The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-11-06
hated the very thought of Treasure

we had dreary mornings work be.
fore us. for there was no sign Of any
wind, and the boats had to be got out
and manned, and the ship warped three
or four miles round the corner of the
island. and up the narrow passage to
the haven behind Skeleton island.
volunteered for one Of the boats. where
I had. Of course, no business. The
heat was sweltering. and the men
gru,nbled hercely over their work.
Anderson was In command of my boat,
and instead Of keeping the crew in
order, he grumbled as loud as the
worst.
"Well." no said, with nn oath. 'lt's
not forever"
I thought this was a very bad sign;
for, up to TINT day, the men had gone
brlskly and willingly about their bust.
ness; but the very sight Of the island
had relaxed tho cords of discipline.
All the way in. Long John stood by
the steersman and conned the ship
He knew the passage like the palm OF
bis hand; and though the man in the
chains got everywhere more water
than was down In the chart, John never
hcsitated once.
There's strong scour with the
ebb," he said. "and this here passage
has been dug out, In amanner Of speak
4ng, with spade"
We brought up Just where the an
Choir was In the chart, about third OF
a mile from either shore, the mainland
on one side, and Skeleton island on tho
other. The bottom was clean sand.
The plunge Of our anchor sent up
clouds Of birds wheeling and crying
over the woods; but In less than min
ute they were all down again, and all
was once more silent.
The place was entirely land-lockef.
buried In woods, the trees coming
right down to high water mark, the
shores mostly fiat, and the hill-tops
standing round ut distance In sort OF
omphitheater. one here, one there. Two
little rivers. or. rather, two swnmps,
emptied out into this pond, as you
might call 1t; and the foliage round
that part of the shore had kind OF
poisonous brightness. From the ship,
we could see nothing Of the house or
stoclnde. for they were quite buried
for the chart on the companion, we
might have been the first that had ever
anchored there since the Island arose
out of the seas.
There was not breath Of air NOV
ing, nor sound but that Of the surf
booming half mile away along tho
beaches and against the rocks outside.
A peculiar stagnnnt smell hung over
the anchorage - smell of sodden
1enves and rotten tree trunks. OBJ
served the doctor shifting, and shifting.
like some one tasting bad egg.
II don't know about treasure" he
said, "but I'll stake my wig there's
fever here"
If the conduct of the men had been
alarming In the boat, 1t became truly
threatening when they had como
aboard. They lay about the deck
growing together in talk. The slight
est order was received with black
look. and grudgingly and carelessly
obeyed. Even the honest hands must
have caught the infection. for there was
not one man aboard to mend another.
Mutiny. 1t was plain, hung over us like
q thunder-cloud.
And 1t was not only we of the cabin
party who perceived the danger. Long
John was hard at work going from
group to group, spending himself in
good advice, and as for example no man
could have shown better. lie fairly
outstl:ppcd himself in willingness and
civility; he was all smiles to every one.
If an order were given, John would be
on his crutch in an instant, will, the
chceriest GAY, ay, sir!" in the world;
and when there was nothing else to
do, he kept up one song after another,
as If to conceal the discomfort of the
rest.
OF all the gloomy features of that
gloomy afternoon, this obvious anxiety
on the part of Long John appeared tho
worst.
We held q council i'm the cabin.
"Sir," said the captain, eff risk an
other order, the whole shipll como
about our ears by the run. You see,
sir, here it is. l get IL rough answer.
do not? Well, if 1 speak back, plies
will be going in two shakes; if don't,
Silver will see there's something un-
der that, and the games up. Now. we've
only one man to rely on"
"And who is that?" askedthc squire.
"Silvcr, sir" returned the captain;
she's as anxious as you and to smother
things up. This is a tiff; he'd soon talk
'em out Of it if he had the chance, and
what l propose to do is to give him the
chance. Let's allow the men an after
noon ashore. If they all go, why, we'll
fight the ship. If they none of them
20, well, then, we hold the cabin, and
God defend the right. If some go, you
mark my words, Sir, Silver'll bring 'cm
aboard again as mild as lambs"
1t was so decided; loaded pistols
were served out to all the sure men;
Hunter, Joyce and Rcdruth were taken
into our confidence, and received the
news with less surprise and a better
spirit than we had looked for, and then
the captain went on deck and addressed
the crew.
"My lads" said he. "wc'vc had hot
day, and are all tired and out of sorts.
A turn ashore'll hurt nobody-the
boats are still in the water; you can
take the gigs, and as many as please
can go ashore for the afternoon. I'll
fire gun half an hour before sun
down."
I believe the silly fellows must have