Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-10-06
CHAPTER XXXIV.
AND LAST.

CHAPTER XXXIV.
AND LAST.
The next morning we fell early to
work. for the transportation of this
great mass of gold near mile by land
to the beach, and thence three miles by
boat to the 'Hispaniola," was consider
able task for so small a number of
workmen. The three fellows still
abroad upon the island did not greatly
trouble us; single sentry on the Shout
der of the hill was sufficient to insure
us against any sudden onslaught, and
we thought, besides. they had had more
than enough of fighting.
Therefore the work was pushed on
briskly. Gray and Ben Gum came and
went with the boat, while the rest dur
ing their absence piled treasure on the
beach. Two of the bars, slung in a
ropes end. made a good load for IA
grown man-one that he was glad to
walk slowly with. For my part. as l
was not much use at carrying. was
kept busy all day in the cave, packing
the minted money into bread bags.
1t was a strange collection. like Billy
Bones hoard for the diversity of coin.
more varied that I think / never had
more pleasure than in sorting them.
English. French. Spanish, Portuguese,
Georges and Louises, doubloons and
double guineas and moidores and
sequins, the pictures of all the kings of
Europe for the last hundred years.
strange oriental pieces stamped with
what looked like wisps of string or bits
of spiders web. round pieces and square
pieces. and pieces bored through the
middle, as if to wear them round your
| neck-nearly every variety of money
in the world must. think. have found
place in that collection; and for num-
Der. am sure they were like autumn
| leaves. so that my back ached with
STOPPING and my fingers with sorting
them out.
Day after day this work went on; by
every evening a fortune had been
slowed aboard. but there was another
fortune waiting for the morrow; and
all this time we heard nothing of the
three surviving mutineers.
At last-I think it was on the third
| night-the doctor and l were strolling
on the shoulder of the hill where it
overlooks the lowlands of the isle.
when, from out the thick darkness be-
low. the wind brought us a noise be-
tween shrieking and singing. 1t was
| only a snatch that reached our ears,
| followed by the former silence.
Heaven forgive them" said the doc
| tor; "'tis the mutineers!"
'All drunk. sir" struck in the voice
| of Silver from behind US.
Silver. should say. was allowed his
entire liberty. and, in spite of daily re-
| Bluffs. seemed to regard himself once
more.as quite privileged and friendly
| dependent. Indeed. it was remarkable
| how we'll he bore these Sights, and with
what unwearying politeness he kept
| at trying to ingratiate himself with all.
Yet. l think. none treated him better
than dog; unless it was Ben Gum.
who was still terribly afraid of his old
quartermaster. or myself. who had real
| ly something to thank him for; al
though for that matter. l suppose.
| had reason to think even worse of him
| than anybody else. for had seen him
meditating fresh treachery upon the
| plateau. Accordingly. it was pretty
| gruff1y that the doctor answered him.
Drunk or raving." said he.
| hiSut you were, SlT. TSpiISu OiiHCi >
"and precious little odds which. to you
| and me-"
Il suppose you would hardly ask me
| to call you humane man." returned
| the doctor. with a sheer. land so my
| feelings may surprise you. Master Sill
| yer. But if were sure they were raw
| ing-as l am morally certain one, al
least. of them is down with fever-l
should leave this camp, and. at what
| ever risk to my own carcass. take them
the assistance of my skill"
ASK your pardon, sir. you would be
very wrong" quoth Silver. You would
| lose your precious life. and you may
| lay to that. I'm on your side now. ha nd
| and glove; and l shouldn't wish for tc
see the party weakened, let alone your
| self, seeing as know what owes you.
But these men down there. they
couldn't keep their word-no. not sup
| posing they wished to; and what's more
| they couldn't believe as you could"
No." said the doctor. You're tbs
| man to keep your word, we know that
Well. that was about the last news we
had of the three pirates. Only once We