Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1898-12-22
the stores we had LETT, and where thew

the STORES we bao Ieft, ana where they
were to find them, but they continued
to call us by name and appeal &, US.
for Gods sake, to be merciful and not
leave them TO die in such place.
At last, seeing the ship still bore on
her course. aud was now swiftly draw
ing ont of earshot. one of them-I know
not which it was-leaped TO his feet
with hoarse cry, whipped his musket
TO his shoulder and sent a shot whis
Ting over Silver's head and through the
mainsail.
After that we kept under cover OF
the bulwarks, and when next I looked
out they disappeared from the spit,
and the spit itself had almost melted
out of sight in the glowing distance.
That was, ut least, the end of that; and
before noon, TO my ineNpressible Joy,
the highest rock of Treasure Island had
sunk into the blue round of sea.
We were SO short of men that every
one on board had TO bear hand-only
the captain lying on mattress I'm the
stern and giving his orders; for. though
greatly recovered. he was still In want
of quiet. We laid her head for the
nearest port in Spanish America. for
we could not risk the voyage home
without fresh hands; and, as it was.
what with battling winds and couple
OF fresh gales, we were all worn out
before we reached il.
II was just at shutdown when we cast
anchor in a most beautiful land-locked
gulf, and were Immediately surround
ed by shore boats full OF negroes. and
Mexican Indians. and half-bloods, sell.
ing fruit and vegetables, and offering
to dive for bits of money. The sight OF
40 many good-humored faces especial
ly the blacks), the taste Of the tropical
fruits, and above all, She lights that be-
gan 10 shine in the tewn, made most
charming contrast to our dark and
bloody sojourn on the island; and the
doctor and the squire, taking me along
with them. went ashore to pass the
early part of the night. Here they met
the captain of an English man-of-war.
fell in talk with him, went on board
his ship, and. in short, had so agreeable
a time that day was breaking when we
came alongside the "Hispaniola."
Ben Gum was on deck alone. and, rs
soon as we came on board, he began.
with wonderful contortions, to make us
a confession. Silver was gone. Tbe
maroon and connived at his escape In
a shore boat some hours ago, and he now
assured us he had only done so to pre-
serve our lives, which would certainly
have been forfeited IL that man with
the one leg had stayed aboard" But this
was not all. The sea cook had not gone
empty-handed. He had cut through Il
bulkhead unobserved, and had removed
one Of the sacks of coin, worth, per
haps, three or four hundred guineas.
to help him on his further wanderings.
think we were all pleased to be SO
cheaply quit Of him.
Well, to make a long story short, VIC
got n few hands on board, made a good
cruise home, and the "Hispaniola"
reached Bristol just as Mr.. Blandly was
beginning TO think of fitting out her
consort. Five men only of those who
had sailed returned with her. Drink
and the devil had done for the rest
with a vengeance; although, to be sure.
we were not quite In so bad case as
that other ship they sung about:
with one man OF the crew alive,
What put to sea with seventy-fve."
All of us had an ample share of the
treasure, and used 1t wisely or foolish
ly. according TO our natures. Capt.
Smollet is now retired from the sea.
Croy not oplv s,ral HE mona, b,,x
being suddenly smit with the desire
to rise. also studied his profession; and
he Is now mate and part owner of fine
full-rigSed ship; married besides, and
the father of family. As for Ben Gum.
he got G 1000, which be spent or lost
in thres weeks, or. to be mote exactt
in 10 days, for he was back begging on
the twentieth. Then he was given a
lodge to keep, exactly as he had Jared
upon the island; and ne still lives, a
great favorite, though something OF o
butt, with the country boys, and nota-
BILE singer In church on Sundays and
saints days.
OF Silver we have heard no more.
That formidable seafaring man with
one leg has at last gone clean out Of my
life; but l dare say he met his old
negress, and perhaps still lives in COM
fort with her and Capt. Flint. 1t is
10 be hoped SO. l suppose, for his
chances of comfort In another world
are very small.
The bar silver and the arms still lie,
for all that know, where Flint buried
them; and certainly they shall lie there
for me. Oxen and wain-ropes would
not bring me back again to that ac-
cursed island; and the worst dreams
that ever have are when | hear tn.
surf booming about its coasts, or start
upright in bed, with the sharp voice OF
Capt. Flint still ringing in my ears:
pieces Of eight! pieces Of eighth"
THE END.