Маленькая стеклянная бутылка

           “Heaveto,there’ssomethingfloatingtotheleeward”thespeakerwasashortstockilybuiltmanwhosenamewasWilliamJones.hewasthecaptainofasmallcatboatinwhichhe&apartyofmenweresailingatthetimethestoryopens.

           “Ayeayesir”answeredJohnTowers&theboatwasbroughttoastandstillCaptainJonesreachedouthishandfortheobjectwhichhenowdiscernedtobeaglassbottle“Nothingbutarumflaskthatthemenonapassingboatthrewover”hesaidbutfromanimpulseofcuriosityhereachedoutforit.itwasarumflask&hewasabouttothrowitawaywhenhenoticedapieceofpaperinit.Hepulleditout&onitreadthefollowing

           Jan11864

           IamJohnJoneswhowritesthislettermyshipisfastsinkingwithatreasureonboardIamwhereitismarked*ontheenclosedchart

           CaptainJonesturnedthesheetover&theothersidewasachart

           ontheedgewerewrittenthesewords

           dottedlinesrepresentcoursewetook

           “Towers”SaidCapt.Jonesexitedly“readthis”Towersdidashewasdirected“Ithinkitwouldpaytogo”saidCapt.Jones“doyou”?“Justasyousay”repliedTowers