Pieces of Eight | Page 2

the doubloons for a while, and when I looked for them again, they
had vanished. However, a letter in my mail next morning told me that
the observation had not been all on my side. My eyes 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