Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-01-27

fore my eyes.
Vow. Jim, YOU tell Inc true; that
aiu't FInt's ship?" he asked.
vt this I had happy inspiration. |
berau to believe that had found an
aIlv. and l answered him at once.
ITS not Flint's ship. and Flint is
dead: but I'll tell you true, as you ask
ne-there are some of Flints hands
aboard; worse luck for the rest OF
US"
Not a man-with one-leg?" he
gasped.
"Silver?" ! asked.
"Ah, Silycr!' says he; that were his
name"
Hes the cook; and the ringleader,
too"
He was still holding me by the wrist,
and at that he gave it quiet wiring.
If you was sent by Long John" he
said. I'm as good as pork, and know
it. But where was you, do you sup
pcse|
| had made my mind up in moment,
and by way of answer told him the
whole story of our voyage, and the pre-
dicament in which we found ourselves.
He heard me with the keenest interest,
and when l had done he patted me on
the head.
You're a good lad, Jim," he said;
"and you're all in Glove hitch, amt
you? Well, you just put your trust in
Ben Gunn-Ben Gunn's the man to do
it. Would you think it likely, now,
That your squire would prove a liberal.
minded one in case of help-him being
in a Glove hitch, as you remark?"
told him the squire was the most lib
eral of men.
"Ah, but you see," returned Ben
Gum, ~ didn't mean giving me gate
to keep, and a suit of liTery clothes
and such; that's not my mark, jim
What mean is, would lie be likely to
come down to the toon of, say 6 ,00C
out OF money that's as good as a mans
own already?"
Il am sure he would" said 1. "As ii
was, all hands were to share"
And a passage home?" he added
with look Of great shrewdness.
"WLy." | cried, the squire's a gen.
tIemaE And, besides, if we got rid OF
the others, we should want you to help
work the vessel home"
"Ah," said he, 80 you would" And
he seemed very much relieved.
'Now, I'll tell you what" he went
on. so much I'll tell you, and no more,
l were in Flint's ship when he buried
y. -
strong seamen. They was ashore nigh
on a week, and us standing off and
on In the o,d 'Walrus.' One fine day
up went the signal. and here come
Flint by himself in little boat, and his
head GoGe up in a 5,ue scarf. The sur
was getting up. and mortal white hs
looked about the cut-water. But, there
lie was, You mind. and the six all deat
dead and buried. How had ne done
il. not a man aboard us could make out
II was battle. murder and sudden death
leastways--him against six. Billy
Bones was the mate: Long John. he was
quartermaster; and they asked him
where the treasure was. 'Ah,' says he
you can go ashore, if you like, and
stay he says; but as for the ship, she'll
beat up for more, by thunder!' That's
what he said.
'Well, 1 was in another ship three
gears back, and we sighted this island
Boys said I, here's Flint's treasure;
let's land and find it, The captain was
displeased at that; but my messmates
were all of mind and landed. Twelve
days they looked for it, and every day
they had the worse word for me, unit
one fine morning all hands went
aboard. AS for you, Benjamin Gum .
says they, here's a musket,' they says
'and spade, and pick-ax. You car
stay here, and find Fiint's money fol
yourself they says.
"Well, Jim, three years have l bee;
here, and not bite of Christian die
from that day to this. But now, yoi
look here; look at me. Do look like
man before the mast? No. says you
Nor I weren't, neither, l says"
And with that he winked and pincheC
me hard.
"Just you mention them words t.
your squire, Jim"-he went on: Nor h,
weren't, netherlands the words
Three years he were the man of thi
island, light and dark, fair and rain
and sometimes he would, maybe, thinl
upon a prayer (says you), and some
times he would, maybe, think of his olt
mother, so be as she's alive you'll say)
but the most part of GuuII's time (thi
is what you'll say)-the most part o
his time was took up with another mat
ter. And then you'll give him nip, lik,
l do"
And he pinched me again, in the mos
confidential manner.
"Then," he continued-"then you'll
up and you'll say this: Gum is goot
man you'll say), and heputs preciou
sight more precious sight
mind that-in a gentleman born than il
these gentlemen of fortune, havin!
been one hisself."
well" / said, 81 don't understand
one word that you've been saying. Blu
that's neither here nor there; for hov
am TO get on board?"
"Ah," said he, "that's the hitch TO
sure. Well. there's my boat that
made with my two hands. 1 keep he
under the white rock. If the wors
come to the worst, we might try tha
after dark. Hill" he broke out, what
that?"
For just then, although the sun haC
still an hour or two to run, all the echoe
of the island awoke and beloved t.
fhe thunder of n cannon
They have begun to fight!" cried
Follow me-"
And | began to run toward th
anchorage, my terrors all forgotten
while, close at my side, the maroonet
man in his goatsllins trotted easily ant
lightly.
"Left, left" says he; keep to YOU
left hand, mate Jim! Under the tree:
with you'll There's where l killed my
first goat. They don't come down hert
now; they're all mastheaded on then
mountings for the fear of Benjamin
Gum. All! and there's the cetemery'
cemetery he must have meant
"You see the mounds? l come herr
and pray, nows and thens, when
thought maybe a Sunday would b,
about doc. 1t weren't quite a chapel
but it seemed more solemn like; anC
then, says you, Ben Gum was short
handed-no chapling. nor so much as ;
Bible and flag, you says"
SO he kept talking as l ran, neither
expecting nor receiving any answer.
The cannon-shot was followed, aftel
considerable interval, by a volley o
small arms.
Another namsa and then not