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


me to you, squire?' was the answer
''Howsoever, so be it. amen!"
After a little while Of silence, he sale
he thought somebody might read q
prayer. It's the custom, sir" he add
ed, apologetically. And not long after
without another word, he passed away
In the meantime the captain, whom
I had observed 10 be wonderfully
swollen about the chest and pockets
had turned out great many various
stores-the British colors, a Bible, a
coil of stoutish rope, pen, ink, the log
book, and pounds of tobacco. He had
found a longish fir sree lying felled and
cleared in the Enclosure, and, with the
help of Hunter, he had set it up at the
corner of the log house where the
trunks crossed and made an angle.
Then, climbing on the roof, he had
with his own hand bent and run up
the colors.
This seemed nightly to relieve him.
He reentered the log house and set
about counting the stores, as il moth
ing else existed. But he had an eye
on Toms passage for all that; and as
soon as all was over came forward with
another flag and reverently spread it
on the body.
Don't you take on, sir" he said,
shaking the squire's hand. "All's well
with him; no fear for hand that's
been shot down in his duty TO captain
and owner. 1t mayn't be good divinity,
but it's a fact"
Then he pulled me aside.
"Dr. Liyesey," he said, Sin how many
weeks do you and squire expect the
consort?'
/ told him it was question, not OF
weeks. but Of months; that If we were
not back by the end of August, Blandly
was to send TO find us; but neither
sooner nor later. You can calculate
for yourself" l said.
"Why, yes" returned the captain,
scratching his head, "and making
large allowance. sir, for all the gifts of
Providence, l should say we were pref
~ close hauled"
"lIow do you mean?" l asked.
Its pity, sir, we lost the second
load. That's what | mean replied
the captain. AS for powder and shot,
well do. But the rations are short,
very short-so short, DR.. Livesey, that
we're perhaps as well without that eX-
tra routh."
And he pointed to the dead body I'M
der the flag.
just then, with roar and whistle,
4 rougd shot passed high above the
roof If the log house and pumped far
beycad us in the wood.
"0lot" said the captain. Blaze
away! You've li.tle enough powder
already, ry lads"
At Tie second trial the aim was bet
ter aal The BAH descended inside the
s;ockpde. scattering a cloud OF sand,
nut doiug no further damage.
"CaFaia" said the squire. "the
house + quite Invisible from the ship
It must be The far they are aiming at
Would II not be wiser TO take it IMP"
"Strilc my celors!" cried the cap
y
he had said the words, think we all
agreed with him. For it was not only
. piece Of stout, scamanly good feeling;
Il was good policy besides, and showed
our enemies that we despised their
All through the evening they kept
away. Ball after ball flew
over or fell short, or kicked up the sand
in the Enclosure; but they had TO fire
so high that the shot fell dead and
buried itself in the soft sand We had |
no richochet to fear; and though one
popped in through the roof of the log
house and out again through the floor,
we soon got used to that sort of horse
play aud minded it no more than |
cricket.
There is one thing about all this"
observed the good captain; 'the wood |
in front of us is likely clear. The ebb
has made a good while; our stores
should be uncovered. Volunteers 10 go |
and bring in pork"
Gray and Hunter were the first 10 |
come forward Well armed. they stole |
out of the stockade, but IL proved q
useless mission. The mutineers were |
holder than we fancied. OF they put |
more trust in Israel's gunnery For |
four or five of them were busy carry
ing off our stores. and wading out with |
them to one Of the gigs that lay close
by, pulling an oar or so to hold her |
steady against the current. Silver was !
in the stern-sheets in command: and |
every man Of them was now provided |
with a musket from some secret maya |
zine Of their own.
The captain sat down TO his log. and /
here is the beginning Of the entry:
alexander Smollett. master: David Live
sey, ships doctor; Abraham Gray. carpen-
'ers mate; John Trelawney. owner; Jonn /
Hunter and Richard Joyce, owners serv-
ants. landsmen-beinE all that is left faith /
full of the ships company-with stores for
ten days at short rations, came ashore this 4
lay, and fey British colors on the log /
house in Treasure island Thomas Red /
ruth. owners servant, landsman, shot by /
the mutineers; James Hawkins, cabin
boy"
And n 2 tho Sauna s;-,,. 7 800. 49,, A.