Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-03-29
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PART III.
CHAPTER XV.-CONTINUED.


All this time he had been feeling the
stuff of my jacket, smoothing my hands,
looking at my boots, and generally, in
the intervals of his speech, showing a
childish pleasure in the presence of a
fellow creature. But at my last words
he perked up into a kind of startled sly
ness.
IF you ever get aboard again, says
you?" he repeated. why, now, who's
to hinder you?"
Not you, know" was my reply.
And right you was,' he cried. ''Now
you-what do you call yourself, mate %
''Jin," l told him.
Jim, Jim" says he, quite pleased, ap-
parently. "Well, now, Jim, I've lived
that rough as you'd be ashamed to a
hear of. Now, for instance, you
wouldn't think I had pious mother
to look at me?' he asked.
why, no, not in particular" I an
swered
"Ah, well,' said he, "but I had-re-
marSably pious. Aud 1 was civil,
pious boy, and could rattle off my cate
chism that fast, las you couldn't tell
one word from another. And here's
what it come to, Jim, and it begun with
chuckfarthen on the blessed grave
stones! That's what it begun with,
but it went further'n that; and so my
mother told me, and predicked the
whole, she did, the pious woman. But
it were Providence that put Inc here.
I've thought it all out in this here lone
ly island, and I'm back on piety. You
can't catch me tasting rum so much;
but just a thimbleful for luck, of
course, the first chance I have. I'm
bound I'll be good, and see the way to.
And, Jim" looking all around him,
and lowering his voice to Whisper
I'm rich"
l now felt sure that the poor fellow
had gone crazy in his solitude, and I
suppose must have shown the feeling
in my face, for he repeated the
statement, hotly:
Rich! rich! I says. And I'll tell
you what; III make man of you, jim.
All, jim, you'll bless your stars, you
will, you was the first that found
me-"
And at this there came suddenly low
er;ng shadow over his face, and he
frightened his grasp upon my hand, and
raised forcfinger threateningly be-
fore my eyes.
Now, Jim, you tell me true; that
amt Flint's ship?" he asked.
At this l had happy inspiration. I
began to believe that had found an
ally. and answered him at once.
Its not Flint's ship, and Flint is
dead; but I'll tell you true, as you ask
me-there are some of Flint's hands
aboard; worse luck for the rest of u.s.
Not a man-with one-leg?" he
gasped.
"Silver?' I asked.
"Ah, Silver" says he; shat were his
name"
Hes the cook; and the ringleader,
too
He was still holding me by the wrist,
and at that he gave it quiet wiring.
IF you. was sent by Long John,' he
said. I'm as good as pork, and know
1T. But where was you, do you sup
.pose?'
I had made my mind up in moment,
and by way of answer told him the
whole story of our voyage, and the pre-
dicament in which we found ourselves.
He heard me with the keenest interest.
and when l had done he patted me on
the head.
YOU'RE a good lad, Jim,'' he said;
"and you're all in Glove hitch, amt
you? Well, you just put your trust in
Ben Gunn-Ben Gums the man to do
it. Would you think it likely, now,
that your squire would prove LIBERAL
minded one in case of help-him being
in Glove hitch, as you remark?"
told him the squire was the most lib
eral of men.
"Ah, but you see," returned Ben
Gum. II didn't mean giving me a gate
to keep. and a suit of livery clothes,
and such; that's not my mark, Jim.
What I mean is, would he be likely to
come down to the toon of, say 1000
out Of money that's as good as mans
own already?"
II am sure he would" said I. GAS it
was, all hands were to share
"And passage homer" he added,
with look of great shrewdness.
Why" I cried, "the squire's gen
!tleman. And, besides, if we got rid of
the others, we should want you to help
work the vessel home.' ~,
"Ah," said he, $50 you WOULD And
he seemed very much relieved. .5. +"
Nov, I'll tell you what he went
on. so much I'll tellyou,and more.
I were in Flint's. ship when. he buried
the treasures; he and six along-six
strong seannen They was ashore nigh
on a week, and us standing OF and
on. il the: Q, slz#':;y Ir,is,''. One fine day
,ln vent The signal, N and here come