Daily camera., 1901-08-31
PART V.
MY SEA ADVENTURE.
CHATTER XIII.

HOW / BEGAN M Y SEA lAbN EN1 IKE.
There was no return OF the mutineers
not so much as another shot out OF
the woods. They had got their ratiors
for that day." as the captain put it. and
we had the place to ourselves and
quiet time to overhaul the wounded and
get dinner. Squire and I cooked out
side in spite OF the danger, and even
outside we could hardly tell what we
were at, for the horror of the loud
groans that reached us from the doc
tors patients.
Out of the eight men who had fallen
in the action only three still breathed-
that one of the pirates who had been
shot at the loop-hole; Hunter, and
Capt. Smollett; and Of these the first
two were as good as dead; the mutineer,
indeed, died under the doctors knife,
and Hunter, do whatwe could. never re-
covered consciousness in this world. He
fingered all day. breathing loudly like
the old buccanecr at home in his ap-
oplectie fit; but the bones Of his chest
had been crushed by the blow, and his
skull fractured in falling, and some
time in the following night, without
sign or sound. he went to his Maker.
As for the captain, his wounds were
grievous. indeed, but not dangerous,
No organ was fatally injured. Ander-
sons bail-for il was Job that shot him
first-had broken his shoulder-blade
and touched the lung. not badly; the
second had only torn and displaced
some muscles in the calf. He was sure
TO recover, the doctor said. but, in the
meantime and for weeks to come, he
must not walk or move his arm, nor so
much as speak when he could help it. ),
Ny own accident cut across ;he
knuckles was a fieabite. DR.. Livesey
patched it up with plaster. and pulled
my ears for me into the bargain.
After dinner the squire and the doc
tor sat by the captains side awhile in
consultation: and whent they had talked
to their hearts content, /, being then
little past noon. the doctor took up his
hat and pistols, girt on q cu;lass, put
the chart in his pocket. and with a
musket over his shoulder. crossed the
palisade on the north side. and set off
briskly through the trees.
Gray and | were sitting together at
the far end of the block-house. to be
out OF earsh0r of ou1 officers consult
ing; and Gray took his pipe out Of his
mouth and fairly forgo, to put it back
again, so ,hunder-siruck he was at this
occurrence.
why. in the name OF Davy jones'
said he. lis DR.. Livesey mad?"
why. no." says I. Hes about the
last of this crew for that. take it"
well. shipmate," said Gray, mad
he may not be; but If he's not, mark my
words, | am"
Il take it," replied l, "the doctor has
his idea; and il l am right, mes going
now to see Ben Gum"
THE mutineers were soon only eight
in number, for the man shot by Mr..
Trelnwney on board the schooner died
that same evening Of his wound. But
this was, of course, not known till after
by the faithful party.
Twas right, as appeared later; but in
the meantime, the house being sitting
hot. and the little patch of sand inside
the palisade ablaze with midday sun,
l began to get another thought into my
head, which was not by any means SO
right. What began TO do was to envy
the doctor, walking in the coo! shadow
of the woods. with the birds about him,
and the pleasant smell Of the pines,
while / sat grilling. with my clothes
stuck TO the hot resin, and SO much
blood about me, and SO many poor dead
bodies lying all around, that l took u
disgust OF the place that was almost ns
strong as fear.
All the time / was washing out the
block-house, and then washing up the
things from dinner, this disgust and
envy kept growing stronger and
stronger. till at last, being near bread
bag, and no one then observing me, !
took the first step towarfmy escapade,
and lledboth pockets ofmy coat with
biscuits.
] was fool, if you like. and certainly
/ WAS going to do foolish. overbold
act; but was determined to do it with
all the precautions in my power. These
biscuits, should anything befall me.
would keep me, at least from starving,
till far on in the next day.
The next thing I laid hold OF was a
brace of pistols, and, as I already had a
powder-horn and bullets, l felt my
self well supplied with arms
AS for the scheme had in my head. it
was not bad one I'M itself. 1t was to
go down the sandy spit that divides the
anchorage on the east from the open sea,
find the white rock had observed last
evening, and ascertain whether it was
there or not that Ben Gum had hidden
his boat; thing quite worth doing, as
I still believe. But as I was certain
should not be allowed to leave the in
closure, my only plan was to take
French leave. and slip out when no
body was watching; and that was SO
bad way Of doing 1t asmade the thing
itself wrons< But was only boy, and
I had made my mind up.
Well, as things at last fell out, I found
an admirable opportunity. The squire
and Gray were busy helping the captain
with his bandages; the co:st was clear;-
I made a bolt for it over the stockade
and into the thickest of the trees, and
before my absence was observed I was
out of cry Of companions.
This was my second folly, far worse
than the first, as left but two sound
men to guard the house; but, like the
first, it was help toward saving all OF
us.
took my way straight for the east
coast of the island. for / was determined
to go down the sea side Of the spit to
avoid all chance of observation from
the anchorage. 1t was already late in
the afternoon, although still warm and
sunny. As continued to thread the
tall woods I could hear from far before
me. not only the continuous thunder
OF the surf, but certain tossing OF
foliage and grinding OF boughs which
showed me the sea breeze had set in
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