Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-04-22

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Then here eoss." said Morgan. with an oath.
al gentlemen of fortune, by your ao-
count. Well, I'm ready. Take cut
lass him that dares, and I'll see the
color of his inside, crutch and all, be-
fore that pipes empty"
Not man stirred; not man an
swered.
"That's your sort, is it?' he added,
returning his pipe to his mouth. well,
you're gay lot to look at, anyway.
Not much worth to fight, you amt.
P'r'aps you can understand King
Georges English. I'm cap'n here by
lection. I'm cap'n here because I'm
the best man by long sea-mile. You
won't fight, as gentlemen O. fortune
should; then, by thunder, you'll obey,
and you may lay to it'll like that boy,
now; and never seen better boy than
that. He's more of man than any
pair of rats of you in this here house,
and what say is this: Let me see him
as'll lay a hand on him-that's what I
say, and you may lay to it."
There was long pause after this.
I stood straight up against the wall,
my heart still going like a sledge-ham-
mer, but with ray of hope now shin
ing in my bosom. Silver leaned back
against the wall, his arms crossed, his
pipe in the corner of his mouth, as calm
as though he had been in church; yet his
eye kept wandering furtively, and he
kept the tail of it on his unruly fol-
lowers. They on their part drew grad
ually together toward the far end Of the
block-house, and the low hiss of their
whispering sounded in my ears conttn-
| uously, like a stream. One after an
other they would look up, the red
light of the torch would fall Tor q Sec
ond on their nervous faces; but it was
not toward me, it was toward Silver
they turned their eyes.
you seem to have lot to say" re-
marked Silver, splitting far into the
air. Pipe up and let me hear it, OF
lay to-"
AK your pardon, sir" said one of
the men, you're pretty free with some
of the rules; maybe you'll kindly keep
an eye upon the rest. This crews dis
satisfied; this crew don't vally bully
ing marlinspike; this crew has its
| rights like other crews, I'll make SO free
as that; and by your own rules, take
1t we can talk together. ! ak your
pardon, sir, acknowledging you for to
be capting at this present; but claim
my right, and steps outside for coun-
ell"
And with an elaborate sea-salute, this
fellow, long, ill-looking, yellow-eyed
man of five-and-thirty, stepped coolly
toward the door and disappeared out
of the house. One after another the
rest followed his example; each maxi
ing salute as he passed; each adding
some apology. According to the rules"
said one. "Fo'k's'le council" said Nor
gan. And so, with one remark or an
other, all marched out, and left Silver
and me alone with the torch.
The sea-cook instantly removed his
pipe.
"Now, look here, Jim Hawkins" he
said, in a steady whisper, that was no
more than audible, you're within half
plank of death, and what's long
sight worse, of torture. They're going
to throw me off. But you mark, I
stand by you through thick and thin.
I didn't mean to; no, not till you spoke
up. Twas about desperate to lose that
much blunt, and be hanged into the
bargain. But see you was the right
sort. I says to myself: You stand by
Hawkins, John, and Hawkinsll stand
by you. You're his last card, and by
the living thunder, John, he's yoursl
Back 70 back, says I. You save your
witness, and he'll save your neck!"
began dimly to understand.
"You mean all is lost?" asked.
FAY, by gum, dol" he answered.
"ship gone, neck gone-that's the size
Of IL Once I looked into that bay, Jim
Hawkins, and seen no schooner-well,
I'm tough, but gave out. AS for that
lot and their council, mark me, they're
outright fools and towards. I'll save
your ife-if SO be as can-from them.
But see here, Jim-tit for tat-you save
| Long John from swinging"
| I was bewildered; it seemed a thing
80 hopeless he was asking-he, the old
puccdneer, Iue TluSleauer throughout.
"What can do, that I'll do" said.
tits bargain!" cried Long John.
"You speak up plucky, and, by thunderl
I've chance"
He hobbled to the torch, where it
stood propped among the firewood. and
took a fresh light to his pipe.
| Understand me, JIM" he said, re-
turning. "Iye a head on my shoulders,
] have. I'm on squires side, now.
know you've got that ship safe some
where's. How you done it. l don't know,
but safe 1t is. I guess Hands and
O'Brien turned soft. / never much be-
lieved in neither of them. Now you
mark me. ask no questions, nor I
won't let others. Iknow when games
up, do; and know lad that's stanch.
1 All. you that's young-you and me
might have done power of good to-
getherl"
he drew some coGnao from the sask