The Irish standard., 1898-02-05
CHAPTER XXNIV.
AAyD Aor,

AND LAST.
The next morning we fell early to
work, for the transportation of this
great mass OF gold near d mile by land
to the beach, and thence three miles by
boat to the "Nisl'ariola," was u consider.
able task for so small number of
workmen. TN: 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 moro
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 tho
beach. Two Of the bars, slung in
ropes end. made a good load for q
grown Man-one that he was glad to
walk slowly with. For my part, as
was not much use at carrying, 1 was
kept busy all day in the cave, packing
the minted money into bread bags.
1t was strange collection, like Billy
Bones hoard for the diversity of COIN
age, but so much larger ard SO much
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, I 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. .,s,... r,,
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 I 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 neise be-
tween shrieking and singing. It was
only snatch that reached our ears,
followed by the former silence.
Heaven forgive them" said the doc
tor; "'tis the mutineers!"
GAIL 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, 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.
'Right you were, sir" replied Silver;
sand precious little odds which, to you
and me-"
II suppose you would hardly ask me
10 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 / am morally certain one, at
least, of them is down with fever-I
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, hand
and glove; and shouldn't wish for to
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 the
man to keep your word. we know that"
Well, that was about the last news we
had of the three pirates. Only once we
heard gunshot great way off, and
supposed them to be hunting. A coun-
Gil was held, and it was decided thatwe
must desert them on the island-to the
huge glee, l must say, of Ben Gum.
and with the strong approval of Gray.
We left good stock of powder and
shot, the bulk of the salt goat, few
medicines and some other necessarics,
tools, clothing. spare sail, fathom or
two Of rope, and, by the particular de-
sire of the doctor, a handsome present
of tobacco.
That was about our last doing on the
island. Before that we had got the
treasure slowed, and had shipped
enough water and the remainder of the
goat meat. in case of any distress; and
at last. one fine morning, we weighed
anchor, which, was about all that we
could manage. and stood out of North
inlet, the same colors flying that the
captain had flown and fought under at
the palisadc.
The three fellows must have been
watching us closer than we thought for,
as we soon had proved. For, coming
through the narrows. we had to lie
very near the southern point, and
&horo 1ro GNU I, II 4l,roo ~ +1,,,,, l.n,o,;.o