one appeared to be
written by a dull, sane, Christian gentleman, singly desirous of
communicating knowledge. It had not only this merit--which endeared it
to me--but was admittedly the best informed on business matters, which
attracted Pinkerton.

"Loudon," said he, looking up from the journal, "you sometimes think I
have too many irons in the fire. My notion, on the other hand, is, when
you see a dollar lying, pick it up! Well, here I've tumbled over a whole
pile of 'em on a reef in the middle of the Pacific."

"Why, Jim, you miserable fellow!" I exclaimed; "haven't we Depew City,
one of God's green centres for this State? haven't we----"

"Just listen to this," interrupted Jim. "It's miserable copy; these
_Occidental_ reporter fellows have no fire; but the facts are right
enough, I guess." And he began to read:--

WRECK OF THE BRITISH BRIG _FLYING SCUD_

H.B.M.S. _Tempest_, which arrived yesterday at this port, brings
Captain Trent and four men of the British brig _Flying Scud_, cast
away February 12th on Midway Island, and most providentially rescued
the next day. The _Flying Scud_ was of 200 tons burthen, owned in
London, and has been out nearly two years tramping. Captain Trent
left Hong Kong December 8th, bound for this port in rice and a small
mixed cargo of silks, teas, and China notions, the whole valued at
$10,000, fully covered by insurance. The log shows plenty of fine
weather, with light airs, calms, and squalls. In lat. 28 N., long.
177 W., his water going rotten, and misled by Hoyt's "North Pacific
Directory," which informed him there was a coaling station on the
island, Captain Trent put in to Midway Island. He found it a literal
sandbank, surrounded by a coral reef, mostly submerged. Birds were
very plenty, there was good fish in the lagoon, but no firewood; and
the water, which could be obtained by digging, brackish. He found
good holding-ground off the north end of the larger bank in fifteen
fathoms water; bottom sandy, with coral patches. Here he was detained
seven days by a calm, the crew suffering severely from the water,
which was gone quite bad; and it was only on the evening of the 12th
that a little wind sprang up, coming puffy out of N.N.E. Late as it
was, Captain Trent immediately weighed anchor and attempted to get
out. While the vessel was beating up to the passage, the wind took a
sudden lull, and then veered squa