Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-12-23

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ago by Flint. All. be was the man Il
have headpiece. was Flint! Barring
rum. his mitch was never seen. III
were afraid Of none; not he; on'y Silvei
Silver was that genteel."
Well" said !, that may be so. ant
so be it; all the more reason that
should hurry on and join my friends
NAY. mate" returned Ben, mot you
You're a good boy. or I'm mistook'
but you're Only boy. all told. Now
Ben Gum is fly. Rum wouldn't bring
me there, where you're going-no
rum wouldn't. till ! see your born
gentleman. and gets it on his word OF
honor And You won't forget my
words: a precious sight Chats what
you'll saw, "A precious sight more con.
fidence'-and then nips him."
And he pinched me the third time
with the same air of cleverness.
And when Ben Gum is wanted,
you know where to find him. Jim. just
where you found him to-day. And him
that comes is to have a white thing in
his hand; and he's to come alone. Oh!
and you'll say this: Ben Gum says
you, has reasons of his own
WELL" said /, Il believe ] under
stand. You have something 10 pro-
pose. and you wish TO see the squire or
the doctor; and you're to be found
where ! found you. Is that all?"
"And when? says you," he added.
'Why, from about noon observation TO
about six bells"
Good" says /, "and now may go?'
you won't forget?" he inquired
anxiously. precious sight, and reasons
Of his own, says you. Reasons Of his
own; that's the mainstay; as between
man and man. Wen, then"-still hold
ing me- reckon you can go, Jim.
And Jim. If you was to see Silver, you
wouldn't go for to sell Ben Gum? Wild
horses wouldn't draw II from you?
No. says you. AID il them pirates
came ashore, Jim, what would you say
but thered be widders in the morn
ing?"
Here he was interrupted by a loud re-
port, aud cannonball came tearing
through the trees and pitched in the
sand. not 100 yards from where we two
were talking. The next moment each
Of us had taken 10 his heels in a differ
ent direction.
For a good hour to come frequent
reports shook the island. and balls kept
crashing through the woods moved
from hiding-place 70 hiding-place, al
ways pursued. or so il seemed TO me, by
these terrifying missiles. But toward
the end Of the bombardmcnt. though
still burst not venture in the direction
Of the stockade. whore the balls fell
oftenest. ! had begun, in a manner, TO
pluck up my heart again; and after
long detour TO the east. crept down
among the shore-eide trees.
The sun bad just set, the sea breeze
WINS rustling and tpmbling in the
woods. and rufliiug the gray surface OF
the anchorage; the tide, too, was far
out. and great tracks of sand lay IN.
covered; the air. after the heat of the
day. chilled me through my jacket
The "Hispaniola" still lay where she
had anchored; but. sure enough. there
was the Jolly Roger-the black flag of
piracy--nying from her peak. Even MS
looked there came another red flash
and another report, that sent the
echoes Gathering. and one more rouno
shot whistled through the air. 1t was
the last of the cannonade.
| lay for some time, watching the
hustle which succeeded the attack
Men were demolishing something witt
axes on the beach near the stockade
the poor jolly-uoat, | afterward dis
covered. Away. near the mouth of II,
river, great fire was glowing amorp
the trees. and between that point anc
the ship one of the gigs kept coming
and going. the men, whom / had seen
so gloomy. shouting at the oars like
children. But there was a sound IN
their voices which suggested rum.
At length / thought | might return
toward the stockade. | was pretty far
down on the low, sandy spit that in
closes the anchorage to the east. and is
Joined at half-water to Skeleton island.
ana now, as 4 rose 10 my leet, saw.
some distance further down the spit.
and rising from among low bushes, an
isolated rock pretty high. and peculiar.
~ white in color. 1t occurred 10 me
that this might be the white rock OF
which Ben Gum had spoken. and that
some day or other a boat might be
wanted, and | should know where to
look for one.
Then skirted among the woods until
had reganed the rear. or shoreward
side. of the stockade. and was soon
warmly welcomed BY the faithful
party.
| had soon told my story. and began
to look about me. The Lighthouse was
made Of unsquared trunks of pine
roof. walls and floor The latter stood |
in several places rs much as a foot or a !
foot and a half above the surface of The |
sand. There was porch al the door.
and under this porch the little spring |
welled up into an artificial basin of a |