Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-12-09

"Mate." he was saying, Its because
| thinks gold-dust of you gold-dust.
and ,p1u may lay to that! II hadn't
took TO you like pitch, do you think
have been here a-warning of YOU? AIS
up-you can't make nor mend; it's TO
save your neck that I'm a-speaking,
and if one of the wild 'uns knew il.
where 'ud ! be, Tom-now, tell me.
where 'ud | be?"
SILVER" said the other man-and
| observed he was not only red in the
face, but spoke as hoarse as crow, and
his voice shook, too, like a taut rope
SILVER" says he, you're old, and
you're honest, or has the name for 1t;
and you've money, too, which lots OF
poor sailors hasn't: and you're brave,
or I'm mistook And will you tell me
you'll let yourself be led away with
that kind of a mess of swabsf not you!
AS sure as God sees me, I'd sooner lose
my hand. If | turn again my dooty-'
Andthen all of sudden he was inter
rupted by noise. | had found one OF
the honest hands-well, here, at that
same moment, came news of another
Far away out in the marsh there arose,
all of sudden, a sound like the cry OF
anger, then another on the back, OF IT;
and then one borrid, loug-drawn
scream. The rocks of the Spy-glass re-
echoed it a score of tines the whole
troop of marsh-birds rose again. dark
ening heaven, with a simultaneous
whir; and long after that death yell
was still ringing in my brain, silence
had reestablished its empire, and only
the rustic of the redescending birds
and the boom of the distant surges dis
turbed the languor of the afternoon.
Tom had leaped at the sound, like
horse at the spur; but Silver had not
winked an eye. He STOOD where he
was, resting lightly on his crutch,
watching his companion like snake
about TO spring.
"Jchn!" said the sailor, stretching
out his hand.
Hands OIL" cried Silver, leaping
back a yard, as it seemed to me, with
the speed and security of a trained
gymnast
"Hands OFF. If you like. John Silver"
said the other ITS a black conscience
that can make you feared Of me. But,
in Heavens name. tell me what was
thatT'
THAT" returned Silver. smiling
away, but warier than ever, his eye
mere pin-point in his big face, but
cleaning like crumb of glass.
''That2 Oh, / reckon that'll be Alan"
And at this poor Tom flashed out like
a hero.
"Alan!" he cried. Then rest his
soul for true seamanl And as for
you. John Silver, long you've been a
mate Of mire. but you're mate OF mine
no more e dir ike dog, III die in
my Gooty. You've killed Alan, have
you? kil Ec, too, if you eau. But
deles you
Aud with that this brave fellow
turned his back directly on the cook,
and set OF walking for the beach. BUT
he was not dcatin>, TO so far. With
cry, Johu seized the branch Of tree,
whipped the crutch out of his armpit
and sent that uucoujh missile hurting
through the air Ii struck poor Tom,
point foremost. and with stunning
violence, right between the shoulders
ia the middle Of bis back. His hands
flew up, he gave sort of gasp, and
fell.
Whether he was injured much or
little none could ever tell. Like enough.
to judge from the sound. his back was
broken on the spot, but be had no time
given him to recover. Silver. agile as
a monkey, even without leg or crutch,
was on the top of him the next moment,
and had twice buried his knife up to the
bilt in that defenseless body. From my
place % ambush | could hear him pant
loudly as he struck the blows
l do not know what it rightly IS to
faint. but | do know that for the next
little while the whole world swan
away from before me in whirling
mist; Silver and the birds and the tall
Spy-glass hilltop, going round and
round and topsy turVy before my eyes.
and all manner Of bells ringing ami dis
tant voices shouting in my ears.
When | came again to myself. the
had pulled himself together.
his crutch under bis arm, his hat upon
his head. just before him Tom lay
upon the sward but the
murderer minded him not whit.
2lcansing his blood-stained knife The
while upon whiSp of grass Every
Thing else was unchanged, the sun still
shining mercilessly on the sIeamirc
marsh and the tall pinnacleofthemou
tain. and ! could scarce persuade my
zelf That murder had actually been
done, and = human life cruelty cut
short moment since before my eyes
I'ut now John put his band into his
pocket. brought ont whistle. and blew
upon it several modulated blasts. thar
rang far across The heated air | could
not tell, Of course, the meaning Of the
signal. but j; instantly awoke my fears.