Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1898-12-22

CHAPTER xXXIII.-CoHrISuEp.

Shaf Il Elk AAAlll.-tONTlNt ED.
When the doctor had wormed bis Sc
eret from him on the afternoon of the
attack, and when, next morning. he
saw the anchorage deserted. he had
gone to Silver. given him the chart.
which was now useless-giyen him the
stores, for Ben Gums cave was well
supplied with goats meat sailed by
himself-given anything and every
thing to get q chance of moving in
safety from the stockade 10 the two
pointed hill, there TO be clear of ma
laria and keep guard upon the money.
"As for you, JIM" he said, cit went
against my heart. but I did what l
thought best for those who had stood
by their duty; and il you were not one
Of these, whose fault was it?"
That morning. finding that / was TO
be involved in the horrid disappoint-
ment he had prepared for the mu-
timers. he had run all the way to The
cave. and, leaving Squire TO guard the
captain. had taken Gray and the ma
room and started. making the diagonal
scross the island, TO be ut hand be-
side the pine. Soon. however. he saw
THAI our party had the start Of him;
ond Ben Gum. being feet Of foot. had
been dispatched In front TO do his best
alone. Then IL had occurred to him to
~olf upon the superstitions OF his for
mer sbipmatcs. and he was so far sue
cessful that Gray and the doctor had
come up and were already ambushed
before the arrival OF the treasure hunt
ers.
"Ah," said Silver, cit was fortunate
sor me that I Ind Hawkins here. You
would have let old John be cut to bits
and never given il thought. doctor"
"Not a thought" replied DIR. Livesey.
chcerily.
And by this time we had reached the
gigs. The doctor. with the pick AZ. de-
molished one of them, and then we all
got aboard the other. and set out TO go
round by the sea for North Inlet.
This was n run Of eight or nine miles.
Silver, though he was almost killed
already with fatigue. was set 10 an oar.
hnt tht fNet VI w. ona We WITT eOOn
skimming swiftly over a smooth sea.
Soon we passed out of the straits and
doubled the southeast corner of the
island, round which, four days ago, We
had towed the "IIispaniola."
As we passed the two-pointed hill, we
could see the black mouth of Ben Gums
cave. and a figure standing by 1t, lean
ing on a musket. Ii was the squire; and
we waved a handkerchief and gave him
three cheers, in which the voice of Sill
er Joined as heartily as any.
Three miles further, just inside the
mouth of North inlet. what should we
meet but the "Hispaniola, cruising by
herself. The last flood had lifted her;
and had there been much wind, or a
strong tide current, rs in the southern
anchorage, We should never have found
her more, or found her stranded beyond
help. As II was. there was little amiss,
beyond the wreck of the mainsail. An
other anchor was got ready, and
dropped in fathom anha half of ater.
We all pulled round again TO Rum cove,
the nearest point for Ben Gums treas
ure house; and then Gray. single ha nd
ed. returned with the gig to the His
raniola, where he was to pass the night
on guard.
A gentle slope ran up from the beach
20 the entrance of the cave. At the top
the squire met ms. To me he was cor
dial, saying nothing of my escapade,
either in the way of blame or praise. AT
silver's polite salute he somewhat
flushed.
John Silver" he said, you're q
prodigious villain and imposter-a mon
strous impostor, sir, am told am. not
TO prosecute you. Well, then, / will not.
But the dead men. sir. hang about your
Eeck like millstones."
Thank you kindly. sir" replied
Long John, again saluting.
How dare you to thank met" cried
the squire. 1T Is a gross dereliction of
my duty. Stand backI"
And thereupon we all entered the
cave. II was large, airy place, with a
little spring and q pool of clear water,
overhung with ferns. The floor was
sand. Before big fire lay Capt. Smol-
let; and In a far corner, only duskily
flickered over by the blaze, 1 beheld
great heaps Of coin and quadrilaterals
built of bars Of gold. That was Fiint's
treasure that we had come so far 70
seek, and that had cost already the lives
OF IL men from the "Hispaniols." How
many IL had cost in the amassing, what
blood and SORROW, what good ships scut.
tied on the deep, what brave men walk
ing the plank blindfold, what shot Of
cannon, what shame and lies and cruel
~. perhaps no man alive could tell.
Yet there were still three upon that
island-Silver, and old Morgan, and
Ben Gunn-who had each taken his
share In these crimes. az each had hoped
In vain to share In the reward.
Come In, JIM" said the captain.
you're o good boy In your line. Jim;
but ] don't think you and nell 20 to
sea again. You're too much Of the
born favorite for me. 10 that you, John
elvsss What brings you here. mani"