Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-12-16
Treasure island.

and / steered so as 10 put it between
us; even before we landed we had thus
lost sight of the gigs jumped oni.
and came as near running as ! dursi
with p big silk handkerchief under nv
nat for coolness' sake, and bruce o.
pistols ready primed for safety.
had not gone 100 yards when came
on the stockade.
This was how ii was: A spring of
clear water rose almost at the top of a
knoll. Well. on the knoll. and inclosing
the spring, they had clapped stout
log house, fit TO hold two score people
on a pinch. and loop-holed for mus
kerry on every side. All round this
| they had cleared a wide space, and then
the thing was completed by paling
six feet high, without door or open
ing, too strong TO pun down without
time and labor. and TOO open 10 shelter
the besiegers. The people in the log
house had them in every way; they
stood quiet in shelter and shot the
others like partridges. All they want
ed was q good watch and food; for,
short of complete surprise, they
might have held the place against a
regiment.
What particularly took my fancy was
the spring. For, though we had good
enough place of il in the cabin of the
"Hispaniola." with plenty Of arms and
ammunition, and things to eat, and eX'
cellent wines, there had been one thing
overlooked-we had no water. was
thinking this over, when there came
ringing over the island the cry OF
man at the point of death. ] was not
new TO violent DEATH have served
his royal highness the duke of Cum.
berland. and got a wound myself at
Fontenoy ! know my pulse went
dot and carry one. Jim Hawkins is
gone" was my first thought.
Ii is something to have been an old
soldier. out more still to have been a
doctor. There is no time 10 dilly-dally
in our work. And so now | made up my
mind instantly, and with no time lost
returned to the shore and jumped on
board the jolly-boat,
By good fortune Hunter pulled a
good oar. We made the water fly; and
the boat was soon alongside, and |
aboard the schooner.
| found them all shaken, as was nat
ural. The squire was sitting down, as
white as a sheet, thinking of the harm
he had led us TO. the good soul! and one
of the six forecastle hands was little
better.
There's a man." said Capt. Smollett,
nodding toward him, new to this
work. He came highland fainting,
doctor, when he heard the cry. An
other touch Of the rudder and that man
would join us"
told my plan to the captain, and be-
tween US we settled on the details of its
accomplishment.
We put old Redruth in the gallery |
between the cabin and the forecastle,
with three or four loaded muskets and
a mattress for protection. Hunter |
brought the boat round under the
stern port, and Joyce and ! set to work
loading her with powder tins, muskets,
bags of biscuits, kegs OF pork, cask
of cognac and my invaluable medicine
chest.
In the meantime the squire and the
captain stayed on deck, and the latter
hailed the cockswuin, who was the
principal man on board
MIR. Hands" he said, here are two
of us with brace OF pistols each If
any one Of you six make a signal Of any
that mans dead
They were a good ueai "a ken a hack,
and after a little consultation, one and
all tumblcd down the fore companion.
no doubt. to take us on the
rear. Eut when they saw Ns.ruth
waiting for them in the SPARED gal
lery, they went about ship at once, and
a head popped out on deck.
Down, dog!" cries the captain.
And the head popped back again; aud
we heard no more, for the time, of these
six very faint-hearted seamen.
BY this time, tumbling things in as
they came, we had the iolly-boat loaded
IS much as we dared. Joyce and !
rot out through the stern port and we
made for shore again as fast as our
BARS could take us.
This second trip fairly aroused the
along the shore. "Lillibul-
ero" was dropped again, and just be
ore we lost sight Of them behind the
little point one of them whipped
lshore and disappeared. had half
mind to change my plans and destroy
heir boats, but | feared that Silver
md the others might be close at hand.
md all might very well be lost by try
ug for too much.
We had soon touched land in the
ZONE place before we set the proyi-
non ia the block-house. All three made
he first journey, heavily laden, and
ossed our stores over the palisade.
Then, leaving Joyce to guard them
me man, to be sure, but with half
lozen muskets-Hunter and ! returned
o the jolly-boat, and loaded ourselves
'nce more. So we proceeded without
'ausing TO take breath, till the whole
'argo was bestowed, when the two serv-