Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-03-25

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 ever was
abroad in; chill that pierced into the
marrow. The sky was bright and cloud
less overhead, and the +>-:
=. cops of the trees
snone rosily in the sun. But where 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
gether told poor tale of the island. 1t
was plainly damp, feverish, unhealthy
spot.
Keep indoors, men," said the cap
tain. Ten to one this is trick"
Then he hailed the buccaneer.
"Who goes? Stand or we fire."
Flag of truce" cried Silver.
The captain was in the porch. keep
ing himself carefully out of the way of
treacherous shot should any be In
tended. He 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, all hands to load mus
kets. Lively, men, and careful"
| And then he turned again to the mu-
tineers.
/ Ar,I ,1,oI do l.,
flag of truce?" he cried.
This time it was the other man who
replied.
"Cap'n Silver, sir, to come on board
and make TERMS" he shouted.
"Cap'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
promotion!"
Long John answered for himself.
''Me, sir. These poor lads have
chosen me cap'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 it. 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 fired!"
my man." said Capt Smollett, 81
have not the slightest desire to talk to
you. If you wish to talk to me, you can
come, that's all. If there's any treach.
cry, it'll be on your side, and the Lord
help you"
THAT'S enough, cap'n," shouted Long
John, cheerily. "a word from you's
enough. know 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 a,
him aloud, and slapped him on the
back, as if the idea of alarm had beer
absurd. Then he advanced to the
stockade, threw over his crutch, got {
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 mucf
taken up with what was going on tt
be of the slightest use as sentry; in
deed, had already deserted my eastern
loophole and crept up behind the cap
tain, who had now seated himself on tn,
threshold, with his elbows on his knees
his head in his hands, and his eyes fxet
on the water as it dubbed out of tn,
old iron kettle in the sand. He wa
whistling to himself: "Come, Lasse
and Lads"
Silver had terrible hard work get
ting up the knoll. With the steepnes
of the incline, the thick tree stumps
and the soft sand, he and his crutcl
were as helpless as ship in stays. Blu
he stuck to it like man in silence, .ant