The Forrest City times., 1888-02-25
DIT HVhEFI Hs HIHFEN"VNs Author of '7he Strange Case of Dr. ycHv1 aud Mr. Hyde." ''The Dynamtser," etc
CHAPTER XIV. sTRTKK THE JOLLY ROGER.

led to and fro like live thing in the soup pers. Suddenly the Hispanlola came right into the wind. The jbs behind me cracked aloud; the rudder slammed to; the whole ship gave a sickenlng heave and shudder. and at the same moment the main-boom swung inboard, ths sheet grooming in the blocks, and showed mo the lee atter-deck.
 There were the two watchmen. sure enough; red-cap on his back, IS stiff as a handspike, with his arms stretched out like those of crucIix, and hs teeth showing through his open lips; Israel Hands propped against the bulwsrks, his chin on his chest his hands lying opsn before him on the deck, his face as white, under it's tan, as a tallow candle
 For awhile the ship kept bucking and sid ling Ike vicious horse, tho sails filling, now on one tack, now on another, and the boom swinging 10 and fro till the mast groaned aloud under tine strain. Now and again, too, there would come cloud of light sprays over the bulwark, and heavy blow of the ships rows against the swell-so mach heavier weather was made of it by this xls4. r!Ege1 ship thar by my homemade, lop-sided coracle, now gone to the bottom of the sea.
 hk slipped io and fro; but-what was ghastly to behold-neitl.er his attitude nor his fixed teeth disclosing grin was anyway disturbed by this rough usage. At every jump too, Hands appeared still more to sink into him self and settle down upon the deck, his feet sliding ever the further ouk and the whole body cantiny toward the stern, so that his face became, little by little, hid from me; hpH at I fpO haN ear and the frayed rlnglet of one whlsker.
 At tho same time, 1 observed, around both of them, splsshes of dark blood upon the blanks, and began to feel sure that they had killed each other in their drunken wrath.
 While l WAS thus looking and wondering, in a calm moment when the ship was still. Israel Hands turned partly round, and, with \ low moan writhed himself back to the po- sition in which had seen him first The moan, which told of pain and deadly weak ness and the way in which his jaw hung open, went right to my heart But when l remembered the talk had overheard from the apple barrel, all pity left me.
 walked aft until l reached the main- mast
 Come aboard, Mr. Hands" said, ironi- cally.
 He rolled his eyes round heavily; but he was too far gone to express surprise. All he could do was to utter eas word, Brandy" It occurrel to me there was no time to lose; and t;odging the boom as It once more lurched across the deck, l slipped aft, and down the companion stairs into the cabin.
 It was such a scene of confusion as you can hardly fancy. All the loekfast places had been broken open in quest of the chart The floor was thick wiih mud. where ruff esns had sat down to drink or consult after wading in the marshes round their camp Tue bulkheads, all painted in clear white, and beaded round With gilt bore pattern of dirty hands. DoZen5 of empty bottles clinked together in corners to the rolling or the ship. One of the doctors medical books la yopen on the table, half of the leaves gutted ont I suppose, for pipelights. In the midst of all this the lamp still cast smoky glow, obscure and brown as umber. went into the cellar; all the barrels were gone, and of the bottles a most surprising number had been drank out and thrown away. Certainly, since the mutlny began, not man of them could ever have been sober.
 | ForagIng about found a bottle with some brandy left. for Hands; and for myself l ] routed ont some biscuit some pickled i eruits, q great bunch of raisins, and piece of cheese. With these l came on deck, put down my own stock behind the rudder head, and well out of the coxswain's reach, went | forward 10 the water breaker, and had good. deep drink of water, and then, and not till then, gave Hands the brandy.
 He must have drank gill before he took the bottle from his mouth.
 "Ah," said he, ''by thunder, but wanted some O tLatr'
 1 had sat down already in my own corner and began to eat.
 Much hurtw asked him.
 He grunted, or rather, I might say, he parked.
 "lt that doctor was aboaii" he said, 'l'd be right enough in copple of turns; but don't have no manner or luck, you sec, and that's whats the mattcf with me As for that swab, he's good aHd dead, he is, he added, indicating the rdan with the red cap. He warn't no seaman, anyhow. And whero thought you have come fromY
 "Nell." said I, "rve come aboard to take possession of this slap, Mir. Hands; and you'll please regard m., as your captain until further notice"
 He looked at me seurly enough, but said nothing, Some of u color had come back Into his cheeks, though he still looked very sick. and still continued to slip out and settle down as the ship banged about
 By the bye" l continued, T can't have these colors, Mi. Hands; and, by youi leave, I'll strike 'em Better none than shsse."
 And again lodging the boom, ran to the color lines, hauled down their cursed blacl h-R and chucked it overheard.
 God save the kingp said I, waving mJ cap; and there's an end 10 Captain Silver.
 He watched me keenly and slyly. his chiI all the while on his breast.
 'I reckon" he said at last-"l reckon Cap'n Hawkins you'll kind of want to ge ashore, now. S'pose we talks"
 Why, yes" says 1, with all my heart Mir. Hands Say on.' And went back ts my meal with good appetite
 This man." he began, nodding feebly a the corpse-"O Brien was his name-a ranl lrelander-this man and me got the eanya on her, meaning for to sail her back. Well he's dead now, he is-as dead as bllge; ant who's 70 sail this snip 1 don't see. With out give you hint, you ain't that man, a far as can tell. Now. look here, you give me food and drink. and old scarf or an ! kElcNtf tO lib my WouHu 9ou AOs n4i' I'll tell you how to sail her; and that about square all round. take it"
 "Tll tell you one thing" says |; I'm no going back to Captain Kidd's anchorage.
 mean to get into North Inlet and beach he quietly there"
 TO Dc sure you did" he cried Why, an't sich an internal lubber. after all. ca see can't IF I've tried my fling. l have, an I've lost and it's you has the wind for me North Inlet? Why, haven't no ice, nc II I'd help you sail her up to Execution Dock. by thunder! so 1 would"
 Well, as it seemed to me. there was som sense in this. We struck our bargain on th spot. In three minutes l had the Hispaniol sailing easily before the wind along the coas of Treasure Island. with good hopes of turr ing the northern point ere noon. and beatin down again as far as North Inlet befor high water. when we might beach her saf, Iy, and wait till the subSiding tide permitte