Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-01-20

uSdl anu sun Dieu lItCiJ put IL WdH
neither deep nor dangerous, nor did il
greatly gall me when | used my arm.
Then | looked around me, and as the
ship was now, in a sense, my own,
began to think of clearing it from its
last passenger-th dead man, 'Brien.
He had pitched, as have said. against
the bulwarks, where he lay like some
horrible, ungainly sort of puppet; life
size. indeed, but how different from
life's color or life's comeliness! In that
position | could easily have my way
with him, and as the habit of tragical
adventures had worn off almost all my
terror for the dead, took him by the
waist as if he had been a sack of bran
and. with one good heave, tumbled him
overheard. lie went in with sounding
plunge, the red cap came off and re-
manned floating on the surface. and as
soon as the splash subsidized | could see
him and Israel lying side by side, both
wavering with the tremulous movement
of the water. 0'Brien, though still
quite a young man, was very bald.
There he lay, with that bald head
across the knees Of the man who had
killed him and the quick fishes steering
to and fro over both
was now alone upon the ship; the
tide had just turned. The sun was
within so few degrees Of setting that
already the shadow OF the pines upon
the western shore began to reach right
across the anchorage and fall in pat
terms on the deck The evening breeze
had sprung up, and though ii was web
warded off By the hin WITH the two
peaks upon the east. the cordage had be-
gun TO sing little softly to itself and
the idle sails to rattle TO and fro.
began to see d danger TO the ship
The jibs | speedily doused and brought
tumbling to the deck; but the mainsail
was harder matter or course. when
the schooner canted over the boom had
swung out-board and the cap of it and
foot or two of sail hung even under
water. thought this made il still more
dangerous; yet the strain was so heavy
that | half feared to NEEDLE. At last
| got my knife and cut the halyardy
The peak dropped instantly, great
belly of loose canvas hoated broad upon
the water and since. pull as ! liked, !
could not bulge the downhaul, thar
was the extent or what could accom-.
plish. For the rest. the "Ilispaniolaf
must trust TO luck. like myself.
BY this time the whole anchorage had
fallen INTO shadow-the last rays. | re-
member, falling through glade Of the
wood and shining, bright as jewels, on
the fowcry mantle of the wreck. II
began to be chill, the tide was rapidly
fleeing seward. the schooner settling
more and more on her beam-ends
scrambled forward and looked over
II seemed shallow enough and. holding
the cut hawscr in both hands for a last
security, let myself drop softly over
board The water scarcely reached my
waist, the sand was firm and covered
with ripple marks. and waded ashore
in great spirits, leaving the "Hispani-
ola" on her side, with her mainsail trail.
ing wide upon the surface OF the bay
About the same time the sun went fair
ly down and the breeze whistled low in
the dusk among the tossing pines.
At least, and at last. was of the
sea. nor had ! returned thence empty
handed. There lay the schooner, clear
at last from buccaneers and ready for
our own men to board and get t. sea
again. had nothing nearer my fancy
than to get home to the stockade and
boast of my achievements. Possibly ]
might be blamed a bit for my truantry
but the recapture of the "lIispaniola"
was a clinching answer, and | hoped
that even Capt. Smollett would con
fess had not lost my time.
SO thinking. and in famous spirits. |
began to set my face homeward for the |
block-house and my companions. Ire
membered that the most easterly of the |
rivers which drain into Capt. Kids |
anchorage ran from the two-peaked hill |
upon my left, and | bent my course |
in that direction that l might pass the |
stream while it was small. The wood |
was pretty open, and. keeping along |
the lower spurs, soon turned the cor
ner of that hill, and not long after |
waded to the mid-calf across the water |
course.
This brought me near to where en-
countered Ben Gum. the maroon, and |
walked more circumspectly. keeping /
an eye on every side. The dusk had
come nigh hand completely, and. as !
opened out the cleft between the two
peaks. | became aware of "A waver
ing glow against the sky, where, as
Judged. the man Of the island was cook
ing his supper before roaring FIRE
And yet | wondered. in my heart. that
be should show himself 50 careless
For if could see this radiance. might
it not reach the eye of Silver himself
where he camped upon the shore
among the marshes?
Gradually the night fell tlaeker; it
was all could do to guide my
self even roughly toward my des-
tination; the double hill behind me
and the Spy-glass on my RICH;
hand doomed faint and fainter;
The stars were fexv and uaip. nd in ]