Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-03-11
PART ~.
THE sToCKADE.
CHAPTER XVI.

SIIAI LII "A L.
NARRATIVE CONTINUED BY THE
DOCTOR - HOW THE SHIP WAS
ABANDONED.
1t was about half-past one--three
bells in the sea phrase-that the two
boats went ashore from the "Hispani-
OLA" The captain, the squire and
were talking matters over in the cabin.
Had there been q breath OF wind, we
should have fallen on the six mutineers
who were left aboard with us, slipped
our cable, and away to sea. But the
wind was wanting; and to complete
our helplessness, down came Hunter
with the news that j i'm Hawkins had
slipped into boat and was gone
ashore with the rest.
1t had never occurred to us to doubt
Jim Hawkins; but we were alarmed
for his safety. With the men in the
temper they were in, it seemed an even
chance if we should see the lad again.
Weran on deck. The pitch was bubbling
III the seams; the nasty stencil of the
place turned me sick; if ever a man
smelled fever and dysentery, it was in
that abominable anchorage. The six
scoundrels were sitting grumbling
under sail in the forecastle; ashore
we could see the gigs made fast, and a
man sitting in each, hard by where the
river runs in. One of them was whist
ling 'Lillibullero."
Waiting was a strain; and it was de-
cided that Hunter and l should go
ashore with the jolly-boat, in quest Of
information.
The gigs had leaned to their right;
but Hunter and pulled straight in, in
the direction of the stockade upon the
chart. The two who were left guard
ing their boats seemed in hustle at
our appearance; "Lillibullero" stopped
off, and | could see the pair discussing
what they ought to DO. Had they gone
and told Silver. all might have turned
out differently; but they had their
orders, l suppose, and decided to sit
quietly where they We're and bark
back again to "Lillibullero."
There was slight bend in the coast,
and / steered SO as to put it between
us; even before we landed we had thus
lost sight of the gigs. jumped out,
and came as near running as burst,
with big silk handkerchief under my
nat Tor GOODNESS sake, and u brace O
pistols ready primed for safety.
had not gone 100 yards when / cam
on the stochade.
This was how it was: A spring o
clear water rose almost at the top of
knoll. Wen, on the knoll, and inclosin.
the spring, they haAs clapped stou
log house, fit to hold .xo score peopl
on pinch, and loop-holed for mus
kerry on every side. All round thi
they had cleared wide space, and thel
the thing was completed by palinI
six feet high, without door or open
ing, too strong to pull down withou
time and labor, and too open to shelte
the besiegers. The people in the 10!
house had them in every way; the,
others like cartridges. All they want
ed was good watch and food; for
short of a complete surprise, the,
might have held the place against
regiment.
What particularly took my fancy wa
the spring. For, though we had goot
enough place of it in the cabin of tn
.Hispaniola," with plenty of arms an,
ammunition, and things to eat, and ex
cellent wines, there had been one thins
overlooked-we had no water. l wa
thinking this over, when there cam
ringing over the island the cry of
man at the point of death. was no
new to violent DEATH have serve,
his royal highness the duke of Cum
berland, and got wound myself a
Fontenoy-but know my pulse wen
dot and carry one. Jim Hawkins j
gone," was my first thought.
1t is something to have been an oil
soldier, but more still to have been
doctor. There is no time to dilly-dall
in our work. And SO now made up m,
mind instantly, and with no time los
returned to the shore and jumped Oh
board the jolly-boat.
By good fortune Hunter pulled
good our. WSFmade the water fly; an
the boat was soon alongside, and
aboard the schooner.
found them all shaken, "a Vas nat
"a -+sa'..s-s- ~. s,s