Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-05-03

very different. At the foot of pretty
big pine, and involved in a green
creeper, which had even partly lifted
some of the smaller bones, a human
skeleton lay, with few shreds of cloth
ing, on the ground. believe chill
struck for moment to every heart.
He was seaman" said George
Merry, who, holder than the rest, had
gone up close. and was examining the
rags of clothing. "Leastways, this is
good sea-cloth."
GAY, ay," said Silver, like enough;
you wouldn't look to find a bishop here,
reckon. But what sort of way is
that for bones to lie? 'Tain't in
natur'"
Indeed, on second glance, it seemed
impossible to fancy that the body was
in a natural position. But for some
disarray (the work, perhaps of the
birds that had fed upon him, or of the
slow-growing creeper that had grad
ually enveloped his remains) the man
lay perfectly straight-his feet point
ing in one direction, his hands, raised
above his head like Divers, pointing
directly In the opposite.
1--we taken notion into my old
numskull," observed Silver. Here's
the compass; there's the tip-top pint
of Skeleton island, stickin' out like q
tooth. just take bearing, will you.
along the line of them bones."
1t was done. The body pointed
straight in the direction of the island,
and the compass read duly E. S. E. by E.
II thought So" cried the cook; this
here is a p'inter. Right up there is our
line for the pole star and the jolly dol
lars. But. by thunder, if 1t don't make
me cold inside to think Of Flint. This
is one of his jokes, and no mistake.
Him and these six were alone here; he
killed 'em, every man; and this one he
hauled here and laid down by COM
pass, SILVER my timbers! They're long
bones, and the hairs been yellow. Ay,
that would be Allardyce. You mind
Allardyce, Tom Morgan%
Gay, ay," returned Morgan, IT mind
him; he owed me money, he did, and
took my knife ashore with him."
| Speaking of Knives" said another,
'twhy don't we find his'n lying round
Flint warn't the man to pick a seaman's
pocket; and the birds, I guess, would
leave 1t be-
by the powers, and that's truel"
cried Silver.
There amt thing left here" said
Merry, still feeling around among the
bones, mot copper doit nor baccy
box. 1t don't look nat'ral to me-"
mo, by gum, it don't" agreed Sill
yer; mot nat'ral, nor not nice, says
you. Great gunsl messmate, but if
Flint was living, this would be hot
spot for you and me. Six they were,
and six are we; and bones is what they
are now"
81 saw him dead with these here dead
| lights" said Morgan. BILLY took me
in. There he laid, with penny-pieces
on his eyes"
'Dead-ay, sure enough he's dead,
and gone below" said the fellow with
the bandage; but if ever speerit
walked, it would be Flnt's. Dear heart,
but he died bad, did Flint"
SAY, and that he did," observed an
other; NOW he ragged, and now he hol-
Ter for the rum, and now he sung.
Fifteen Men were his only song,
mates; and tell you true, never right
ly liked to hear it since. 1t was main
hot, and the windy was open, and
hear that old song comm out as clear
as clear-and the death-haul on the
man already"
| Come, come,' said Silver, "stow this
talk. He's dead, and he don't walk, that
I know; leastways, he won't walk by
day, and you may lay to that. Care
killed the cat. Fetch ahead for the
doubloons."
We started, certainly; but in spite Of
the hot sun and the staring daylight,
the pirates no longer ran separate
and shouting through the woods, bu'
kept side by side, and spoke with batee
breath. The terror of the dead buc
cancer had fallen on their spirits.
(To be continued)