The Irish standard., 1898-01-08

'Now, you see. Jim, SO be as you are
here" says he, I'll give you piece Of
my mind. I've always liked you, have.
for lad of spirit, and the pictcr of my
own self when l was young and hand
some. I always wanted you to jine aud
take your share, and die gentleman.
and now, my cock, you've got to. Cap'n
Smo,iett's a fine seaman, as I'll own up
to any day, but stiff on discipline.
'Dooty is dooey,' says he, and right be
is. Just you keep clear of the capn.
The doctor himself is gone dead again
you-'ungra,eful scamp was what he
said; and the short and the long of the
whole story is about here: you can't go
lack 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 jnc with
Cap'n Silver"
So far so good. My friends. then.
were still alive, and though partly be-
lieved the truth of Silver's statement.
that the cabin party were incensed at
me for my dcsertion, L was more re-
lievcd than distressed by what heard.
II don't say nothing as to your be-
dng in cur hands," continued Silver,
though there you arc, and you may lay
to it. I'm all for argument; l never
seen good come out o. threatening. If
you like the service, we'll, you'll jine;
and if you don't, Jim, you're free TO
answer no-frce and welcome. ship
mate; and If faircr can he said by NOR
t1l c1iynr MY.
cam to answer, then?" asked, with
q very trcmulous voice Through all
this snccring talk. I was made TO feel
the threat of death that ovcrhung me.
and my checks 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, nrtc; time goes
so pleasant in your company. you sec."
WELL" says I, growing a bit holder,
"lt I'm to choose, declare have right
to know what's what, and why you're
here. and where my friends arc"
"Nots wot ." repeated one of the buc-
cancers, in deep growl "Ah, he'd be
lucky one as knowcd that"
you'll perhaps bntten down your
matches till you're spoke, my FRIEND"
cried Silver, truculcntly. to this speak,
or. YESTERDAY morning, Mr.. Haw.
kins," said he. Sin the 1us-watrh, down
came Dr. Livcscy With flag of truce.
Says he: 'Cap'n Silver, you're sold out.
Ships gonc!' Well. maybe we'd been
taking glass, and song to help it
round. I wont say no. Lcastwavs
none of us had looked out. We looked
out, and, by thunder! the old ship
was gone. I never seen pack O. fools
look fisher; aud you may lay to that,
If l tells yoa that looked the fishicst.
Well says the doctor. let's bargain
We bar"ainrd. him and I, and here we
are; stores. brandy, bork-house, the
tire-wood you was thoughtful enough
to cut, and, in a manner OF speaking,
the whole blessed boat, from cross-tr trees
to keclson. AS for them. they've
tramrcd; I don't know where's thew
ore"
He drew again quietly at his pipe.
"And lest you should take 1t into
that head of yours" he went on, "that
you was included in the treaty, here's
eAs NOltS tiitl WAS SdIus ITO"
many are you" says !, 'to leave" Four
says he-'four and one of us wounded.
AS for the hoy, don't know where
he is. confound him. says he, nor
don't much care. We're about sick of
him. These was Ills words"
as that all?" l asked
"Wcll, it's all you're to hear, my son."
returned Silver.
'And now am to choose?"
"And now you are to choose, and YOU
may lay 10 that" said Silver.
Well" said ], II am not such n fool
but L know pretty well what have to
look for. Let the worst come to tho
worst, it's little ! care. I've seen too
many die since l fell in with you. But
there's Il thing or two Ihaye totell you,"
said, and by this time was quite OK
cited; land the first is this: Here YOU
nre in the bad way; ship lost, treasure
lost, men lost; your whole business
gone to wreck; and if You want to
know who did tit was /! | was
In the apple barrel the night you sight
Ell land, and heard you, John, and
you, Dick johnson, and Hands, who is
now at the bottom of the sea, and told
every word you said before the hour
was out. And as for the schooner, it
was l who cut her cable, and it was
who killed the men you had aboard of
her, and it was l who brought her
where you'll never sec her more, not
one of you. The laughs on my side;
I've had the top of this business from
the first; 10 more fear you than fear
fly. Kill me, if you please, or spare
me. But one thing I'll say, and no
more; if you spare me, by-gones are
by-goncs, and. when you fellows are in
court for piracy, I'll save you all can.
1t is for you to choose. Kill another
and do yourself no good, or spare me
Pnd keep witness to save YOU from
tie gallows."
stopped, for, I tell you, 1 was out of
breath, and, to my wonder, not man
of them moved, but oil sat staring Mt
me like as many sheep. And while
they were still staring, broke out
again:
"And now, Mr.. Silver" said, Il be-
lleve you're the best man here, and il
things go to the worst, I'll take 1t kind
of you to let the doctor know the way
! took it,"
It'll bear it in mind" said Silver, with
an accent SO curious that could not,
tor the life of me, decide whether he
were laughing at my request or had