The Treasure Ship by Saki (1911)
A galleon, long submerged in a northern bay, is the focus of a treasure hunt initiated by a wealthy duchess who believes in the existence of its hidden riches. She learns of a new invention designed to locate and retrieve treasures from the ocean floor and decides to acquire it, hoping to independently explore the wreck. The duchess enlists her nephew, Vasco, who has a reputation for exploiting opportunities, to oversee the salvage operation at her remote property in Ireland. Vasco reports back to the duchess after testing the equipment, revealing that he has discovered a sunken motorboat, the Sub-Rosa, which had been linked to a tragic incident involving a suicide. While examining the wreck, he finds a strongbox containing sensitive documents that could implicate several prominent individuals in a scandal. He presents a list of names to the duchess, which includes her own, causing her significant distress. Vasco, however, has no intention of destroying the papers. Instead, he contemplates a life of leisure funded by the potential fallout from the revelations. The duchess, realizing the implications of the documents, urges him to safeguard them, but Vasco remains indifferent, envisioning a future filled with luxury and art collection. The story concludes with the duchess's frustration at her nephew's nonchalance and the precarious situation they both find themselves in, highlighting themes of greed, moral ambiguity, and the consequences of hidden truths.
By Saki · First published 1911 · Genre: Satire, Adventure, Comedy · 1,544 words
First lines
The great galleon lay in semi-retirement under the sand and weed and water of the northern bay where the fortune of war and weather had long ago ensconced it. Three and a quarter centuries had passed since the day when it had taken the high seas as an important unit of a fighting squadron -- precisely which squadron the learned were not agreed. The galleon had brought nothing into the world, but it had, according to tradition and report, taken much out of it. But how much? There again the learned were in disagreement. Some were as generous in their estimate as an income-tax assessor, others applied a species of higher criticism to the submerged treasure chests, and debased their contents to the currency of goblin gold. Of the former school was Lulu, Duchess of Dulverton.
What this Textopian page supports
The Treasure Ship is listed on Textopian as a short story by Saki, dated 1911 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Saki
- Date: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Adventure, Comedy, Fiction, Mystery
- Length: 1,544 words
- Structure: 1 section, 27 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Treasure Ship by Saki
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Satire — The story critiques social class and human greed through the absurdity of the treasure hunt.
- Adventure — The plot revolves around a treasure-seeking expedition, embodying elements of exploration and risk.
- Comedy — The dialogue and situations are infused with humor, highlighting the folly of the characters.
- Fiction — The narrative is a work of fiction, exploring fictional characters and scenarios.
Tags
treasure · galleon · adventure · inheritance · scandal · wealth · exploration · family · deception · mystery · ocean · history