41 Lure O Gold 1904

The Lure o
Gold
In that moment I made sure in
my own mind that my
gold had been in the trunk and that it had just been re
moved. If not, then why the loosely lying chain with
its
open padlock? Why the midnight movements of
the men from the deserted berths ?
of the steerage wing
?
Why the open door
I was full of the sensations of the discovery and madly
eager to ascertain more to find out where my gold
had been taken. The pirates,
I was satisfied, had re
moved the gold from the trunk and were hiding
it some
where aft,
either in the steerage wing or in the freighthold
beyond.
Not recking what I did or for a moment fully sensing
the fact that I was alone and unarmed, I tiptoed quietly
through the bulkhead doorway, and along the dark,
narrow wing, by the great coal bunkers, pausing from
time to time and listening.
As I passed aft I could
hear more plainly the curious noises which I have
spoken of before. They came more harshly to my
ears, but were as mysterious as ever.
I found that the door at the after end of the long
wing was closed, but soon perceived that it was merely
held in place by a block of wood on the other side, for
the bolts and dogs were all drawn. When I pushed
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