The Forrest City times., 1888-03-24
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sned. let alone yourself. ss ' know vnssI owes yoa But these men down there, they couldn't keep their word-no, not supposing they wished to; and what's more, they couldn't believe as you could"
 No" said the doctor. n ou're the man to keep your word. we know that" Well, that was about the last news we had of the pirates. Only once we heard gun. shot great ways off and suppo'ed them 10 be hunting. A council was held, and h was decided that we must deseri them on the tsland-to the huge glee. must say. ct Ben Gum, and with the strong approval of Gray. We left good stock of pOwuer and shnt the bulk of the salt goat few medicines' and some other neccSsaries, tools, clothing, spare sail. a fatlom or two of rope, and bs the particular desire of the doctor, hand some present of tobacco.
 That was about our last doing on the island. Before that we had got the treas ure slowed, and had shipped enough water nnd the remainder Of the goat meat In case of any distress; and at last one hue morn ing. we weighed anchor, which was about all that we could manage, and stood out oi North luet, the same colors flying that the captain had fown and fought under at the palsade.
 The three fellows must have been watch ing us closer than we thought for, as we soon had proved. For, coming through the narrows, we had to lie very near the south ern point, and there we saw all three Of them kneeing together on spit of sand. with ther arms raised in application. II went 10 all our hearts, think. to leave them in that wretched state; but we could not risk another mutiny; and 10 take them home for the glbbet would have been q cruel sort of kindness. The doctor hailed them and told them of the stores we had left and where they were to find them. But they continued to call us by name. and appeal to us, for Gods sake, to be merciful, and not leave them to die in such place.
 Al last seeing the ship still bore on hei course, and was now swiftly drawing out of earshot, one of them-l know not which Il was--leapt to his feet with hoarse cry, whipped his musSet to his shoulder, and sent a shot whistllng over Silyer's head and through the lnain-sail
 warkS, and when next looked out they had disappeared from the spit and the spit it- self had almost melted out of sight in the growing distance. That was. at least the .nd of that; and before noon, to my inex- pressibIe Joy the highest rock Of Treasure island had sunk into the blue round of sea.
 We were so short of men, that every one on board had to bear hand-only the cap tain lying on mattress in the stern and giy- ing orders: for, though greatly recovered, he was still in want of quiet We laid her head for tie nearest port in Spanish America, for we could not risk the voyage home without fresh hands; and as It was, what with baf- q Ia. <f fFnG IA1 1A were all worn out before we reached 1t
 It was just at sundown when we cast an chor in most beautiful land-locked gulf, and were immediately surrounded by shore boats full of negroes and Mexican Indians, and half bIoods. selling fruits and vegetables and offering to dive for bits of money. The sight of SO many good-humorcd faces (es- pecally the blacks), the taste of the tropi- cal fruits. anl above all, the lights that be- gan to shine in 'he town, made charming contrast to oul dark and bloody sojourn on the island; and the doctor and the squire. taking me along with them. went ashore to pass the early part of the night. Here they met the captain of an English man-of-war, fell in talk with him, went on board his ship, and, in short had so agreeable time that day was breaking when we came alongside the Hispanlola.
 Ben Gum was on deck alone and, as soon as we c1ms on board, he began, with wonderful contortions, to make us confes- sion. Silver was gone. The maroon had connlved at his escape in a shore-boat some hours ago. and he now assured us he had on. ly done so 10 preserve our lives. which would certainly have been forfeit if that man with the one leg had stayed aboard" Bu, yaa mt all Tho spa.cnok had mt rone empty-handed. He had cut through bulk head un0bserved, and had removed one of the sacks of coin, worth, perhaps, three or four hundred guineas, to help him on hii further wanderlngs.
 ly quit of him.
 Well. to make a long story short we got \ few hands on board, made good cruise home. and the llispaniola reached Bristol just as Mir. Bandly was beginning to think of fitting out her consort Five men only of those who had sailed returned with her "Drnk and the devil had done for the rest, !" with vengeance; although, to be sure. we ship they sang about:
 "But ono man of tho crew alive.
 Whnt put 10 sea with seventy live"
  and used it wisely or ioolishly according to our natures. Captain Smollett Is now re- tired from the sea. Cray not only saved his money, but, being suddenly snntten with the desire to rise, also studied his profession :; md he is now mltc and part owner of a ffle full-rigged ship; married besides, and the father of family. As for Ben Gum, he got a thousand pounds, which he spent or lost in three weeks, or, to be more exact In nineteen days, for he was back begging on the twentieth. Then he was given a lodge to keep, exactly as he had feared upon the Island; and he still lives, great favorte, though something of a butt, witc the coun- try boys, and q notable singer in church on Sundays and saints days.
 Of Silver we have heard no more. That formidable sea-farlng man with one lex las at last gone clean out Of my life; but dare say he met his o.d negress, and perhaps still lives in comfort with her and Captain Flint It Is to be hoped so, suppose, for his chan ces Of comfort in another world arc very small.
 The bar silver and the arms still He, for all that l know, where Flint buried them; and certainly they shall lie there for me. Oxen and wain-ropes would not bring mo back again to that accursel island; and the worst dreams that ever have are when he1r the surf booming about its coasts, or start up- right In bed, with the sharp voice Of Captain Flint still ringing in my ears: Pieces of eight! pieces of eightw
 THE END