A BOY WHO WENT WHALING 215 



hard work to search it thoroughly. Wherefore so far as we 

 know, the gold and jewels remain on one island or another, to 

 tantalize new generations of young adventurers. The tale is 

 one of the great true stories of buried treasure. 



By the time the Lancer visited Cocos Island there was trouble 

 in the ship, and even the log book records the low rumble of 

 gathering mutiny. In May, 1857, eight men, headed by the 

 luckless boat-steerer, John Baptiste, refused duty. Len San- 

 ford was not of the eight, but he was leading a dog's life on 

 board, and, like so many young fellows in those old, hard days, 

 he resolved to take his fortunes in his own hands and strike 

 out for himself. 



The Lancer next touched at Paita, and there, on the tenth day 

 in port, ten months and two days after sailing from New Bed- 

 ford, Len ran away. 



Some shipmates, when he was on shore leave, smuggled his 

 chest out of the ship. With the help of natives, they concealed 

 him and his belongings in a hut high on the side of a hill, and left 

 him. 



Late that night, as he lay in the hut, he heard steps outside. 

 It was a wild, lonesome place, and no good was to be expected 

 of untimxcly visitors. The conviction surged upon him that 

 someone, who knew of his presence there, was bent on killing 

 and robbing him as he slept. At all events, the alternative, that 

 they were going to arrest him and take him back to the ship 

 for the customary reward of five or ten dollars, was bad 

 enough. 



The sound of steps came nearer. While he listened, he got 

 on his feet and stood a-tiptoe by the door. The strangers 

 paused just outside and whispered together. 



As they entered, young Sanford ran into the area behind the 

 hut. A tall fence of palms inclosed the area; but he scrambled 

 over the fence with fingers and toes as the men burst out after 

 him. They leaped up and clutched at his feet, but he tumbled 

 down on the outside and ran. 



In the middle of the long road down the hill he saw by the 

 bright moon a man left on guard. He ran straight at the fellow, 



