Daily camera., 1901-09-09

6aEv4fs 9UOu1Q 1Hys Wab 1AsUWv0' ssss
entire liberty. and, in spite Of daily r.
bufRs, seemed to regard himself once
more a. quite privileged and friendly
dependent. Indeed, II was remarkable
how well he bore these slights, nnd WITH
what uawearylng polllenesa he Kept
At trying 10 ingr0t!nte himself with all.
Yet, / think, none treated him better
than dog; unless 1t was Zen Gum,
who was still terribly afraid OF his old
quartermaster, or myself. who had reai-
ly something to thank him for; al
though for that matter, l suppose,
had reason to think even worse OF him
than anybody else, for l had seen him
|meditating fresh treachcry upon the
plateau. Accordingly, 1t was pretty
Rruffiy that the doctor answered him.
Drunk or raving!" said he.
Fright you were, sir" replied Silver;
"and precious little odds which, to yon
and me-"
81 suppose you would hardly ask me
to call you humane man." returned
the doctor, with sneer, "and SO my
feelings may surprise you, Muster Sill
YER. But If were sure they were raw
ing-as am morally certain one. at
least, of them is down with fever-l
should leave this camp. and, at what
ever risk to my own carcass, take them
the assistance OF my skill"
ASK your pardon. sir, you would be
very wrong" quoth Silver. "You would
lose your precious life, and you may
lay to that. I'm on your side now, hand
and glove; and l shouldn't wish for to
see the party weakened, let alone your
self, seeing us know what owes you.
But these men down there, they
couldn't keep their word-no, not sup
posing they wished to; anG what's more,
they couldn't believe as you could"
NO" said the doctor. you're the
man to keep your word, we know that"
Well, that was about the last news we
had OF the three pirates. Only once we
heard gunsh0t q great way of, and
supposed them to be hunting. A coun-
Gil was held, and 1t was decided that We
must desert them on the island-to the
huge glee. / must say. Of Ben Gum.
and with the strong approval of Gray.
We left good stock OF powder and
shot, the bulk Of the salt goat, few
medicines and some other necessnries,
tools, clothing, spare sail, fathom or
two Of rope, and, by the particular de-
sire OF the doctor, handsome present
Of tobacco.
That was about our last doing on the
island. Before that we had got the
treasure slowed. and had shipped
enough water and the remainder OF the
goat meat, in case OF any distress: and
at last, one fine morning, we weighed
anchor, which was about all that we
could manage. and stood out Of North
inlet, the same colors flying that the
captain had flown and fought under at
the palisade.
The three fellows must have been
watching us closer than we thought for.
as we soon had proved. For. coming
through the narrows, we had to lie
very near the southern point, and
there we saw all three Of them kneeling
together on rpi, Of sand, with their
arms raised in supplication. It went
to all our hearts. | think. 10 leave them
in that wretched state; but We could
not risk another mutiny; and 10 take
them home for the gibbet would have
been cruel sort Of Kindness. The
doctor hailed them and told them of
the stores we had left, and where they
were to find them, but they continued
TO call us by name and appeal TO us,
for Gods sake, to be merciful, and not
leave them to die in such place.
At last, seeing the ship still bore on
her course, and was now swiftly draw
ing out of earshot, one pf themr-I know
not which it was-lcAped to his feet
with hoarse cry, whipped his muSket
to his shoulder and sent shot whis-
Ting over Silver's head and through the
mainsail.
After that we kept under cover OF
the bulwarks, and when next looked
out they disappeared from the spit,
and the spit itself had almost melted
out OF sight in the glowing distance,
mat was, AT least, the end OF thnt; ana
before noon, 10 my inexprcAsible Joy.
the highest rock of Treasure Island had
sunk into the blue round of sea.
We were SO short of men that every
one on board had to bear hand-only
the captain lying on n mattress in the
stern and giving his orders; for. though
greatly recovered. he vas still in want
OF quiet. We laid her head for the
nearest'port in Spanish America, for
we could not risk the voyage home
without fresh handsi and, as it was,
what with battling wisds and couple
OF fresh gales. we were all worn out
before we reached it.
Ii was just at sundown when we cast
anchor in a most beautiful land-locked