Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-07-08
lgZEaSgyJl2 1EzzAgSs|gIL AGlID
.I457z5
l9oaEM loyK STEVENSON /&
PART III.
CHAPTER Xv.-CoNT1NuED.

All this time he had been feeling the
stuff OF my jacket, smoothing my hands,
looking at my boots, and generally, in
the intervals of his speech, showing a
childish pleasure in the presence of
fellow creature. But at my last words
he perked up into kind of startled sly
ness.
''If you ever get aboard again, says
you?" he repeated. ''Why, now, who's
to hinder you?"
mot you, know" was my reply.
.And right you was,' he cried. ''Now
you-what do you call yourself, mate?"
''Jim," told him.
"Jim, JIM" says he, quite pleased, ap-
parently. well, now, Jim, I've lived
that rough as you'd be ashamed to
hear Of. Now, for instance, you
wouldn't think had pious mother
to look at me?' he asked.
''Why, no, not in particular" an
swered.
"Ah, well,' said he, ''but had-rc-
marllably pious. And 1 was a civil,
pious boy, and could rattle off my cate
chism that fast, as you couldn't tell
one word from another. And here's
what it come to, Jim, and it begun with
chuck-farthen on the blessed grave
stones! That's what it begun with,
but it went further'n that; and so my
mother told me, and prediclled the
whole, she did, the pious woman. But
it were Providence that put me here.
I've thought it all out in this here lone
ly island, and I'm back on piety. You
can't catch me tasting rum so much;
but Just thimbleful for luck, of
course, the first chance I have. I'm
bound I'll be good, and see the way to.
And, jim" looking all around him,
and lowering his voice to whisper
''I'm rich.'
I now felt sure that the poor fellow
had gone crazy in his solitude, and l
suppose must have shown the feeling
in my face, for he repeated the
statement, hotly:
erich! rich! I says. And I'll tell
you what; I'll make man of you, Jim.
All, Jim, you'll bless your stars, you
will, you was the first that found
mel"
And at this there came suddenly low
ering shadow over his face, and he
, frightened his grasp upon my hand, and
raised foreinger threateningly be-
fore my eyes.
Snow, Jim, you tell me true; that
amt Flints ship?" he asked.
At this had happy inspiration. I
began to believe that had found an
ally, and answered him at once.
Sits not Flint's ship, and Flint is
dead; but I'll tell you true, as you ask
me-there are some of Flints hands
aboard; worse luck for the rest of u.s."
"Not a man-with one-leg?" he
gasped.
"Silver?" I asked.
"Ah, Silver!" says he; shat were his
came" ...
He's the cook; and the ringleader,
too"
He was still holding me by the wrist,
and at that he gave it quiet wiring.
eff you was sent by Long John" he
said, I'm as good as pork and know
it. But where was you, do you sup
pose"
had made my mind up in a moment,
and by way of answer told him the
whole story of our voyage, and the pre-
dicament in which we found ourselves.
He heard me with the keenest interest,
and when had done he patted me on
the head.
You're a good lad, JIM" he said;
'and you're all in Glove hitch, amt
you? Well, you just put your trust in
Ben Gunn-Ben Gums the man to do
it. Would you think it likely, now,
that your squire would prove liberal
minded one in case of help-him being
in a Glove hitch, as you remark?'
= I told him the squire was the most lib
eral of men.
"Ah, but you see," returned Ben
Gum, 81 didn't mean giving me gate
to keep, and a suit of livery clothes,
and such; that's not my mark, jim.
What I mean is, would he be likely to
. come down to the toon of, say 6 1000
out of money that's as good as mans
own already?"
81 am sure he would" said I. GAS it
was, all hands were to share"
"And passage home?" he added,
with a look of great shrewdness.
"Why," I cried, "the squire's gen.
tleman. And, besides, if we got rid of
the others, we should want you to help
work the vessel home." ...... ..a..
"Ah," said he, $50 you would" And
he seemed very much relieved.
"Now, I'll tell you what" he went
on. $50 much I'll tell you, and 10 more.
1 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 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, 1 was in another ship three
years back, and we sighted this island.
Boys said I, here's FIint's treasure;
let's land and find it. The captain was
displeased at that; but my messmates
were all of mind and landed. Twelve
. days they looked for it, and every day