Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-04-22
smolIett's tine seaman. as III own i

Inc 0octor nlmselI IS gone dead again
you-'ungrateful scamp was what he
said; and the short and the long of the
whole story is about here; you can't go
back to your own lot, for they won't
have you; and, without you start third
ships company all by yourself, which
might be lonely, you'll have to fine with
Cap'n Silver"
So far SO good. My friends, then,
were still alive, and though partly be-
lieved the truth of Silver's statement,
that the cabin party were incensed at
me for my desertion, was more re-
lieved than distressed by what heard.
Il don't say nothing as to your be-
Ing in our hands" continued Silver,
though there you are, and you may lay
to 1t. I'm all for argument; I never
seen good come out o. threatening. II
you like the service, well, you'll jine;
and If you don't. Jim, you're free to
answer no-free and welcome, ship.
mate; and if fairer can be said by NOR
tai seaman, SILVER my sides!"
Am to answer, then ?" asked. with
a very tremulous voice. Through all
this sneering talk, was made to feel
the threat of death that oyerhung me.
and my cheeks burned and nv heart
beat painfully in my breast.
lad" said Silver, 'no ones a-press-
ing Of you. Take your bearings. None
of US won't hurry you, mate; time goes
SO pleasant in your company, you see"
Well" says I, growing a bit bolder,
IF I'm tochoose. declare have right
to know what's what, and why you're
here. and where my friends are"
"Wot's wot ?" repeated one of the buc-
cancers, in deep growl. "Ah, he'd be
lucky one as knowed that!"
you'll perhaps batten down YOUR
matches till you're spoke, my friend"
cried Silver. truculently, to this speak
er. Yesterday morning. Mr.. Haw-
ldns," said he, sin the dog-watch, down
came DR.. Livesey with flag of truce.
Says he: 'Cap'n Silver, you're sold out.
Ships gone!' Well, maybe we'd been
taking a glass. and a song to help it
round. won't say no. Leastways
none Of US had looked out. We looked
out, and, by thunder! the old ship
was gone. I never seen pack o. fools
look fisher; and you may lay to that.
If 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 manner of speaking,
the whole blessed boat, from cross-trees
to keelson. AS for them, they've
tramped; 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 you?' says 1, to leave p -Four
says he-'four and one of us wounded.
AS for the hoy, l 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"
SIS that all?" asked.
well, it's all you're to hear, my son, !"
returned Silver.
And now am to choose?"
And now you are to choose, and you
may lay to that" said Silver.
WELL" said l, 81 am not such fool
but I know pretty well what have to
look for. Let the worst come to the
worst, it's little care. I've seen too
many die since I fell in with you. But
there's thing or two hayet to tell you,"
l said, and by this time was quite ex-
cited; land 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 was
in the apple barrel the night you sight
ed land, and 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 I who cut her cable, and it was
who killed the men you had aboard Of
her, and 1t was 1 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
q fly. Kill me, if you please, or spare
me. But one thing I'll say, and no
more; II you spare me, by-gones are
by-gones, and, when you fellows are in
court for piracy, I'll save you all can.
It is for you to choose. Kill another
and do yourself no good, or spare me
and keep witness to save you from
the gallows."
] stopped, for, tell you, I 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 whila
they were still staring, l broke out
again:
And now, Mr.. Silver" 1 said, II be-
lieve you're the best man here, and if
things go to the worst, I'll take it kind
of you to let the doctor know the way
I took it."
"1'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.
I'll put one to that" cried the old
mahogany-faced seaman-Morgan by
name-whom I had seen in Long Johns
public house upon the quays of Bristol.
1t was him that knowed Black Dog"
We'll, and see here" added the sea-
oook. "I'il 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
uaWkinSl"