Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-03-08


were in Flint's ship when he buried
the treasure; he and six along-six
strong seamen. They was ashore nigh
on week, and us standing off and
on in the old 'Walrus.' One fine day
up went the signal, and here come
Flint by himself in a little boat, and his
head done up in blue scarf. The sun
was getting up, and mortal white he
looked about the cut-water. But, there
he was, you mind, and the six all dead
dead and buried. How had he done
it, not man aboard us could make out.
It was battle, murder and sudden death,
leastways-him against six. Billy
Bones was the mate; Long John, he was
quartermaster; and they asked him
where the treasure was. 'Ah,' says he,
you can go ashore, if you like, and
stay,' he says; but as for the ship, she'll
beat up for more, by thunder!' That's
what he said.
well, l was in another ship three
years back, and we sighted this island.
Boys said I, here's Flint's treasure;
let's land and find it, The captain was
displeased at that; but my messmates
u. Il
days they looked for it, and every day
they had the worse word for me, until
one fine morning all hands went
aboard. AS for you, Benjamin Gum
says they, here's musket,' they says,
4 and spade, and pick-ax. You can
stay here, and find Flint's money for
| YOURSELF they says.
/ well, Jim, three years have 1 been
here, and not bite of Christian diet
from that day to this. But now, you
look here; look at me. Do look like
man before the mast? No, says you.
Nor weren't, neither, says"
And with that he winked and pinched
me hard.
Just you mention them words to
i your squire, Jimmie went on: IN or he
weren't, netherlands the words
Three years he were the man of this
island, light and dark, fair and rain;
and sometimes he would, maybe, think
upon prayer (says you), and some
times he would, maybe, think of his old
mother, SO be as she's alive you'll say;
but the most part of Gums time (this
Is what you'll say)-the most part of
his time was took up with another mat
ter. And then you'll give him nip, like
do"
And he pinched me again, in the most
confidential manner.
"Then," he continued-"then You'll
up and you'll say this: Gum is good
man (you'n say), and he puts precious
sight oreconfdence-ap precious sight,
mind that-in a gen'leman born than in
these gentlemen of fortune, having
been one hisself."
We'll" l said, 81 don't understand
one word that you've been saying. But
that's neither here nor there; for how
am to get on board?"
"Ah," said he, "that's the hitch for
sure. Well, there's my boat that ]
made with my two hands. l keep her
under the white rock. If the worst
come to the worst, we might try that
after dark. Hill" he broke out, whats
that?"
For just then, although the sun had
still an hour or two to run, all the echoes
of the island awoke and beloved to
the thunder of cannon.
They have begun to fight!" cried
"Follow me-
II And | began to run toward the
anchorage, my terrors all forgotten
while, close at my side, the marooned
man in his goatskins trotted easily anc
lightly.
! Left, left" says he; keep to your
left hand, mate jim! Under the trees
with you! There's where killed my
first goat. They don't come down here
now; they're all mastheaded on them
mountings for the fear of Benjamin
Gum. All! and there's the cetemery'
| cemetery he must have meant
"You see the mounds? l come here
and pray, nows and thens, when ]
thought maybe a Sunday would be
about doc, 1t weren't quite chapel
but it seemed more solemn like; and
then, says you, Ben Gum was short.
handed-no chaplng, nor SO much as g
Bible and flag, you says"
So he kept talking as l ran, neither
expecting nor receiving any answer.
. The cannon-shot was followed, after
considerable interval, by volley Of
small arms.
Another pause, and then, not 9
quarter of a mile in front of me, be-
held the Union Jack flutter in the all
above wood.
(To be continued)