The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-12-04

the palisade ablaze with midday sun,
began to get another thought into my
head, which was not by any means so
right. What began to do was to envy
the doctor. walking In the cool shadow
of the woods. with the birds about him,
and the pleasant smell of the pines,
while l sat grilling, with my clothes
stuck to the hot resin, and so much
blood about me, and SO many poor dead
bodies lying all around, that took q
disgust Of the place that wus almost as
strong as fear.
All the time was washing out tho
block-house, and then washing up tho
things from dinner. this disgust and
envy kept growing stronger and
stronger, till at last, being near bread
bag, and no one then observing me, I
took the first step towarrtmy escapade,
and filed both pockets of my coat with
biscuits.
Twas fool, If you like, and certainly
was going to do foolish, OVERLOAD
act; but wns determined to do it with
nll the precautions in my power. These
biscuits, should anything befall me.
would keep me, at least from starving,
till far on in the next day.
The next thing laid hold of was
brace Of pistols. and. as l already had
powder-horn and bullets, l felt my
self well supplied with arms.
AS for the scheme had in my head, 1t
WAS not a bad one intsclf. 1t was to
go down the sandy spit that divides the
anchorage on the east from the open sea.
find the white rock had observed last
evening, and ascertain whether 1t was
there or not talut Ben Gum had hidden
his boat; thing quite worth doing. as
I still believe. But as 1 was certain
should not be allowed to leave the In
closure, my only plan was to rake
French leave. and slip out when no
body was watching; and that was SO
bad way of doing 1t as1nadc the thing
itself wrong. But was only boy, and
Ind made my mind up.
Well. as things at last fell out. 1 found
an admirable opportunity. The squire
and Gray were busy helping the ca plain
with his bnndages; the coast was clear,
1made II bolt for 1t over the stocknde
and into the thickcst OF the trees, and
before my absence was observed was
out or cry or companions.
This was any second folly, far worse
than the first, rs left but two sound
men to guard the house; but, like tho
first. 1t was n help toward saving all of
us.
took my way straight for the east
coast Of the island. for was determined
TO go down the sen side OF the spit to
avoid ull chance of observation from
the anchorage. 1t was already lnte in
the afternoon, although still warm and
sunny. AS l continued to thread tho
tall woods I could hear from far before
me not only the continuous thunder
of the surf, but u certain tossing OF
foliage and grinding Of boughs which
showed me the seu breeze had set In
higher than usual. Soon cool draughts
OF air began to reach me; and a few
steps further came forth into the open
borders of the grove and saw the sea
lying blue and sunny to the horizon
and the surf tumbling and tossing its
foam along the beach.
have never seen the sea quiet round
Treasure island. The sun might blaze
overhead, the mir be without breath,
the surface smooth and blue, but still
these great rollers would be running
along all the external coast, thunder.
ing and laundering by day and night;
and scarce believe there Is one spot In
the island where n man would be QUITO
earshot of their noise.
walked along beside the surf with
great enjoyment, till. thinking 1 was
now got fur enough to the south, I
took the cover of some thick bushes
and crept warlly up to the ridge of the
spit.
Behind ME was the sea, in front the
anchorage. The sea breeze, rs though
1t had the sooner blown itself out by
Its unusual violence, was already at an
end; 1t had been succeeded by light,
variable airs from the south and SOUTH
enst, carrying great banks of fog; and
the anchorage, under lee Of Skeleton
island, lay still and lenden as when
first we entered 1t. The 'IIlspnnioln"
In that unbrokcn mirror was exactly
portrayed from the truck TO the water
line, the Jolly Roger hanging from her
peak.
Alongside lay one of the gigs, Silver
In the stern sheets-hlm l could always
recognize-while couple Of men were
leaning over the stern bulwarks, one of
them with a red cap-the very rogue
had seen some hours before stride
legs upon the palisnde. Apparently
they were talking and laughing. though
at that distancc-upward of Il mile--I
could. of course, hear no word Of what
was said. All at once there began the
most horrid, unearthly screaming.
which at first startled me badly. though
had aoon remembered the voice of
Capt. Flint. and even thought could
make out the bird by her bright plum
age as she sat perched upon her mas
ter's wrist.
Soon after the jolly-boat showed of
and pulled for shore, and the man with
the red cap and his comrndc went below
by the cabin companion.
Just about the same time the sun
had gone down behind the Spy-glass.
and as the fog was collecting rapidly
1t began to grow dark In earnest. I
saw l must lose no time II were to find
the boat that evening.
The white rock, visible enough above
the brush. was still some eighth of a
mile further down the spit, and 1t took
me goodsh while to get up with it.
crawling often on all tours among the
scrub. Night had almost come when