Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-04-29


men, for they behaved to him as II
nothing occurred-as if he were Still
ships doctor and they still faithful
hands before the mast.
you're doing well, my FRIEND" he
said to the fellow with the bandaged
head, "and if ever any person had a
close shave, it was you; your head must
be as hard as irol. Well, George, how
goes 1t? You're pretty color, certain:
ly; why, your liver, man, is upside
down. Did you take that medicine :
Did he take that medicine, men?"
"Ay, ay, sir, he took it, sure enough
| returned Morgan.
Because, you see, since am mutt.
neers' doctor, or prison doctor, as pre-.
fer to call it," said DR.. Lvesey, in his
pleasantest way, 81 make it a point OF
honor not to lose man for King
George (God bless himD and the gal
| lows"
The rogues looked at each other, but
swallowed the home-thrusti in silence.
"Dick don't feel well, SIR" said one.
Don't hep" replied the doctor. "Well,
step up here, Dick, and let me see your
tongue. No, should be surprised II
he did; the mans tongue is fit to
fnghtea! the French. Another fever"
"Ah, there" said Morgan, "thatcomed
of sp'iling Bibles"
"That comed-as you call it-of be-
ing arrant asses" retorted the doctor,
land not having sense enough to know
honest air from poison, and the dry
land from vile, pestiferous slough. 1
think it most probable-though, of
course, it's only an opinion-that you'll
all have the deuce to pay before you
get that malaria out of your systems.
Camp in bog, would you? Silver, I'm
surprised at you. You're less of a fool
than many, take you all round; but you
don't appear to me to have the rudi-
ments of notion of the rules of health.
WE'LL" he added, after he had dosed
them round, and they had taken his
prescriptions, with really laughable hui
mility, more like charity school chill
dren than blood-guilty mutineers and
pirates-"well, that's done for to-day.
And now 1 should wish to have talk
with that boy, please"
And he nodded his head in my direc-
ton carelessly.
George Merry was at the door, spit
ting and spluttering over some bad
tasted medicine; but at the first word of
the doctors proposal he swung round
with deep flush and cried: mol"
swore.
Silver struck the barrel with his open
hand.
"Si-lence!" he roared, and looked
about him positively like lion. Doc
tor" he went on, in his usual tones,
Il was a-thinking of that, knowing as
how you had fancy for the boy. We're
all humbly grateful for your kindness,
and, us you see, puts faith in you, and
takes the drugs down like that much
grog. And take it I've found q way
ash suit all. Hawkins, will you give me
your word Of honor as young gentle
man, for young gentleman you are, al
though poor born-your word of honor
not to slip your cable?"
I readily gave the pledge required.
"Then, doctor" said Silver, "you just
step outside O that stockade, and once
you're there, I'll bring the boy down
on the inside, and reckon you can yarn
through the spars. Good-day to you,
sir, and all our dooties to the squire and
Cap'n Smollett.'
The explosion of disapproval, which
nothing but Silver's black looks had
restrained, broke out Immediately the
doctor had left the house. Silver was
roundly accused of playing double-of
trying to make separate peace for
himself--of sacrificing the interests of
his accomplices and victims, and, in one
word, Of the identical, exact thing that
he was doing. It seemed to me so obvi-
Gus, in this case, that / could not i'm
agine how he was to turn their anger.
But he was twice the man the rest We're,
and his last nights victory had given
him huge preponderance on their
minds. He called them all the fools
and dolts you can imagine, said it was
necessary l should talk to the doctor.
Iuttered the chart in their faces, asked
them if they could afford to break the
treaty the very day they were bound
n-treasure hunting.
mo, by thunder!" he cried, "it's us
must break the treaty when the time
comes; and till then I'll CANNON that
doctor, if I have to lie his boots with
brandy"
And then he babe them get the fire
lighted and stalked out upon his
crutch. with his hand on my shoulder,
leaving them in disarray, and silenced
by his volubility, rather than con-
yinced.
"Slow, lad, Slow" he said. ..They
might round upon us in twinkle of
an eye, if we were seen to hurry"
Very deliberately, then, did we adj
vance across the sand to where the
doctor waited us on the other side of
the stockade, and as soon as we were
within easy speaking distance Silver
stopped.
you'll make note of this here, also,
doctor" says he, land the boy'n tell
n 1aS1