The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-06-11
PART III.
CHAPTER Xv.-coNrrNuEp.

All this time he had been feeling the
stun OF my jacket, smoothing my hands,
looking at my boots, and generally, in
the intervals of his speech, showing q
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
your" he repeated. why, now, who's
to hinder your"
"Not you, know" was my reply.
"And right you was" he cried "Now
you-what do you call yourself. mate?"
"Jim," told him.
"Jim, JIM" says he, quite pleased, APP
parently. swell, now, Jim, I've lived
that rough as you'd be ashamed to a
hear OF. Now, for instance, you
wouldn't think had pious mother
20 look at me?" he asked.
why, no, not in particular" an
swered.
"Ah, WELL" said he, "but had--re-
markably pious. And was civil
pious boy, and could rattle of my cate
chism that fast, as you couldn't tell
one word from another. And here's
what IL come to, Jim, and IL begun with
chuck-farthen on the blessed grave
stones That's what it begun with,
but IL went further'n that; and so my
mother told me, and predicked the
whole, she did, the pious woman. But
II were Providence that put me here.
I've thought IL 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 thimbleful for luck, of
course, the first chance have. I'm
bound I'll be good. and / see the way to.
And. Jim" looking all around him,
and lowering his voice TO a whisper
I'm rich"
/ now felt sure that the poor fellow
lad gone crazy In his solitude, and
suppose must have shown the feeling
In my face, for he repeated the
statement, hotly:
"Richl richl / says. And I'll tell
you what; I'll make a man OF you, Jim.
All, Jim, you'll bless your stars, you
will, you was the first that found
mel"
And at this there came suddenly allow
erinR shadow over his face, and he
frightened his grasp upon my hand, and
raised forefnger thresteningly be-
fore my eyes.
"Now, Jim, you tell me true; that
xin't Flint's ship?" he asked.
At this had happy inspiration.
began to believe that had found an
ally, and / answered him at once.
"It's not Flint's ship, and Flint Is
dead; but I'll tell you true, as you ask
me-there are some OF Flints hands
aboard; worse luck for the rest of us"
"Not a man-with one-legP" he
gasped.
"Siiver?'' / asked.
"Ah, Silver!" says he; "that were his
game"
He's the cook; and the ringleader,
co."
He was still holding me by the wrist,
and at that he gave IL quiet wiring
"If you was sent by Long john" he
said, "rm as good as pork, and know
IL. But where was you, do you sup
poser
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 had done he patted me on
the head.
you're good lad, JIM" he said;
"and you're all i'm Glove hitch, amt
you? Well, you just put your trust In
Ben Gunn-Ben Gums the man TO do
II. Would you think it likely, now,
hat your squire would prove Liberal
minded one in case of help-him being
I'm Glove hitch, as you remarkY
/ told him the squire was the most lid
eral of men.
"Ah, but you see" returned Ben
Gum, 81 didn't mean giving me gate
20 keep, and n suit of livery clothes,
and such; that's not my mark, Jim.
What / mean is, would he be likely TO
come down TO the toon OF, say $1,000
out of money that's as good as a mans
own already"
'I am sure he would" said /. AS It
was, all hands were TO share"
',And n passage homer" he added,
with n look OF great shrewdness.
"Why." cried, "the squires a gen
tleman. And, besides, IL we got rid of
the others, we should want you to help
work the vessel home"
"Ah," said he, so you would" And
he seemed very much relieved.
'Now, I'll tell you what" he went
on. $50 much I'll tell you, and no more.
I were In Flint's ship when he buried
the treasure; he and six along-six
strong seamen. They was ashore nigh
on q week, and US standing of and
ON an the old 'walrus.' One fine day