Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1898-09-16
height. Every here and there, one OF a

these was the particular tall tree" of
Capt. Flint could only be decided on the
spot, and by readings of the compass.
Yet, although that was the case,
every man on board the boats had
picked favorite of bis own ere we
were halfway over, Long John alone
struggling his shoulders and bidding
them wait till they were there.
We pulled easily by Silver's direc-
tons, not to weary the hands prema-
turely; and, after quite a long passage,
landed at the mouth of the second
river-that which runs down woody
cleft of the Spy-glass. Thence, bend
ing to our left, we began to ascend the
slope toward the plateau.
At the first outset, heavy, miry
ground and a matted, marsh vegeta-
ton greatly delayed our progress;
but by little and little the hill began to
steepen and become stony underfoot,
and the wood to change its character
and to grow in more open order. 1t
was, indeed, a most pleasant portion of
the island that we were now approach
ing. \ heavyscented bloom and many
Towering shrubs had almost taken the
place of grass. Thickets Of green nut
meg trees were dotted here and there
with the red columns and the broad
shadow of the pines; and the first min
gled their spice with the aroma of the
others. The air, besides, was fresh and
stirring, and this, under the sheer sun
,ypr,1arf,,1 n, "
to our senses.
The party spread itself abroad, in q
fan shape, shouting and leaping to and
fro. About the center, and a good
way behind the rest, Silver and | fol-
lowed-I tethered by my rope, he pillow,
ing, with deep pants, among the slid.
ing gravel. From time to time, in
deed, had to lend him hand. or he
must have missed his footing and fallen
backward down the hill.
We had thus proceeded for about
half mile, and were approaching the
brow of the plateau, when the man
upon the furthest left began to cry
aloud, as if in terror. Shout after
shout came from him, and the others
began to run in his direction.
"IIe can't have found the treasure"
said old Morgan. hurrying past us
from the right, 'for that's clean atop"
Indeed. as we found when we also
reached the spot. it was something
very different. At the foot of pretty
big pine. and involved in green
creeper, which had even partly lifted
some Of the smaller bones, human
skeleton lay, wit a few shrcds of cloth
ing, on the ground. I believe a chill
struck for moment to every heart.
lie was seaman said George
Merry, who, holder than the rest, had
gone up close, and was examining the
rags of clothing. "Leastways, this IS
a good sea-cloth."
SAY, ay," said Silver, like enough;
you wouldn't look to find a bishop here,
| reckon. But what sort Of a way is
that for bones to lie? faint in
natur'."
Indeed, on second glance, it seemed
impossible to fancy that the body was
in natural position. But for some
disarray (the work, perhaps of the
birds that had fed upon him, or of the
slow-growing creeper that had grad
ually enveloped his remains) the man
lay perfectly straight-his feet point
ing in one direction, his hands, raised
| above his head like divers, pointing
directly in the opposite.
"I've taken notion into my old
| ,,cl. oLcar,.,l
the compass; there's the tip-top pint
| of Skeleton island, stickin' out like a
tooth. Just take bearing, will you,
along the line Of them bones"
1t was done. The body pointed
straight in the direction of the island,
and the compass read duly E. S. E. by E.
II thought So" cried the cook; this
here is p'inter. Right up there is our
line for the pole star and the jolly dol,
lars. But, by thunder, if it don't make
me cold inside to think of Flint. This
is one of his jokes, and no mistake.
Him and these six were alone here; he
killed em, every man; and this one he
hauled here and laid down by com.
pass, SILVER my timbers! They're long
bones, and the hairs been yellow. Ay,
that would be Allardyce. You mind
Allardyce, Tom Morgan?'
cay, ay," returned Morgan, Il mind
him; he owed me money, he did, and
took my knife ashore with him."
"Speaking of knives" said another
"why don't we find his'n lying round :
Flint warn't the man to pick seaman's
pocket; and the birds, l guess, would
leave it be-"
"By the powers, and that's true!'
cried Silver.
There amt thing left here" said
Merry, still feeling around among the
BONES, mot copper doit nor baccy
box. It don't look nat'ral to me-
mo, by gum, it DON'T" agreed Sill
yer; mot nat'ral, nor not nice, says
you. Great guns! messmate, but if
Flint was living, this would be hot
spot for you and me. Six they were,
| and six are we; and bones is what they
are now
II saw him dead with these here dead
| lights said Morgan. Billy took me
in. There he laid, with penny-pieces
on his eyes"
"Dead-ay, sure enough he's dead,
and gone below" said the fellow with
the bandage; "but if ever speerit
walked, it would be Flint's. Dear heart,
but he died bad, did Flint"
GAY, and that he did" observed an
other; "now he ragged, and now he hol-
Ter for the rum, and now he sung,
Fifteen Men were his only song,
mates; and tell you true, I never right
ly liked to hear it since. 1t was main
IL L