Arizona republican., 1899-02-21
CHAPTER XX.-
sILvER's EMBASSY.

It was still quite early and the cold est morning that 1 think 1 ever was abroad in; Il chill that pierced into the narrow. The sky was bright and cloud less overhead, and the tops of the trees shone rosily in the sun. But where Sil- yer stood with his lieutenant all was still in shadow, and they waded knee deep in a low white vapor. that had crawled during the night out of the morass. The chill and vapor taken to- gether told poor tale of the island. It was plainly q damp, feverish. unhealthy spot.
 Keep indoors, men, said the cap tain. "Ten to one this is trick
 Then he hailed the buccaneer.
 "Who goes? Stand or we fire"
 Flag of truce," cried Silver.
 The captain was in the porch, keep ing himself carefully out of the way of q treacherous shot should any be in tended. He turned and spoke to us.
 Doctors watch on the lookout. Dr. Livesey, take the north side, if you please; Jim, the east, Gray the west. The watch below, all hands to load mus kets. Lively, men, and careful"
 And then he turned again to the mu- tineers.
 And what do you want with your flag of truce?" he cried.
 This time it was the other man who replied.
 "Cap'n Silver, sir, to come on board and make terms," he shouted.
 "Cap'n Silver! Don't know him. Who's he?" cried the captain. And we could hear him adding to himself: 'Cap'n. is it? My heart, and here's Fromotion!"
 Long John answered for himself.
 Me, sir. These poor lads have chosen me cap'n, after your desertion, sir''-layirg particular stress upon the word "deserticn.' "We're willing to submit, if we can come to terms, and no bones about it. All I ask is your word, Cap'n Smollett, to let me safe and sound out of this here stockade, and one minute to get out O shot before gun is fired,'
 My man." said Capt Smollett, q have not the slightest desire to talk to you. If you wish to talk to me, you can come, that's all. If there's any treach- cry, it'll be on your side, and the Lord help you.'
 That's enough, cap'n," shouted Long John, cheerily. "A word from you's enough. I know gentleman, and you may lay to that"
 We could see the man who carried the flag of truce attempting to hold Sil- yer back, nor was that wonderful, see ing how cavalier had been the cap tain's answer. But Silver laughed at him aloud, and slapped him on the ho T of 1o1 I,o absurd. Then he advanced to the stoclzade, threw over his crutch, got a leg up, and with great vigor and skill, succeeded in surmounting the fence and dropping safely to the other side.
 will confess that I was fGr too much taken up with what was going on to be of the slightest use as sentry; in- deed, had already deserted my eastern loophole and crept up behind the cap tain, who had now seated himself on the threshold, with his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands. and his eyes fixed on the water as it bubbled out of the old iron kettle in the sand. He was whistling to himself: Come, Lasses and Lads"
 Silver had terrible hard work get ting up the knoll. With the steepness of the incline, the thick tree stumps, and the soft sand, he and his crutch were as helpless as ship in stays. But he stuck to it like man in silence, and at last arrived before the captain, whom he saluted in the handsomest style He was tricled out in his best; an i'm mense blue coat, thick with brass but tons, hung as low as to his knees, and a fine laced hat was set on the back of his head.
 Here you are, my man, said the captain, raising his head. You had better sit down."
 You ain't a-going to let me inside cap'n. It's a main cold morning, to bt sure, sir, to sit outside upon the sand
 Why, Silver," said the captain, ''ii you had pleased to be an honest man you might have been sitting in your galley. It's your own doing. You're either my ships cook-and then you. were treated handsome-or Cap'n Sil- yer, q common mutineer and pirate, and then you can go hang!"
 Well, well, cap'n," returned the sea cook, sitting down as he was bidden on the sand, you'll have to give me hand up again, that's all. A sweet, pretty place you have of it here. An, there's Jim. The top of the morning to you, Jim. Doctor, here's my service. Why, there you all are together like happy family, in manner of speaking"
 If you have anything to say, my, man, better say it," said the captain.
 Right you are, Cap'n Smollett," re- piled Silver. 'Dooty is dooty. to be sure. Well, now, you look here, that was good lay of yours last night. I don't deny it was good lay. Some of you pretty handy with a hand-spike end. And I'll not deny either, but what some of my people was shook-maybeI all was shook; maybe l was shook my self. maybe that's why I'm here for