that monster of the deep, for crouching on his banus and knees, he crept along the passage. Jack saw the doomed man's movements grow feebler. He saw the man who would have taken his life make a 'last final struggle, then fall face downwards never to move again.

At that moment the imprisoned bhark Sashed past once more, and Jack saw its gaping jaws as it turned above the prostrate form of the diver ; the awful monster could not seize its prey from the ground, and it came darting backward with lightning speed, while Jack sought shelter in the cabin, and for upward of a quarter of an hour the tiger of the deep daited about in its blind fury.

To venture into the passage was almost certain death, and Jack feared the moDHt-.er would find its way into the cabin. But at last the furious rushes grew less frequent.

Now Jack searched the cabin, and having found some rope fastened it aronnd the boxes.

And then , with a weight which on earth he could not have lifted, bnt which now he moved without much effort, he made his way to the passage. To venture along it, with that monster lying in wait, was attended with awful risk, but to remain in it meant a slow though certain death.

Jack went on slowly with his burden. Ho bent over the lifeless diver whose limbs were, rigid now. Some movement caused Jack to turn his head, and he saw the monstrous shark rushing toward him. Ha had just time to sink to the- floor as the fearful brute dashed . past, then on his hands and knees Jack crept on, dragging ths .boxes after him^ while each moment he expected the return of the furious monster. J

At U«t. ifc darted past oDce more, <hen Jack., gained th« steps wbicH l»d on deck and worked bis way up thorn He dragged bis bnrden to the coble which the diver had made fust to the <vpgk. Having s^enr-ed the rope to the cable lie drew i.is knife and cut the hawser where it wa9 launched to' a p'nnehion, then srraspins it he drew him««»!f np h»n«l overhand, and apepnding ths ladder gained the deck of the barge.

Irfcon, who bad a revolver in his hand, cinickly unscrewed his comrade's helmetf tfchrpidt was crouching against the bulwnrks.

♦ Thank Heaven yon are safe, Jack,' exolnunoiit Irton. grasping bis comrade's hand. ' That ruffian for some unknown reason , attacked me, but 1 cowed him with this weapon. '

" I can understand his motive,' answered J.ick. * Hisi confederate, Buntze. was down there. W«> foaaht, and he h.iß mo' hn r!*"»tb, ihoK'h I am thank - lul it .vi. s rot my hands. They would have robbed us, Irton, but I

chink they are foiled. First we will bind that fellow.

Schmidt wgs inclined to offer resistance, but the levelled revolver quelled him, and his arms were quickly secured. Then Jack ran the windlass round and presently they hauled their treasure aboard .

The wind was in their favour, And setting sail they gained the vessel. Irton, in the captain's presence, forced open the casket, and ns they had hoped it contained some of the stolen diamonds.

The following day the vessel sailed for the Cape, and port was reached in safety. Then tfce boxes were opened, and Jack and Irton found themselves possessors of a large fortune. Though Maggie is now Jack's wife she will never admit that he was right in having risked his life to gain that wealth.

NEW PLYMOUTH, TARANABJ, N.Z., SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1901.