Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-25
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1911
So. go
lR0esRI LOUIS s7tytns0n 49,
PART V.
CHAPTER XXv.-CoNT1NUED.

CHAPTER XXV.-CoNTINUED
Foraging about, found bottle with
some brandy left, for Hands; and for
myself I routed out some biscuit, some
picked fruits, a great bunch of raisins,
and a piece of cheese. With these I
came on deck, put down my own stock
behind the rudder-head. and well out of
the cockswain's reach, went forward
to the water-breaker, and had a good
deep drink of water, and then, and not
till then, gave Hands the brandy.
He must have drunk gill before he
took the bottle from his mouth.
"Ay," said he, ''by thunder, but /
wanted some O. that!"
l had sat down already in my own
corner and began to eat.
Much hurt? '' I asked him.
He grunted, or, rather, might say he
barked.
eff that doctor was aboard he said,
''I'd be right enough in 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, eve 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" I continued, "I 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 I, waving
my cap; land there's an end to Capt.
Silver"
He watched me keenly and s1yly, his
chin all the while on his breast.
81 reckon" he said at last-"I 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. Mr.. Hands. Say on And I
went back to my meal with good appe-
tite.
This man." he began, nodding feeb-
~ 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, I don't see. Without give
you a hint, you amt that man, as fairs
I can tell. Now, look here, you gives
me food and drink, and a 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 all round, I take it,"
"I'll tell you one thing" says 7; ''I'm
not going back to Capt. Kidd's anchor
age. I mean to get into North inlet,
and beach her quietly there
ITO be sure you did" he cried. "Why,
I amt SIGH an Internal lubber, after all.
can see. can't I? I've tried my fling,
have, and I've lost, and it's you has
the wind of me. North inlet? Why, 1
haven't no chico, not Il I'd help you
sail her up to Execution dock, by
thunder! so would"
Wen, as it seemed to NE, there was
some sense in this. We struck our bar
gain on the spot. In three minutes I
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 sub
siding tide permitted US to land.
Then dashed the tiller and went be-
low to my own chest, where got 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
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 1t ike bird. the coast