Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-09-08
PART VI.
CAPTAIN SILVER.
CHAPTER XVIII.
IN THE ENEMY'S CAMP.


The red glare of the torch, lighting
up the interior of the block-house,
showed me the worst of my apprehen-
sions realized. The pirates were in pos
session of the house and stores; there
was cask of cognac, there were the
pork and bread, as before; and, what
tenfold increased my horror, not a sign
of any prisoner. I could only judge
that all had persisted, and my heart
smote me sorely that I had not been
there to perish with them.
There were six of the buccaneers, all
told; not another man was left alive.
Five of them were on their feet, flushed
and swollen, suddenly called out of the
first sleep of drunkenness. The sixth
had only risen upon his elbow; he was
deadly pale, and the blood-stained
bandage round his head told that he
had recently been wounded. and still
more recently dressed. I remembered
the man who had been shot and had run
back among the woods in the great at
tack, and doubted not that this was he.
The parrot sat, preening her piumage,
on Long Johns shoulder. He himself.
{ thought, looked somewhat pa1er and
more stern than I was used to. He
still wore his fine broadcloth suit in
which he had fulfilled hismission, but
it was bitterly the worse for wear,
daubed with clay and torn with the
sharp briars of the wood.
$50" said he, "here's Jim Hawkins.
SILVER my timbers! dropped in, like,
Ell? Well, come, I take that friendly"
And thereupon he sat down across
the brandy-cask, and began to fill
pipe.
''Give me the loan of a link, Dick"
said he; and then, when he had a good
light, "that'n do, lad,'' he added, ''stick
the g1im in the wood heap; and you,
gentlemen, bring yourselves to!-you
needn't stand up for Hawkins; he'll
excuse you, you may lay TO that. And
so, Jim"-stopping the tobacco-"here
you are, and quite pleasant surprise
for poor old John Isee you were smart
when first set my eyes on you; but
this here gets away from me clean, it
do
To all this, as may be well supposed,
I made no answer. They had set me
with my back against the wall; and
stood there, looking Silver in the face,
pluckily enough, hope. to all outward
appearance, but with black despair in
my heart.
Silver took Whit or two of his pipe
with great composure, and then ran on
again.
'sNov, you see, Jim, so be as you are
here" says he, "I'll give you a piece of
my mind. I've always liked you, I have.
for a lad of spirit, and the picter of my
own self when L was young and hand
some. I always wanted you to jine and
take your share, and die gentleman,
and now, my cock. you've got to. Cap'p
Smollett's fine seaman, as I'll own up
to any day, but stiff on discipline.
<Dooty is dooty.' says he, and right he
is. Just you keep clear of the cap'n.
The doctor himself 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 jine with
Cap'n Silver."
So far so good. My friends, then,
were still alive, and though partly be-
lieved the truth Of Si1ver's statement,
that the cabin party were incensed at
me for my desertion, was more re-
Ieved than distressed by what heard.
SCI don't say nothing as to your be-
ing in our hands," continued Silver,
though there you are. and you may lay
to it. I'm all for argument; never
seen good come out o. threatening. If
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, shiver my sides!"
Sam to answer, then ?" asked, with
very tremulous voice. Through all
this sneering talk, was made to feel
the threat of death that overhung me,
and my cheeks burned and my heart
beat painfully in my breast.
Lad" said Silver, mo ones a-press-
ing of you. Take your bearings. None
of us won't hurry you. mates time goes
so pleasant in your company, you see.''
well" says I. growing bit bolder
eff I'm to choose, declare have a right
to know what's what. and why you're
here. and where my friends are
'sWot's wot ?" repeated one Of the buc-
cancers, in deep growl. sAh, he'd be
a lucky one as knowed thatl"
You'll perhaps batten down your