The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-08-20

THE TREASURE HUNT yLINrs
POINTER.


"Jim," said Silver, when we were
alone, "if saved your life, you saved
mine; and I'll not forget it. seen the
doctor waving you to run for it-with
the tail of my eye, did; and seen you
say no, as plain as hearing. Jim. that's
one TO you. This Is the first CLINT OF
hope I had since the attack failed, and
owe IL you And now, Jim, we're
TO go in for this here treasure-hunting.
with scaled orders, too, and ! don't Hike
IL; and you and noe must stick close,
back to back like, and we'll save our
necks In spite o. fate and fortune"
Just then a man hailed us from the
fire that breakfast was ready, and we
were soon seated here and there about
the sand over biscuit and fried junk.
They had lighted fire at TO roast an
OK; and IL was now grown so hot that
they could only approach tt from the
windward, and even there not without
prccaution. In tho same wasteful spir-
IL, they had cooked, I suppose, three
times more than we could eat; and one
Of them, with an empty laugh, threw
wfrat was left into the fire, which blazed
and roared again over this unusual fuel
I never In my life saw men so careless
of the morrow; hand TO mouth Is the
only word that can describe their way
Of doing; and what with wasted food
and sleeping sentries, though they were
bold enough for q brush and be done
with IL, could see their entire unfitness
for anything like prolonged cam
paign-
Even Silver, eating away, with Capt
Flint upon his shoulder. had not q word
this the more surprised me, for ]
thought he had never shown himself
so cunning as he did then.
-Ay, mates,- said he, ats lucky you
have Barbecue 10 think for you with
this here head. got what wanted, /
did. Sure enough, they have the ship.
Where they have II, don't know yet;
but once we hit the treasure. We'll have
TO jump about and find out. And then,
mates, US that has the boats, reckon,
has the upper hand"
Thus he kept running on, with his
mouth full of the hot bacon, thus he
restored their hope and confidence, and,
I more than suspect, repaired his own
at the same time.
"As for hostage" he continued,
"that's his last talk, guess, with them
he loves so dear. I've got my piece o
news, and thanky TO him for that; blu,
| it's over and done. TT take him IN a
| line when we go treasure-hunting, for
we'll keep him like so much gold. in
case Of accidents, you mark. and In the
meantime, once we got the ship and
treasure both. and of TO sea like jolly
companions, why. then Wen talk Mr..
Hawkins over, we will, and we'll give
him his share, to be sure, for all bile
| kindness"
II was no wonder the men were In a
| good humor now. For my part, was
horribly cast down. Should the scheme
| he had now sketched prove feasible, Sill
yer, already doubly traitor, would not
hesitate 10 adopt II. He had still foot
| in either camp, and there was no doubt
he would prefer wealth and freedom
with the pirates 10 bare escape from
hanging, which was the best he had 70
hope on our side.
Nay, and even IL things 80 fell out
that he was forced to keep his faith
with DIR. Lfvesey. even then what dan
| ger lay before usi What n moment that
would be when thesuspicions of his fol.
lowers turned to certainty, and he and
1 should have 20 flght for dear life
he. cripple, and I. a boy-against five
strong and active seamenl
| Add TO this double apprehension, the
mystery that still hung over the be
havior OF my friends; their unexplained
desertion Of the stoclade; their mex
| plicable cession OF the chart; or, harder
still 10 understand. the doctors las
warning 10 Silver; Look out FOL
squalls when you find IT." and you vii
readily believe how little taste fount
In my breakfast, and with how uneas,
heart set forth behind my captor'
on the quest for treasure.
We made q curious figure hns
anyone been there TO see us; all n
soiled sailor clothes, and all but m'
armed TO the teeth. Silver had tw,
guns slung about him, one before ant
| one Dtnlnu-DtSlutn TIC Htttt CutiuS
at his waist, and a pistol In each peck
ct of his square-tailed coat. To complete
his strange appearance, Capt Flint sa
perched upon his shoulder and gabble'
odds and ends OF purposelcss sea-talk
had line about my waist, and fol
lowed obediently after the sea-cook
who held the loose end OF the rope, nov
in his free hand. now between his pow
erful teeth. For oil the world was le,
like a dancing bear.
The other men were variously bur
dened. some carrying picks and shov
els-for that had been the very frs
necessary they brought ashore iron
the DISQUALIFICATION laden will
pork. bread and brandy for the midda,
meal. AL the stores, observed, cam
from our stock; add I could see tn
truth of Siivcr's words the night before
Had he not struck q bargain with tn
doctor he and his mutinesrs, deserted
by the ship, must have been driven I,