The Irish standard., 1898-02-05

b-aad bags.
gulf, and were Immediately surround
ed by shore boats full of negroes, and
Mexican Indians, and lalf-bloods, SELL
ing fruit and vegetables. and offering
to dive for bits of money. The sight of
SO many gocd-huEored faces especial
ly the blacks), the taste of the tropical
fruits, and above ell, the lights that be-
gan to shine in the town, made n nest
charming contrast to our dark and
bloody sojourn en- the island; and the
doctor ard the squire, taking me along
with them, went ashore to pass the
early Part of the night. Here they met
the captain CT an English man-of-war,
fell in talk with him, went on board
his ship, and, in short. had so agreeable
time that day was breaking when we
CAME alongside the "IIispanio!a."
Zen Gum was OIL deck alone, and, as
coon as we came on beard, he began,
with wonderful contortions, to make us
a confession. Silver was gone. The
maroon and connivcd at his escape in
shore boat some hours ago, and he now
assured us he had only done SO to pre-
serve our lives, which would certainly
have been forfeited if ''that man with
the one leg had stayed aboard" But this
was not all. The sea cook had not gone
cmpty-hardcd. He lad cut through q
bulkhead unobservcd, and had removed
one of the sacks of coin, worth, per-
laps. three or four hundred guineas,
10 help him on his further wanderings.
/ think we were all pleased to be so
rheaply quit of him.
Well, to make long Glory short, VIC
got few hands on board, made good
cruise home, and the "Hispaniola"
reached Bristol just as Mr.. Blanlly was
beginning to think of fitting out her
consort. Five men only of those who
had sailed returned with her. 'Drink
and the devil had done for the rest"
with a vengeance; although, to be sure,
we were not quite in so bad case as
that other ship they sung about:
'With one man of the crew alive.
What put to sea with seventy-flvc."
All of us had an ample share of the
treasure, and used it wisely or foolish
ly, according To our natures. Capt.
Smollet is now retired from the sea.
Gray not only saved his money, but,
being suddenly smit with the desire
to rise, also studied his professions; and
he is now mate and part owner of (; fine
rull-rigged ship; married besides, and
The father of a family. AS for Ben Gum,
he got 6 1000, which he spent or lost
in three weeks. or, to be more exact,
in 10 days, for he was back begging on
the twentieth. Then lie was given
lodge to keep, exactly as he had Jared
upon the island; and he still lives,
great favoritc, though something of
butt, with the country boys, and a nota-
bic singer in church on Sundays and
saints days.
or Silver we have heard no more.
That formidable seafaring man with
Ole leg has at last gone clean out of my
lie; but I dare say he met his old
negress, and perhaps still lives in COM
fort with her and Capt. Flint. 1t is
to be hoped so, I suppose, for his
chances of comfort in another world
are very small.
The bar silver and the arms still lie,
for all that know, where Flint buried
them; and certainly they shall lie there
for me. Oxen and wain-ropcs would
not bring me back again to that ac-
cursed island; and the worst dreams
that ever l have are when / hear tn.
surf booming about its coasts, or start
upright in bed, with the sharp voice of
Capt. Flint still ringing in my ears:
"Peces of eight! pieces of eight"