Daily camera., 1901-08-24
CHAPTER TX.
POWDER AND ARMS.

ana tnelr caDieS shmetlmeS grated De-
meath our keel and sometimes swung
above us. At last. however, we swung
alongside and werA met and saluted as
we stepped aboard nv the mate, Mr..
Arrow, brown old sailor, with ear
rings in his ears and squint. He and
the squire were very thick and friendly,
but soon observed that things were
not the same between Mr.. Trelawney
and the captain.
The last was sharp-looking man
who seemed angry with everything on
board, and was soon to tell us vs., for
we had hardly got down into the cabin
when a sailor followed us.
capt. Smo.lett. sir, axing to speak
with you" said he.
81 am always at the captains or
dcrs. Show him in" said the squire.
The captain, who was close behind
his messenger, entered atonce and shut
the door behind him.
"Well, sir" said the captain, "better
speak plain, believe. at the risk OF
offense. / don't like this cruise; don't
like the men, and don't like my officer
That's short and sweet"
| perhaps, sir, you don't like the
ship?" inquired the squire. very angry,
as could see.
II can't speak as to that, sir, not hav-
ing seen her tried" said the captain.
"She seems o clever craft; more can't
say"
Possibly, sir, you may not like your
employer, either?" says the squire.
But here DIR. Livesey cut in.
"Stay bit." said he. "stay a bit. No
use of snch questionsas that but TO pro-
duce i'll feeling. The captain has said
too much or he has said too little, and
I'm bound to say that l require an ex-
planation of his words. You don't, you
say. like the cruise. Now, why?"
II was engaged, sir. on what ye call
sealed orders, to sail this ship for that
gentleman where he should bid me"
said the captain. $50 far SO good. But
now l find that every man before the
mast knows more than l do. don't
call that fair, now. do your
NO" said DR.. Liyesey, II don't"
Next" said the captain, II learn we
are going after treasure-hear it from
my own hands, mind you. Now, treas
ure is ticklish work; don't like treas
ure voyages on any account; and don't
like them, above all, when they are
secret, and when (begging your par
don, Mr.. Trelawney) the secret has
been told to the parrot"
'Silver's parrot ?" asked the squire.
ITS way Of speaking" said the
captain. "Blabbed. mean. It's my
belief that neither OF you gentlemen
know what you are about; but I'll tell
you my way of it-life or death, and
close run"
THAT is all clear, and, dare say, true
enough" replied DR.. Livesey. Eve take
the risk; but we are not so ignorant rs
you believe us. Next. you say you don't
like the crew. Are they not good sea
men?"
II don't like them. sir" returned
Capt Smollett. And ] think should
have had the choosing Of my own hands,
II you go to that"
Perhaps you should" replied the
doctor. MY friend should, perhaps.
have taken you along with him; but the
slight, il there be one, was uninten-
tional. And you don't IKE Mr.. Arrow?"
II don't, sir I believe he's a good
seaman; but he's too free with the crew
to be good officer. A mate should
keep himself to himself-shouldn'
drink with the men before the mast"
DO you mean he drinks" cried the
squire.
"No. sir" replied the captain; "only
that he is too familiar"
''Well. now, and the short and long of
it, captain 2" asked the doctor. Tell us
what you want"
We'll, gentlemen. are you determined
to go on this cruiser"
Like IRON" answered the squire.
"Very good" said the captain. Then,
as you've heard me very patiently, say
ing things that could not prove, hear
me few words more. They are put
ting the powder and the armA in the
fore hold. Now, you have good place
under the cabin; why not put them
there FIRST point. Then you nre bring
ing four Of your own people with you.
and they tell me some OF them are to
be berthed forward. Why not give them
the berths here beside the cabin-sec-
ond point"
"Any more?" asked Mr.. Trelawney.
Zone more" said the captain.
i Ll>L ol
ready"
Far too much," agreed the doctor.
"I'll tell you what I've heard my
self" continued Capt. Smollett: That
you have u map Of an island; that
there's crosses on the map to show
where the treasure is; and that the
island lies" And then he named the
latitude and longitude exactly.
II never told that" cried the squire,
''to soul!"
''The hands know it, SIR" returned
the captain.
"Livesey, that must have been you or
Hawkins" cried the squire.
ut doesn't much matter who it was,"
replied the doctor And could see
that neither he nor the captain paid
much regard to Mr.. Trelawney's pro-
testations. Neither did l, to be sure, he
was so loose talker; yet in this case
1 believe he was really right, and that
nobody had told the situation of the
island.
"Well, gentlemen" continued the cap
tain, 81 don't know who has this map;
but make it point, it shall be kept
secret even from me and Mr.. Arrow.
Otherwise would ask you to let me re-
sign"
II see," said the doctor. "You wish to
keep this matter dark. and to make a
garrison of the stern part OF the ship,
manned with my friends own people,
and provided with all the arms and pow
der on board. In other words, you fear
q mutiny."
"Sir," said Capt. smollett, with no
intention to take offense, I deny your
right to put words into my mouth. No
captain, sir, would be justified in going
tn xan M III if h a Il a Il <rr,,,nJ a,,onrb Co..