Pieces of Eight | Page 2

had not deceived me. It was my friend--and, at dinner with him and his lady, next evening, I heard the story of some of those lost years. Moreover, he confided to me that a certain portion of his adventures had seemed so romantic that he had been tempted to set them down in a narrative, merely, of course, for the amusement of his family and friends. On our parting, he entrusted me with this manuscript, which I found so interesting that I was able to persuade him to consent to its publication to that larger world which it seemed to me unfair to rob of one of those few romances that have been really lived, and not merely conjured up out of the imaginations of professional romancers._
_His consent was given with some reluctance, for, apart from a certain risk which the publication of the manuscript would entail, it contains also matters which my friend naturally regards as sacred--though, in this respect, I feel sure that he can rely upon the delicacy of his readers. He made it a condition that every precaution should be taken to keep secret the name and identity of his wife and himself._
_Therefore, in presenting to the world the manuscript thus entrusted to me, I have made various changes of detail, with the purpose of the more surely safeguarding the privacy of my two friends; but, in all essentials, the manuscript is printed as it came originally into my hands._
R. Le G.

CONTENTS
PAGE Prologue vii
Book I
Out of the Constant East the Breeze 2

CHAPTER
I.
Introduces the Secretary to the Treasury of His Britannic Majesty's Government at Nassau 3
II. The Narrative of Henry P. Tobias, Ex-Pirate, as dictated on his deathbed, in the year of our Lord, 1859 13
III. In which I charter the Maggie Darling 21
IV. In which Tom catches an enchanted fish, and discourses of the dangers of treasure hunting 30
V. In which we begin to understand our unwelcome passenger 40
VI. The incident of the Captain 48
VII. In which the sucking fish has a chance to show its virtue 57
VIII. In which I once again sit up and behold the sun 64
IX. In which Tom and I attend several funerals 69
X. In which Tom and I seriously start in treasure hunting 75
XI. An unfinished game of cards 85
Book II
The dotted cays, with their little trees 92
I. Once more in John Saunders's snuggery 95
II. In which I learn something 100
III. In which I am afforded glimpses into futurity--possibly useful 108
IV. In which we take ship once more 123
V. In which we enter the wilderness 141
VI. Duck 154
VII. More particulars concerning our young companion 160
VIII. Better than duck 169
Book III
Across the scarce-awakened sea 178
I. In which we gather shells--and other matters 179
II. In which I catch a glimpse of a different kind of treasure 187
III. Under the Influence of the Moon 193
IV. In which I meet a very strange individual 200
V. Calypso 213
VI. Doubloons 223
VII. In which the "King" dreams a dream--and tells us about it 232
VIII. News! 239
IX. Old Friends 246
X. The Hidden Creek 253
XI. An Old Enemy 258
XII. In which the "King" imprisons me with some old books and pictures 266
XIII. We Begin to Dig 274
XIV. In which I lose my way 283
XV. In which I pursue my studies as a Troglodyte 292
XVI. In which I understand the feelings of a Ghost! 306
XVII. Action 315
XVIII. Gathering up the threads 321
Postscript 328
Epilogue By the Editor 332

BOOK I
_Out of the constant East the breeze Brings morning, like a wafted rose, Across the glimmering lagoon, And wakes the still palmetto trees, And blows adrift the phantom moon, That paler and still paler glows-- Up with the anchor! let's be going! O hoist the sail! and let's be going! Glory and glee Of the morning sea-- Ah! let's be going!_
Under our keel a glass of dreams Still fairer than the morning sky, A jewel shot with blue and gold, The swaying clearness streams and gleams, A crystal mountain smoothly rolled O'er magic gardens flowing by-- Over we go the sea-fans waving, Over the rainbow corals paving The deep-sea floor; No more, no more Would I seek the shore To make my grave in-- O sea-fans waving!

PIECES OF EIGHT

CHAPTER I
_Introduces the Secretary to the Treasury of His Britannic Majesty's Government at Nassau, New Providence, Bahama Islands._
Some few years ago--to be precise, it was during the summer of 1903--I was paying what must have seemed like an interminable visit to my old friend John Saunders, who at that time filled with becoming dignity the high-sounding office of Secretary to the Treasury of His Majesty's Government, in the quaint little town of Nassau, in the island of New Providence, one of those Bahama Islands that lie half lost to the world to the southeast of the Caribbean Sea and form a somewhat neglected portion of