The Treasure of the "San Philipo"

by Percy F. Westerman

"Very well, then. Here, Herbert, make yourself useful, and write these twelve names on envelopes."

"But, I say——"

"What?"

"Why, with Johnston these twelve will make thirteen—horribly unlucky, you know."

"But we also form part of the crew."

"Not as part of a paid crew."

"Well, to be on the safe side, cut down one," he said with a merry laugh.

So that evening notice that their services were accepted were posted to the men, and the crew of the "Fortuna" was as follows:—

Captain: HOWARD TREVENA, R.N.R.
Mate: HERBERT TREVENA, R.N.R.
Second Mate: REGINALD TREVENA.
Boatswain: PETER WILKINS, late bos'n's mate, R.N.
Quartermaster: TRESCO LORD, late master-at-arms.
Deck hands:—
ROBERT DALLEY, late armourer, R.N.
WM. STAINER, late armourer, R.N.
EDWARD HINKS, late gunner's mate, R.N.
FREDK MONEY, late gunner's mate, R.N.
WM. LEWIS, A.B., late seaman diver, R.N.
GEORGE BURBIDGE, A.B., late seaman diver, R.N.
JOSEPH DIRHAM, A.B.
JOHN MILLS, A.B.
FREDK. BARNES, A.B.
ALEC JOHNSTON, A.B. (to act as officers' steward).

In spite of the greatest secrecy on our part, rumours of the object of the voyage began to get about, older people naturally and correctly associating the almost forgotten "San Philipo" treasure with the expedition, greatly to my father's anger. However, we managed to get the arms and ammunition on board, lowering the gun by means of tackle from our garden into a boat which we brought alongside at high water, working as silently as we could in the dead of night.