Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-10-20

out, and, by thunder! the old ship
was gone. l never seen a pack O. fools
look fisher; and you may lay to that,
If I tells you that looked the fishiest
WELL says the doctor, let's 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 your says l, to leave?' Four
says he-'four and one of us wounded.
AS for the boy, don't know where
he is, confound him. says he, nor l
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 l am to choose?
"And now you are to choose. and you
may lay to that" said Silver.
"Well," said /, 81 am not such a fool
but know pretty well what have to
look for. Let the worst come to the
worst, it's little 1 care. I've seen too
many die since / fell in with you. But
there's thing or two have to tell you."
I said, and by this time / was quite ex
cited; "and the first is this: Here you
are in the bad way; ship lost, treasure
lost, men lost; your whole business
gone to wreck; and if you want to
| know who did tit was l! l was
in the apple barrel the night you sight
ed land, and l heard you, 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
who killed the men you had aboard of
her, and it was l 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 l fear
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 l can.
1t 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, was out of
breath, and, to my wonder, not a man
of them moved, but all sat staring at
me like as many sheep. And while
they were still staring, l broke out
again:
"And now, Mr.. Silver" said, II be-
lieve you're the best man here, and If
things GO to the worst, III take it kind
of you to let the doctor know the way
| l took it,"
| "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.
III put one to that" cried the old
Snahogany-fa seaman-Morgan by
name-whom l had seen in Long John s
public house upon the quays of Bristol.
ut 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
| Uawkins!"
"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. who
are you, Tom Morgan? Maybe you
thought you were captain here, per-
haps. By the powers, III teach you
better! Cross me, and you'll GO where
many good mans gone before you
first and last, these 80 year back-some
to the yard-arm, shiver my sides! and
some by the board, and all to feed the
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 a hoarse mur'
mur rose from the others.
Toms right" said one.
'I stood hazing long enough from
one" added another. "I'll be hanged il
I'll be hazed by you, John Silver"
Did any of you gentlemen want tc
have it out with me?" roared Silver
bending far forward from his posi-,
ton on the keg, with his pipe still
glowing in his right hand. Put q
name on what you're at; you ain't
dumb, l reckon. Him that wants shall
| get it. Have l lived this many years
and son of rum puncheon cock his
hat athwart my hawse at the latter
end of it? You know the way; you're
all gentlemen of fortune, by your ac
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 a man stirred; not man an