Daily camera., 1901-09-05
~ {kAs plp1'a snl{y.s


!ost Tat pipa'a smlty.s
Net man stisredl Aet lnaA "a.
swered.
That's your sort, il itf" he added.
returning his pipe to his mouth. "Well,
you're gay lot to look at, anyway.
Not much worth to fight, you amt.
P'r'aps you can understand King
-Ieorge's English. I'm cap'n here by
lection. I'm cap'n here because I'm
the best man by long sea-mile. You
won't hght, as gentlemen o. fortune
should; then, by thunder, you'll obey.
and you may lay to it! I like that boy,
now; and Inever seen better boy than
that. He's more Of man than any
pair Of rats Of you in this here house.
and what say is this: Let me see him
,s'll lay hand on him-that's what I
say, and you may lay to it."
There was long pause after this.
1 stood straight up against the wall,
my heart still going like sleage-ham-
ner, but with ray Of hope now shin.
ng in my bosom. Silver leaned back
,gainst the wall. his arms crossed, his
pipe in the corner OF his mouth, as calm
- though he had been in church; yet his
,ye kept wandering furtively, and he
:ept the tail Of 1t on his unruly fol-
overs. They on their part drew grad
,ally together toward the far end Of the
'lock-house, and the low hiss Of their
whispering sounded in my ears contin-
uously, like a stream. One after an
,ther they would look up, the red
light of the torch would fall for sec
ond on their nervous faces; but it was
not toward me, it was toward Silver
they turned their eyes.
"You seem to have lot to say" re-
marked Silver, splitting far into the
air. "Pipe up and let me hear it, or
lay to-"
AK your pardon, sir" said one Of
the men; you're pretty free with some
Of the rules; maybe you'll kindly keep
an eye upon the rest. This crews dis
atisfied; this crew don't vally bully
ng q marlinspike; this crew has Its
rights like other crews, I'll make SO free
is that; and by your own rules. take
it we can talk together. ak your
pardon, sir, acknowledging you for to
be capting at this present; but I claim
my right and steps outside for coun-
ell" -
And with an elaborate sea-salute, this
fellow, a long. ill-looking. yellow-eyed
man of fve-and-thirty, stepped coolly
toward the door and disappeared out
Of the house. One after another the
rest followed his example; each max
ing q salute as he passed; each adding
some apology. According to the rules"
said one. "Fo'k's1e council" said Nor
gan. And so. with one remark or an
other, all marched out, and left Silver
and me alone with the torch.
The sea-cook instantly removed his
pipe.
"Now, look here, Jim Hawkins" he
said, in a steady whisper. that was no
more than audible, you're within half
a plank OF death. and what's long
sight worse, OF torture. They're going
to throw me Oh. But you mark,
stand by you through thick and thin.
l didn't mean to; no. not till you spoke
up. was about desperate to lose that
much blunt, and be hanged into the
bargain. But see you was the right
sort. I says to myself: You stand by
Hawkins, John, and Hawkinsll stand
by you. You're his last card. and by
the living thunder. John. he's yours!
Back to back. says I. You save your
witness. and he'll save your neck!"
began dimly TO understand.
"You mean all is lost ?" asked.
"Ay, by gum. l dol" he answered.
"Ship gone, neck gone-that's the size
OF II. Once looked into that bay. Jim
Hawkins, and seen no schooner-well.
I'm tough, but gave out. AS for that
lot and their council. mark me, they're
outright fools and towards. I'll save
your life-if SO be as can-from them.
But see here, Jim-tit for tat-you save
Long John from swinging"
I was bewildered; il seemed thing
70 hopeless he was asking-he, the old
tuccaneer. the ringleader throughout.
what can do. that I'll do" said.
Its q bargain!" cried Long John.
"You speak up plucky, and. by thunder!
I've chance"
lie hobbled to the torch, where it
stood propped among the firewood, and
took fresh light to his pipe.
understand me, Jim," he said. re.
turning. 1--WE head on my shoulders.
l have. I'm on squire's side, now. l
know you've got that ship safe some
where's. How you done it, l don't know,
but safe 1t is. I guess Hands and
O'Brien turned soft. never much be-
lieved in neither Of them. Now you
mark me. l ask no questions, nor 1
won't let others. know when a games
up, I do; and know lad that's stanch.
All. you that's young-you and me
might have done q power Of good to-
gether!"
He drew some cognac from the cosk
into tin canikin.
'Will you taste. messmate?" he
asked; and when had refused: "Well,
I'll take drain myself, iim." said he.
Il need caulker. for thief te's trouble on
hand. And, talking O. trouble, why did
that doctor give me the chart, Jim"
Ny face expressed q wonder go un-
affected that he saw the needlessness
Of further questions.
"Ah. well. he did, though" said he.
"And there's something under that. no
doubt-something, surely, under that,
Jim-bad or good"
And he took another swallow Of the
brandy. shaking his great fair head like
q man who looks forward to the worst.
CHAPTER xxx.
THE BLACK SPOT AGAIN.
The council of the buccaneers had
lasted some time, when one of them
reentcred the house, and with repeti-
tion OF the same salute, which had in
nv ewes an ironical air, begged for a