The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1884-11-21

ArriVlnG III Dne CABIN, tHey nc"too '
selves round the table, and, to put them III
q good humor, produced bott.e OF rum
--one Of the bottles that had fallen to my
sbaro-and served the liquor round IN a
wine-glass. Their eyes danced in their
heads 1T the sight of it, thirsty ship.
wrecked marines could nos have looked
more gloatingly and lovingly upon spring
OF waser.
I took the head of tho table, ana gianc-
ing along the row of grimy faces, innoceno
of sonp, their heavy, black hands ana rough
attire, l opened the debate. :,
"Now that Deacon has proved himseii
madman by stabbiug Jimmy and hanging
himself, what notion of his island have you
still got among you"
Beauty answered after silence.
.sWe've talked it over, and we've agreed
along with Sammy, who reckons that Dea-
cons warn needn't be none the less true be-
cause he went mad"
81 told We that" said Sam to me.
$50 you did" answered; "but that was
| before Deacon went raving mad"
"Tsll him that yarn about old Mrs.
| Iobb. Sam; it's fust-class, and reg lar 10
| the pint" shouted Suds.
| .J,vo heard that, too" said /. "What l
| want to know is, have you still, all OF you,
80 much faith in Deacons story that you
are determined to prosecute the voyage 10
| the South SeaF
"I,ook here!' cried Beauty, "just tell us
| where else we're to 60 to, will yes we
| want the gold. and we mean to got 1T"
.And surprising it's there, and supposing
YOU get it, what are you going to GO
with it."
ssWhy, sew it up in our clothes, and turn
to and get shipwrecked," replied Beauty
| .That amt impossible is it, mastere
| There was shout of laug hter, Beauty
hooking triumphantly around. -,
"You'll excuse me- said /, very politely,
ssfor asking so many questions, but, yon
| see. am concerned in this business as We'll
I MS YOU, and want TO know what's to be-
| come Of us all when I've brought you to
the end of your journey
! s.Oh. YOU'RE quite at libbuty to AK ques-
| tions.n growlsd Sam, sucking the rim OF
his wineglass; well tell ye all we know
"Suppose there's no gold, no island even;
what them"
This was evidently consideration they
did not like to entertain for they began TO
shout altogether angrily, one OF them say
ing: ~, 49,. 4o,,o -
that it amt there, but that it don't suit ye
to find it,"
.Tf it's there I'll find it," answered.
coldly. "You have no right to taik 10 me
like that, Billy. I've not deceived you
yet" u,,,. r
was answering the fellow, "Whether it's
there or not, I'll find it for you" which
,yas the bull on which my scheme rested.
| "Suppasin' matters to be as you say"
ohsarved kuds, s.and there amt no gold in
/ the island and it's all lie, why then we'll
! tnrn beach combers, which is my notion O.
nroner sailorin'-shippin' for the cruise,
nocketful o. silver dollars to tassel the ends
| o. vonr handkerchers with when ye sign
| articles, plenty of lush, lovely gals soft rs
nudden for sweethearts ashore, and warm
winds. and nothen to do but to smoke rale
| tobacky
! .sThere We go with your murderin' sup
uosia,s agn!' shouted old Sam, in fury.
nsupposin there's no gold supposin' the
sea amt salt! supposin' this brig at the
bottom O. the hocean. and we're all barn
aclss Wot say is, before we go mum
buggiu' about w tn supposin's, wait till we
! find out wot's wot."
And in his wrath he smote the table vio-
lently with his fist.
| ssNfaster.n here interposed savings, gently
| addressing me, there amt such thing as
| another bottle O. rum knockin' about in
! one O. the lockers, is there!" Il.
"No.n replied T. shortly, "there isn't. Ii
your stomach wants staying, here's the
empty bottle; clap your nose to it and sniff,
| and when You're satisfied you'll owe me
nothing. Now" I continued, turning to
| the Others, 81 suppose Deacon told you
| that his isani is not on the chart%
eyes. YES, we know all about that cried
| Beauty.
.If the fellow was wrong in his reckon
,no shall be ab q loss of course when
come to the place where he fixes his island
Now. since his story, il true, proves that
there is one island in the South Sea which
is not marked on the chart, there may be
others that are not charted either. Are
you following meg
"Yes, yes-go on"
at might happen that we might sight an
! ISLAND that may prove not to be Deacon's' v
Old Sam nodded.
az shall not be able to see il the coast
corresponds " ia Deacon's sketch, Withont
| running the brig close to the land ana
bringing up This would be extremely
| dangerous, because we might find out thai
, the island was inhabited that there was
man.ot-war lying in harbor, or cove or
creek, hi ldea to us and W. Should be in
the position Of the man who, leaving his
bundle in a cave, went back to fetch IL,
and was SCI upon by the lion that had
sli2ped in. when he had gone away, to get
a spell OF sleep.
"Go on cried Billy; call hands is lis
tenin'."
.'AIy meaning is this: To save our neckS
we must be sure the land we slght Is Dea-
cons island, and that it is uninhhpited' anu
no vessel anchored near it, before bringing
up. Is that rightf
sWhy, don't suppose that's TO DO con-
tradcted," replied Beauty.
1--WE must take every rrecantion TO
guard against tho briggs being boarded. II
that comes, must tell you plai!ly that
sha','o be able to help you. l can't forge
fresh ships papers, suspicion must be ex-
cited, whatever yarn L may invent; we
shall be detalrnd, taken ON shore, examined,
the truth twisted out OF some OF us, anu
then. hurrah for Jack Ketch and Woolloo-
mooloo Jail.'
.Itll be o bad lookout il it comes to
that" .....oered Beauty, Sowing around
him.
"Just tell us what your plans are, mister;
you've got long head we look to you,
said Savings.
II have thought the matter over, mates,
and this is my proposal" replied, looking,
with great air Of thought, at Beauty's
square jawei face: "The first bit OF land
we sight that is in the neighborhood OF
Deacon reckoning, Wen approach to with
liz three miles-no nearer. Wen heave the
brig to at that, ard lower away the quar-
ter-boat with a couple of empty water
casks in her. Five of you must then jump
in and row for the shore. Should tfls
island be inhabited, it will look as though