| Show the G guns uns of the holy trinity by henry C rowland I 1 service abrl copyright by W 7 0 chapman CHAPTER XII kii continued IS 1115 the count nodded A tinge of color had come buck back to his lean cheeks and there was a deep glow clow in tits his eyes ila fol monsieur but you tire arc as sound found in your argument as you are then you really intend to to grunt grant us its a third no matt matter r what nay may set he fie round found we do sir doctor white answered no matter if we find the treasure of the a cannon stuffed willi pearls to the very muzzle of her robert hubert burst into a ringing laugh and looked nt at the count 1 I 1 think weve lolly jolly well got cot to play the game after that papa 11 doctor white looked in some be from one to the other lie failed utterly to grasp the situation tom and jessica were no less puzzled the count suddenly animated threw out his fits hands you have just offered to give us the plate and these three guns he be cried shifting shit ting to more fluent french tho the gift of plate we accept with gratitude not only because of tta its historic family interest but as a of the fairest and most r hon boa dealing that it has hag ever been my good fortune to encounter nut but since you have so disinterestedly stated stati I 1 your just intention toward us we no co longer desire moro more than our third share of the value of these guns the three americans stared at count de carlay corlay in astonishment then tom choked back a laugh doctor white glanced at him and frowned nut but my dear count he bo said there Is nothing in these guns you just saw me sound them robert chuckled my aunt doctor but youre a hard man to crowd treasure on what dye moan mean treasure tom demanded what are three brass cannons worth robert clobert continued his bis chuckling tell them papa P the counts fine face was fairly scintillating then with some borne effort he checked his overpowering excite went and smiled are you quite sure that they are brass tom suddenly pale leaned down and scratched nt at the brazen surface ho he had already exposed straightening up again lie shook his head bead there was a look of pity on his face somebody your ancestor or some other joker must have been kidding count brass with more copper perhaps than the brass we make today but brass did you think they might be gold Sop risti I 1 roared the count but they are gold young man they are solid gold they are the guns of the holy trinity 1 doctor white was conscious of a sudden lifting of the diaphragm the situation with its puzzling complications became clear to him almost in an instant with mth a comprehensive glance tit nt the count he repeated the words the holy 1101 v trinity precisely sir they were cast of melted votive offerings in the church of the santa trinidad the holy ito 1 y trinity and other contributions in gold for the defense of trinidad up in the mountains of ecru this early spanish mission was presided over by one father fletro Ilc tro of of jesus who III like e most of tits ills cult was a rinn mn of distinguished di astl anzil saied learning and abilities informed that pirates were coming to attack the place he suro sum his people to retch fetch in their gold anit from that thadie fie cast these guns ile he had been taught the process of tempering gold by an old inca chief who was devoted to him and it Is probable that he made tits ills powder from the chil renal and sulphur and saltpeter that was obtainable in that region the count paused for breath tom mariag fd to mutter hy by gorry I 1 might lave guessed it from the weight ot of them that brave effort failed count de corlay carlay resumed still speaking french the mission was destroyed put to alre and sword and these pirates must have discovered the secret of the guns thereafter they passed from hand to hand eventually to he be captured by my ancestor estor who took them from a buccaneer ship Purl purisima sima con ce cecelon cep clon which he destroyed they were then covered as now by this coating of gum and the character of their metri metal was unsuspected my aly ancestor was set to thinking in the manner that mr jordan has just mentioned ry by their astonishing weight ile he knew something of metallurgy and found occasion to make some tests testa when he discovered that aqua regla alone was able to erode their surface kven that reacted more slowly than lhnn upon virgin gold tom staring nt at the three pieces of ortIn ordnance anre that had been so carelessly jumped dumped down upon the each beach gave a long low whistle then with yankee practicality he mid react to it hacksaw hack maw I 1 reckon and looked nt at jessica but doctor white wa was q not thinking of that consideration tits his mind was at work on the he idea of arg ad ho minnin and how easily he might have fallen victim to such had not the honor of these frenchmen spurned it on discovering that they had in turn to deal lea with a just man whose fairness they were content to abide by and whose mere word wits was enough to make them feel fee safe in their astonishing revelation the doctors eyes glistened as he contemplate oi the honor lone done him ho fie felt alt inclinable of speech ills his throat threat swelled some ac being in order he merely bo bowed wed first arst to the count and then to robert roberl ills salute was gravely bravely returned by by each each NO ko more ys ft as necessary tho the two frenchmen understood |
