The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-07-23
PART ".
CHAPTER XXv.-CoNrrNuEp.

Foraging about, found a bottle with
some brandy left, for Hands; and for
myself i routed out some biscuit, some
picked fruits, great bunch of raisins,
and a piece of cheese. With these i
came on deck, put down my own stock
behind the rudder-head. and well out of
the cockswain's reach, went forward
to the water-breaker, and had a good
deep drink of water, and then, and not
till then, gave Hands the brandy.
He must have drunk gill before he
took the bottle from his mouth.
"Ay," said he, 'by thunder. but ]
wanted some o. thatl"
had sat down already in my own
corner and began to eat.
"Much hurt?" asked him.
He grunted, or, rather. mig ht say he
barked.
"If that doctor was aboard" he said,
"rd be right enough in a couple of turns;
but don't have no manner of luck, you
see, and that's what's the matter with
me. AS for that swab, he's good and
dead, he is" he added. indicating the
man with the red cap. "He warn't no
btdLdHs any hOWs Ghhd NheAS ASab -
you have come fromT
"Well." said 1, "rve come aboard to
take possession Of this ship, Mr.. Hands;
and you'll please regard me MS your
captain until further notice"
He looked at me sourly enough, but
said nothing. Some OF the color had
come back into his cheeks, though he
still looked very sick and still contin-
ued TO slip out and settle down as the
ship banged about.
"By the by" continued, II can't
have these colors. Mr.. Hands; and by
your leave I'll strike 'em. Better none
than these"
And, again lodging the boom, ran 10
the color lines, hauled down their
cursed black flag. and chucked IL over
board.
God save the king!" said /, waving
my cap; "and there's an end TO Capt.
Silver"
He watched me keenly and slyly, his
him all the while on his breast.
'T reckon" he said at last~-"I reckon,
Cap'n Hawkins, you'll kind of want 10
get ashore, now. S'pose we talks"
"Why, yes" says I, with all my
heart. Mr.. Hands. Say on" And l
went back to my meal with good appe-
title.
This man." he began, nodding feeb-
w at the corpse-"O'Brien were his
name-a rank Irelander-this man and
me got the canvas on her, meaning for
TO sail her back. Well, he's dead now.
he is-as dead as bilge; and who's TO sail
this ship, don't see. Without give
you a hint, you amt that man, as far's
/ can tell. Now, look here. you gives
me food and drink, and a old scarf or
nnkecher TO tie my wound up. you do;
ard I'll tell you how TO sail her; and
that's about square all round. take IT..
"Ill tell you one thing" says i; I'm
not going back TO Capt. Kidd's anchor
age. mean to get into North inlet,
and beach her quietly there
"To be sure you did," he cried. why,
Iain't SIGH an internal lubber, after all.
can see. can't I? I've tried my hing'
/ have. and I've lost, and it's you has
the wind OF me. North inlet? Why, 1
haven't no chico. not 1! I'd help YOU
SAIL UtE UP W A<N'N0NaN
thOnderl so would
Wen, "a IL seemed TO me. there was
some sense In this. We struck our bar
gain on the spot. In three minutes
had the .Hispaniola" sailing easily be-
fore the wind along the coast OF Treas
ure island. with good hopes OF turning
the northern point ere noon, and beat
ing down again as far as North inlet
before high water. when we might
beach her safely, and wait till the sub
siding tide permitted us to land.
Then I dashed the tiller and went be-
low 10 my own chest, where gotasof'
sIik handkerchief Of my mothers. With
this, and with my aid, Hands bound up
the great bleeding stab he had received
In the thigh. and after he had eaten
little and had swallow or two more OF
the bra pdy. he began 10 pick up visioiy
at stra,ghier up, spoke louder ano
clearer, and looked In every way an
other man.
The breeze served us admirably W.
.kimrn>d bsfors IL like bird. the coss'