Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-08-19

PART v.
CHAPTER XXv.-CoNT1NUED.

some brandy lett, fOr HANDS; ana TOT
myself I routed out some biscuit, some
picked fruits, great bunch of raisins,
and piece of cheese. With these I
came on deck, put down my own stock
behind the rudder-head. and we'll out of
the cockswain's reach, went forward
to the water-breaker, and had good
deep drink of water, and then, and not
till then, gave Hands the brandy.
He must have drunk gill before he
took the bottle from his mouth.
cay" said he, "by thunder, but
wanted some O. that!"
I had sat down already in my own
corner and began to eat.
"Much hurt?" asked him.
He grunted, or, rather, ight say he
barked.
eff that doctor was aboard" he said,
"Td be right enoughin a couple of turns;
but don't have no manner of luck, you
see and that's what's the matter with
me. AS for that swab, he's good and
dead, he is" he added, indicating the
man with the red cap. "He warn't no
seaman, anyhow. And where. mought
you have come from
''WeN," said I, ''I've come aboard to
take possession of this ship, Mr.. Hands;
and you'll please regard me as your
captain until further notice.
He looked at me sourly enough, but
said nothing. Some of the color had
come back into his cheeks, though he
still looked very sick and still contin-
ued to slip out and settle down as the
ship banged about.
"By the BY" I continued, "I can't
have these colors, Mr.. Hands; and by
your leave I'll strike 'em. Better none
than these"
And, again lodging the boom, Iran to
the color lines, hauled down their
cursed black flag, and chucked it over
board.
"God save the king!" said I. waving
my cap; ''and there's an end to Capt.
Silver"
He watched me keen!y and slyly, his
chin all the while on his breast.
81 reckon" he said at last-"I reckon,
Cap'n Hawkins, you'll kind of want to
get ashore, now. S'pose we talks"
"Why, yes" says T, with all my
heart, Mr.. Hands. Say on" And 1
went back to my meal with good appe-
tite.
'sThis man." he began, nodding feeb-
ly at the corpse-"O'Brien were his
name-a rank Irelander-this man and
me got the canvas on her, meaning for
to sail her back. Well, he's dead now,
he is-asdead as bilge; and who's to sail
this ship, don't see. Without give
you a hint, you amt that man, as fairs
can tell. Now, look here, you gives
me food and drink, and old scarf or
ankecher to tie my wound up, you do;
ard III tell you how to sail her; and
that's about square all round, I take it,
'I'll tell you one thing" says I; "I'm
not going back to Capt. Kidd's anchor
age. mean to get into North inlet,
and beach her quietly there
''To be sure you did," he cried. "Why,
I amt SIGH an internal lubber, after all.
can see, can't I? I've tried my fling,
I have, and I've lost, and it's. you has
the wind of me. North inlet? Why,
haven't no chico, not I! I'd help you
sail her up to Execution dock, by
thunder! so would"
Well, as it seemed to me, there was
some sense in this. We struck our bar
gain on the spot. In three minutes
had the "Hispaniola" sailing easily be-
fore the wind along the coast Of Treas
ure island, with good hopes of turning
the northern point ere noon, and beat
ing down again as far as North inlet
before high water, when we might
beach her safely, and wait till the sub
siding tide permitted us to land.
Then dashed the tiller and went be-
low to my own chest, where l got soft
silk handkerchief of my mothers. With
this, and with my aid, Hands bound up
the great bleeding stab he had received
in the thigh, and after he had eaten
little and had a swallow or two more OF
the brandy, he began to pick up visibly
sat straighter up, spoke louder and
clearer, and looked in every way an
other man.
The breeze served us admirably. We
skinned before it like bird, the coast
of the island flashing by, and the view
changing every minute. Soon we were
past the high lands aud bowling beside
low. sandy country, sparsely dotted
with dwarf pines, and soon we were be-
yond that again, and had turned the
corner of the rocky hill that ends the
island on the north.
I was greatly elated with my new
command, and pleased with the bright
sunshiny weather and these different
prospects of the coast. I had now
plenty of water and good things to eat
and my conscience, which had smitten
me hard for my desertion, was quoted
by the great conquest had made.
should, think, have had nothing left
me to desire but for the eyes of the cock.
swain as they followed me derisively
about the deck. and the odd smile that
appeared continually on his face. II
was 4 smile that had in it something
both of pain and weakness-a haggard
old mans smile; but there was, besides
that, a grain of derision, a. Shadow OF
treachery, in his expression as he crafti.
ly watched, and watched, and watched
me at my work.
CHAPTER XXV1.
ISRAEL HANDS.
The wind, serving US to a desire, now
hauled into the west. We could run SO