The Irish standard., 1897-11-13

had not gone 100 yards when came
on the stockade.
This was how. 1t 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 pinch. and loop-holed for mus
kerry on every side. All round this
they had cleared wide space, and then
the thing was completed by a paling
six feet high, without door or open
ing. too strong to pull down without
time and labor, apd too open to shelter
the besiegers. The people in tho log
house had them in every way; they
stood quiet in shelter and shot the
others like cartridges. All they want
ed was good watch and food; for,
short Of complete surprise, they
might have held the place against q
regiment.
What particularly took my fancy was
the spring. For, though we had good
enough place of it 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 q
man at the point of death. was not
new to violent DEATH have served
his royal highness the duke of Cum
berland. and got wound myself at
Fontenoy-but I know my pulse went
dot and carry one. "Jim Hawkins il
gone" was my first thought.
It is something to have been an old
soldier, but more still to have been
doctor. There is no time to 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 jouy-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, "a
white as 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 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 u.s."
told my plan to the captain, and be-
accomplishment.
We put old Redrpth in the gallery
between the cabin lind the forecastle,
with three or four loaded muskets and
a mattress for q pfStection. Hunter
brought the bdAt 1pund under the
stern port, and lloyd and set to work
loading her with'pY) der tins, muskets,
bugs Of biscuits, kegs of pork, cask
Of cognac and NY invaluable medicine
chest.
captain stayed dhaeck, and the latter
hailed the cockswain, who was the
principal man oAb9hrd.
'Mr. Hands," he said, 'here are two
Of us with brace 81 pistols each. II
any one of you SIX make signal of any
description, that mans Dead"
They were a aDsdYdeal taken aback;
and after littl6 soHsultation, one and
all tumbled dowhStR& fore companion,
thinking, no doubtsto take us on the
rear. But when they saw Redruth
waiting for them III the spared gall
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; and
we heard no more, for the time, Of these
six very faint-hearted seamen.
BY this time, tumbling things in az
they came, VIC had the jolly-boat loaded
as much us we dared. Joyce and I
got out through the stern port and we
made for shore again as fast as our
oars could take us.
This second trip fairly aroused the
watchers along the shore. "Lil1ibul-
lero" was dropped again, and just be-
fore we lost sight Of them behind the
little point one of them whipped
ashore and disappeared. had half q
mind to change my plans and destroy
their boats, but I feared that Silver
and the others might be close at hand,
and all might very we'll be lost by try
ing for too much.
We had soon touched land in the
some place before we set the provi-
sion in the block-house. All three made
the first journey, heavily laden, and
tossed our stores over the palisade.
Then, leaving Joyce to guard them
one man, to be sure, but with half q
dozen muskets-Hunter and returned
to the jolly-boat, and loaded ourselves
once more. So we proceeded without
pausing to take breath, till the whole
cargo was bestowed, when the two serv-
ants took up their position in the
blocli-house, and 1, with all my power,
sculled back to the Hispaniola.
That we should have risl1ed second
boat load seems more daring than it
really was. They had the advantage
of numbers. of course, but we had the
advantage of arms. Not one of the men
ashore had muskct. and before they
could get within range for pistol-shoot-
ing. We fattered ourselves we could be
able to give good account of half
dozen at least.
The squire was waiting for me at
the stern window. oil his faintness gone
from him. He caught the painter and
made it fast, and we fell to loading the
boat for our very lives. Pork, powder
and biscuit was the cargo. with only
musket and cutlass apiece for squire
and me and Redfuth9 and the captain.