Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-04-12

Ae Aoiieu Ills eyes Toullu ueaNllys out
he was too far gone to express surprise.
All he could do was to utter one word:
Brandy"
1t occurred to me there was no time
to lose; and, lodging the boom as it
once more lurched across the deck, |
slipped aft, and down the companion
stairs into the cabin.
1t was such scene of confusion as
you can hardly fancy. All the lockfast
places had been broken open in quest of
the chart. The floor was thick with
mud, where ruflians had sat down to
drink or consult after wading in the
marshes round their camp. The bulk
heads. all painted in clear white, and
beaded round with gilt, bore pattern
of dirty hands. Dozens of empty bot
ties clinked together in corners to the
rolling of the ship. One of the doctors
medical books lay open on the table,
half of the leaves Quilted out, suppose,
for pipe-lights. In the midst of all this
the lamp still cast smoky glow, OBJ
scure and brown as lumber.
went into the cellar; all the barrels
were gone, and of the bottles most
surprising number had been drunk out
and thrown away. Certainly, since the
mutiny began, not man of them could
ever have been sober.
Foraging about, found bottle with
some brandy left, for Hands; and for
myself I routed out some biscuit, some
picked fruits, great bunch of raisins,
and piece of cheese. With these /
came on deck, put down my own stock
behind the rudder-head, and we'll out of
the cockswain's reach, went forward
to the water-breaker, and had good
deep drink of water, and then, and not
till then, gave Hands the brandy.
He must have drunk q gill before he
took the bottle from his mouth,
"Ay," said he, "by thunder, but 1
wanted some o. that!"
I had sat down already in my own
corner and began to eat.
"Much hurt?" Iasked him.
He grunted, or, rather, I might say he
barked.
''1f that doctor was aboard" he said,
It'd be right enoughin couple of turns;
but don't have no manner of luck, YOU
see, and that's what's the matter with
me, AS for that swab, he's good and
dead, he is" he added, Indicating the
man with the red cap. HE warn't no
seaman, anyhow. and where mought
you have come from?"
"Well," said I, "Tve come aboard to
take possession of this ship, Mr.. Hands;
and you'll please regard me as your
captain until further notice."
He looked at me sourly enough, but
said nothing. Some of the color had
come back into his cheeks, though he
still looked very sick and still contin-
ued to slip out and settle down as the
ship banged about.
by the by" continued, 1T can't
have these colors, Mr.. Hands; and by
your leave I'll strike 'em. Better none
than these"
And, again lodging the boom, I ran to
the color lines. hauled down their
cursed black flag, and chucked it over
board.
God save the king!" said |. waving
my cap; land there's an end to Capt.
Silver.''
He watched me keenly and slyly, his
chin all the while on his breast.
II reckon" he said at last-sI reckon,
Cap'n Hawkins, you'll kind OF want to
get ashore, now. S'pose we talks"
"Why, yes" says I, with all my
heart, MIR. Hands. Say on" And l
went back to my meal with good appe-
tite.
This man." he began, nodding feeb-
ly at the corpse-"O'Brien were his
name-a rank Irelander-this man and
me got the canvas on her, meaning for
to sail her back. Well, he's dead now,
he is-as dead as bilge; and who's to sail
this ship, / don't see. Without give
you hint. you amt that man, as fairs
I can tell. Now, look here, you gives
me food and drink, and old scarf or
ankecher to tie my wound up, you do;
and I'll tell you how to sail her; and
that's about square ali round, 1 take it. :"
"I'll tell you one thing" says 1; "I'm
not going back to Capt. Kidd's anchor
age. l mean to get into North inlet,
and beach her quietly there"
ITO be sure you die" he cried. "Why,
amt SIGH an internal lubber, after ALL
l can see, can't 1? I've tried my fling,
have, and I've lost, and it's you has
the wind of me. North inlet? Why, l
haven't no chico, not 1! I'd help you
sail her up to Execution dock, by
thunder! so would"
Well, as it seemed to me, there was
some sense in this. We struck our bar
gain on the spot. In three minutes l
had the "Hispaniola" sailing easily be-
fore the wind along the coast of Treas
ure island, with good hopes of turning
the northern point ere noon, and beat
ing down again as far as North inlet
before high water, when we might
beach her safely. and wait till the SUBJ
siding tide permitted us to land.
Then I dashed the tiller and went be-
low to my own chest, where got a soft
silk handkerchief Of my mothers. With
this, and with my aid, Hands bound up
the great bleeding stab he had received
in the thigh, and after he had eaten a
little and had swallow or two more of
the brandy, he began to pick up visibly,
sat straighter up, spoke louder and
clearer, and looked in every way an
other man.
The breeze served US admirably. We
skinned before it like bird, the coast
of the island flashing by, and the view
changing every minute. Soon we were
past the high lands and bowling beside
low, sandy country, sparsely dotted