Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-08-04
CHAPTER XI.
WHAT I HEARD IN THE APPLE
RARREI.


lost my leg old Pew lost his headlights.
1t was master surgeon, him that am
pytated me-out of college and all
Latin by the bucket, and what not; but
he was hanged like a dog, and sun
dried like the rest, at Corso castle.
That was Roberts men, that was, and
coined of changing names to their ships
Royal Fortune and so on. Now,
| what a ship was christened, so let her
stay, says l. So it was with the Cas-
sandra,' as brought us all safe home
from Malabar, after England took the
'Niceroy of the Indies;' so it was with
the old Walrus, Flint's old ship, as I've
seen amuck with the red blood and fit to
sink with gold"
"Ah!" cried another voice, that of the
youngest hand on board, and evidently
full of admiration, "he was the flower
of the flock, was Flint"
Davis was a man, too, by all ac-
counts" said Silver. 81 never sailed
along of him; first with England, then
with Flint, that's my story; and now
here on my own account, in manner of
speaking. laid by 900 safe, from Eng
land, and 1000 after Flint. That amt
bad for man before the mast-all safe
in bank. Tain't earning now; it's saw
ing does it, you may lay to that.
Where's all England's men now? l
| dunno. Where's Flint's? Why, most
on ems aboard here, and glad to get
the duff-been begging before that,
some on 'em. Old Pew, as has lost his
sight, and might have thought shame,
spends 200 year, like a lord in
parliament. Where is he now? Well,
he's dead now, and under matches; but
for two years before that, shiver my
timbers! that man was starving. He
begged and he stole, and he cut throats,
and starved at that, by the powers!"
well, it amt much use, after ALL"
said the young seaman.
"'Tain't much use for fools, you may
lay to it--that, nor nothing" cried Sill
yer. "But now, you look here; you're
young, you are, but you're as smart
as paint. see thatwhen l set my eyes on
you, and I'll talk to you like man."
You can imagine how | felt when
heard this abominable old rogue ad-
dressing another in the very same
words of flattery he had used to myself.
| think, if l had been able, l would
have killed him through the barrel.
Meantime he ran on, little supposing he
he was overheard.
Here it is about gentlemen of for
tune. They lives rough, and they risk
swinging, but they eat and drink like
fighting cocks, and when a cruise is
done, why, it's hundreds of pounds in
49, 8 r,, l. 4 HI
pockets. Now, the most goes for rum
and a good fling, and to sea again in
their shirts. But that's not the course
/ lay. / puts it away, some here, some
there, and none too much anywheres,
by reason of suspicion. I'm so, mark
you; once back from this cruise, set up
gentleman in earnest. Time enough,
too, say you. Ahl but I've lived easy
| in the meantime; never denied myself
O. nothing heart desires, and slept
soft and eat dainty all my days, but
when at sea- And how did 1 begin?
Before the mast like you'll"
WELL" said the other, but all the
other moneys gone now, amt it? You
daren't show face in Bristol after this"
why, where might you suppose it
WASP" asked Silver, derisively.
"At Bristol, in banks and places"
answered his companion.
"It were," said the cook; ait were
| when we weighed anchor. But my old
missis has it all by now. And the Spy
glass is sold, lease and goodwill and
rigging; and the old girls off to meet
me. l would tell you where, for
trust you; but it 'ud make jealousy
| among the mates"
And you can trust your missis?"
asked the other.
Gentlemen of fortune" returned
the cook, usually trusts little among
themselves, and right they are, you
may lay to it. But / have way with
me, | have. When mate brings slip
on his cable-one as knows me, l mean
it won't be in the same world with
old John. There was some that was
feared of Pew, and some that was
feared of Flint; but Flint his own self
was feared of me. Feared he was, and
proud. They was the toughest crew
afoat, was Flint's; the devil himself
would have been feared to go to sea
with them. Well, now, tell you, I'm
not boasting man, and you seen
yourself how easy l keep company; for
when / was quartermaster, lambs
wasn't the word for Flints old buc-
cancers. An, you may be sure of your
self in old Johns ship"
We'll, l tell you now," replied the
lad, Il didn't half quarter like the job
till l had this talk with you, John; but
| there's my hand on it now"
And a brave lad you were, and
| smart, too" answered Silver, shaking
hands so heartily that all the barrel
shook, "and a finer fgure-head for
gentleman of fortune l never clapped
my eyes on"
BY this time had begun to under
stand the meaning of their terms. BY
a gentleman of fortune" they plainly
meant neither more nor less than
common pirate, and the little scene
| that I had overheard was the last act