Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-09-08

was gone. never seen pack o. fools
look fisher; and you may lay to that.
if tells you that looked the fishiest.
Well says the doctor, lets bargain
We bargained. him and I, and here we
are; stores, brandy, block-house, the
fire-wood you was thoughtful enough
to cut, and, in a manner of speaking,
the whole blessed boat, from cross-trees
to keelson. As for them, they've
tramped; I don't know where's they
are"
He drew again quietly at his pipe.
''And lest you should take it into
that head of yours" he went on, ''that
you was included in the treaty, here's
the last words that was said: How
many are you? p says /, 'to leave?' Four
says he-'four and one of us wounded.
AS for the hoy, 1 don't know where
he is, confound him. says he, nor 1
don't much care. We're about sick of
him. These was his words"
"Is that ALP" I asked.
''Well, it's all you're to hear, my son"
returned Silver.
"And now I am to choose"
"And now you are to choose. and you
may lay to that" said Silver.
WELL" said /, 81 am not such fool
but 1 know pretty well what have to
look for. Let the worst come to the
worst, it's little I care. I've seen too
many die since I fell in with you. But
there's thing or two have to tell you"
said, and by this time was quite eX-
cited; land the first is this: Here you
are in the bad way; ship lost, treasure
lost, men lost; your whole business
gone to wreck D and if you want to
know who did tit was I! / was
in the apple barrel the night you sight
ed land, and I heard youS John, and
you, Dick Johnson, and Hands, who is
now at the bottom of the sea, and told
every word you said before the hour
was out. And as for the schooner, it
was who cut her cable, and it was I
who killed the men you had aboard of
her, and it was I who brought her
where you'll never see her more, not
one of you. The laughs on my side;
I've had the top of this business from
the first; I no more fear you than I fear
| a fly. Kill me, if you please. or spare
me. But one thing I'll say, and no
more; if you spare me, by-gones are
by-gones, and, when you fellows are in
court for piracy, I'll save you all can.
It is for you to choose. Kill another
and do yourself no good, or spare me
and keep a witness to save you from
the gallows.'
L stopped, for, tell you, I was out of
| breath, and, to my wonder, not man
of them moved, but all sat staring at
me like as many sheep. And while
they were still staring, broke out
again:
/ "And now, Mr.. Silver said, 81 be
lieve you're the best man here, and il
things go to the worst, I'll take it kind
of you to let the doctor know the way
I took it's
''I'll bear it in mind,'' said Silver, with
an accent so curious that could not
for the life of me, decide whether he
were laughing at my request or had
been favorably affected by my cour-
age.
I'll put one to that" cried the ole
Inahogany-faced seaman-Morgan by
| name-whom had seen in Long Johns
public house upon the quays of Bristol
''It was him that knowed Black Dog
''Well, and see here" added the sea
cook. I'll put another again to that
by thunder! For it was the same boy
that faxed the chart from Billy Bones
First and last we've split upon Jim
Hawkins!"
Then here goes!" said Morgan, with
an oath.
And he sprang up, drawing his knife
as if he had been twenty.
"Avast, there!" cried Silver. "Whc
are you, Tom Morgan? Maybe yor
| to-,
haps. By the powers, III teach yor
better! Cross me, and you'll go where
many a good mans gone before yot
first and last, these 80 year backbone
to the yard-arm, shiver my sidesi ant
some by the board, and all to feed tn.
fishes. There's never man looked me
between the eyes and seen a good day
a'terward, Tom Morgan, you may lay
to that"
Morgan paused; but hoarse muir
muir rose from the others.
/ Toms right" said one.
II stood hazing long enough from
one" added another. iii be hanged j,
I'll be hazed by you. John Silver"
Did any of you gentlemen want t.
have it out with me2" roared Silver
bending far forward from his posi-
ton on the key, with his pipe still
glowing in his right hand. Put I
name on what you're at; you aim
dumb, I reckon. Him that wants shall
| get it. Have / lived this many years
and a son of a rum puncheon cock hi
hat athwart my hawse at the latter
end of it? You know the way; you're
all gentlemen of fortune, by your &C
/ count. Well, I'm ready. Take a cut
lass him that dares, and I'll see tn,
color of his inside, crutch and all, be
fore that pipes empty"
II Nnx Sf;