The Irish standard., 1897-11-27
CHAPTER Xxx,
s1LvER's EMBASSY.

S1LVER'S EMBASSY,
Sure enough, there were two men
just outside the stockade, one of them
waving white cloth; the other, no less
q person than Silver himself, standing
placidly by.
1t was still quite early and the cold
est morning that think l ever was
abroad in; a chill that pierced into the
marrow. The sky was bright and cloud
less overhead, and the tops of the trees
shone rosily in the sun. Butwhere Sill
yer stood with his lieutenant all was
still in shadow, and they waded knee
deep in low white vapor, that had
crawled during the night out Of the
morass. The chill and vapor taken to-
gcther told poor tale of the island. It
was plainly a damp, fcverish, unhealthy
spot.
"Kccp indoors, men," said the cap
tain. Ten to one this is trick"
Then he hailed the buccaneer. :
"Who goes? Stand or we fire." :
alag of truce" cried Silver.
The captain was in the porch, keep
ing himself carefully out of the way of
q treacherous shot should any be in
tended. lie turned and spoke to us.
Doctors watch on the lookout. DR..
Livesey, take the north side, if you
please; Jim, the east, Gray the west.
The watch below, oil hands to load mus
kets. Lively, men. and careful"
And then he turned again to the mu-
tinecrs.
"And what do you want with your
flag Of trucc?" he cried.
This time 1t was the other man who
replied.
"Cap'n Silver, sir, to come on board
and make TERMS" he shouted.
"Cup'n Silver! Don't know him.
Who's he?" cried the captain. And we
could hear him adding to himself:
"Cap'n. is it? My heart, and here's
promotionl"
Long John answered for himself.
''Mc. sir. These poor lads have
chosen me cnp'n, after your desertion.
sir''-laying particular stress upon the
word "desertion." "We're willing to
submit, If we can come to terms, and no
bones about 1t. All ask is your word,
Cap'n Smollett. to let me safe and sound
out OF this here stockade, and one
minute to get out O. shot before gun
Is fircdl"
my man." said Capt. smollett, II
have not the slightest desire to talk to
you. II you wish to talk to me, you can
como, that's all. If there's any trcach-
cry. it'll be on your side, and tho Lord
help you"
"rhat's enough. cap'n," shouted Long
John, cheerly. IA word from you's
enough. know q gentleman, and you
may lay to that"
We could see the man who carried the
flag Of truce attempting to hold Sill
yer back. nor was that wonderful, see
ing how cavalier had been the cap
tain's answer. But Silver laughed at
him aloud. and slapped him on tho
back. rs if the idea Of alarm had been
absurd. Then he advanced to tho
stocknde, threw over his crutch. got o
leg up, and with great vigor and skill.
succeeded in surmounting the fence
and dropping safely to the other side.
will confess that was far too much
taken up with what was going on to
be Of the slightest use MS sentry; in
deed. had already deserted my eastern
loophole and crept up behind the cap
tain, who had now seated himself on tho
threshold. with his elbows on his knees,
his head in his hands, and his eyes fixed
on the water rs it bubbled out Of the
old iron kettle in the sand. He was
whistling to himself: "Come. Lasses
and Lads"
| Silver had terrible hard work get
/ ting up the knoll. With the stecpness