Daily camera., 1901-09-04

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He had risen from his position to his
hands and knees; and. though his leg
obviously hurt him pretty sharply
when he moved-for / could hear him
stifle groan-yet It was at good, rat
Ting rate that he trailed himself across
the deck. In half minute he had
reached the port scuppers, and picked
out of coil Of rope long knife, or
rather a short dirk, discolored TO the
hilt with blood. He looked upon It for
moment, thrusting forth his under
jaw, tried the point upon his hand. and
then, hastily concealing 1t in the bosom
of his jacket. trundlcd back again into
his old place against the bulwark.
This was all that I required to know.
Israel could move about; he was now
armed; and IL he had been at so much
trouble to get rid of me, 1t was plain
that l was meant to be the victim.
What he would do Observation-Disclosures
he would try to crawl right across the
island from North inlet to the camp
among the swamps, or whether he
would fire Long Tom, trusting that his
own comrades might come first to help
him, was, Of course. more than I could
say.
Yet I felt sure that could trust him
in one point. since in that our interests
jumped together. and that was In the
disposition Of theechooner. We both de-
sired to have her stranded safe enough,
in sheltered place, and 80 that, when
the time came, she could be got Oh
again with as little labor and danger as
might be; and until that was done !
considered that my life would certainly
be spared.
While was thus turning the business
over in my mind had not been idle
with my body. had stolen back to the
cabin. slipped once more into my shoes.
and laid my hand at random on . bottle
Of wine, and now, with this for an ex-
cuse. l made my reappearance on the
deck.
Hands lay as had left him, all fallen
together in huddle, and with his eye
lids lowered. as though he were too
weak to bear the light. He looked up,
however. at my coming, knocked the
neck of the bottle, like . man who had
done the same thing often, and took a
good swig, with his favorite toast Of
.here's luck!" Then he lay quiet for
little, and then, pulling out stick OF
tobacco, begged me to cut him quid.
.Cut me junk o that" says he. "for
haven't no knife. and hardly strength
enough, so be as had. All, Jim, Jim.
reckon I've missed stays! Cut me a
quid ash likely be the last, lad; for I'm
for my long home, and no mistake"
WELL" said I, "I'll cut you some to-
bacco; but il l was you and thought
myself so badly. would 60 to my
prayers. like Christian man"
"Why ~ said he. Now. you tell me
why"
"Why?" cried. "You were asking
me Just now about the dead. You've
broken your trust; you've lived in sin
and lies and blood; there's man you
killed lying at your feet this moment;
and you ask me why! For Gods mercy.
Mr. Hands, that's why"
Ispoke with little heat, thinking OF
the bloody dirk he had hidden in his
pocket. a nd designed, in his i'll thoughts.
to end me with He, for his part, took a
great draueht of the wine, and spoke
with the most unusual solemni,y.
For 30 year." he said, I've sailed
the seas, and seen good and bad, better
and worse, fair weather and foul. pro-
visions running out. knives going. and
what not Well, now. / tell you, never
seen good come o goodness yet. Him
ns strikes first is my fancy; dead men
don't bite; them's my views-amen, so
be it. And now. you look here" be add
ed. suddenly changing his tone. we've
had about enough of this foolery. The
tides made good enough by now. You
just take my orders, Cap'u Hawkins, and
we'll sail slap in and be done with It,"
All told. we had scarce two miles to
run; but the navigation was delicate.
the entrance to this northern anchor
age was not only narrow and shoal. but
lay east and west, so that the schooner
must be nicely handled to be got In.
] think was good, prompt subaltern,
and am very sure that Hands was an
excellent pilot; for we went about. and
lodged in. shaving the banks, with Z
certainty and neatness that were I
pleasure to behold.
Scarcely had we passed the head be
fore the land closed around us. Th<
shores Of North inlet were a. thickly
wooded as those Of the southern an
chorage; but the space was longer and
narrower, and more like. what in truth
1t was. the estuary Of river. Right be
fore us, at the southern end, wc saw
the wreck Of . ship in the last stages
Of dilapidation. 1t had been . grea.
weasel of three masts, but had lain *
long exposed to the injuries Of ths
weather. that II was hung about will
great webs Of dripping sea-weed. and
on the deck Of It shore bushes had
taken root, and now dourished thicl
with dowers. It was . sad sight but il
showed NJ that the anchorage wa,
calm.
"Now," said Hands, "look there;
there's a pet bit for to beach ship in
Fine fat sand. never catspaw, trees al
around Of 1t, and flowers ALLOWING
like garding on that old ship"
"And once beached." inquired. "how
shall we get her Oh again."
"Why, so," he replied; lyon take
line ashore there on the other side al
low water; take q turn about one O
them big pines; bring It back, take q
turn rosnd the capstan, and lie to foi
the tide. Come high water, all hand'
take pull upon the line, and Oh she
comes a. sweet a. natur'. And now
boy. you stand by. We're near the bi,
now, and she's too much way on her
Starboard . little -so-steady-star'
board - larboard little =. steady
stesdyi"
So he issued his commands, which
oo<hIa.s1v 0I,ovod. <fI1 o1I ~ : and.