The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-09-03
CHAPTER xxxIv.
AND LAST.

work, for the transportation OF this
great mass of gold near a mile by land
10 the beach, and thence three miles by
boat TO the "Hispaniola," was consider
able task for SO small a number of
workmen. The 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 more
than enough of fighting.
Therefore the work was pushed on
briskly. Gray and Ben Gum came and
ing their absence piled treasure on the
beach. Two Of the bars, slung in a
ropes end, made good load for n
grown man-one that he was glad 10
walk slowly with. For my part, as /
was not much use at carrying, was
kept busy all day in the cave, packing
the minted money into bread bags.
II was n strange collection, like Billy
Bones hoard for the diversity of coin
age, but so much larger and SO much
more varied that I think / never had
more pleasure than Ia sorting them.
English, French, Spanish. Portuguese,
Georges and Louises. doubloons and
double guineas and moldores 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, roundpieces and square
pieces, and pieces bored through the
middle, as II TO wear them round your
neck--nearly every variety Of money
In the world must, / think, have found
a 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.
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 IL was on the third
night-the doctor and were strolling
on the shoulder OF the hill where IL
overlooks the lowlands of the isle,
when, from out the thick darkness be-
low, the wind brought us n noise be-
tween shrieking and singing. II was
only a snatch that reached our ears,
followed by the former silence.
Heaven forgive them" said the doc
tor; "'tis the mutineers!"
"All 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 10 regard himself once
more as quite privileged and friendly
dependent. Indeed, II was remarkable
how well 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 q dog; unless IL 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, / suppose, i
| had reason to think even worse OF him
| than anybody else, for had seen him
meditating fresh treachery upon the
plateau. Accordingly, il was pretty
grufily that the doctor answered him.
Drunk or ravingl" said he.
| fright you were. sir" replied Silver;
"and precious little odds which, to you
and me-"
II suppose you would hardly ask me
to call you n humane man." returned
the doctor, with n sneer, "and so my
feelings may surprise you. Master Sill
yer. But IL were sure they were raw
ing--as / am morally certain one, al
least. of them is down with fever
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 &c
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 10; and what's more
they couldn't believe as you could"
NO." said the doctor. You're thu
man 20 keep your word. we know that
Well, that was about the last news w
| Af~f Al. .,,rso ,,fratcs Onlt onre "a,