Daily camera., 1901-09-05

4A1t aAy NethlAe ~ 70 your ~.
Ing IN our hands," continued Silver,
~though there you are, and you may lay
10 It. I'm all for argument; I never
seen good come out o. threatening. II
you like the service. well, you'll, jine;
and II you don't. Jim, you're free to
answer no-free and welcome, ship
mnte; and IL fairer can be said by NOR
tai seaman, shiver my sidesl"
"Am to answer, then ?" asked, with
q very tremu.ous voice. Throsgh all
this sneering talk. WIS made to feel
the threat OF death that overhung me,
and my cheeks burned and my heart
beat painfully in my breast.
lad" said Silver, mo ones a-press-
ing Of you. Take your bearings. None
OF US won't hurry you, mate; time goes
SO pleasant in your company, you see"
"Wel!," says I, growing bit bolder.
"if I'm to choose, declare have right
to know what's what, and why you're
here. and where my friends are"
"Wot's wot ?" repeated one Of the buc-
cancers. in deep growl. "Ah. he'd be
lucky one as knowed that!"
"Youn perhaps batten down your
matches till you're spoke, my friend"
cried Silver, truculently. to this speak
er. Yesterday morning. Mr.. Haw-
kins" said he. "in the dog-watch. down
came DIR. Livesey with flag of truce.
Says he: Cap'n Silver. you're sold out.
Ships gone!' Well. maybe we'd been
taking glass. and o song to help it
round. won't say no. Leastways
none Of us had looked out. We looked
out. and. by thunder! the Old ship
was gone. never seen pack O. fools
look fisher; and you may lay to that,
II tells you that looked the fishiest.
'Well,' says the doctor. lets bargain
We bargained. him and I, and here we
are; stores. brandy, block-house. the
freNvood you was thoughtful enough
to cut, and. in a manner Of speaking.
the whole blessed boat. from cross-trees
to keelson. AZ for them, they've
tramped; don't know where's they
are"
He drew again quietly at his pipe.
"And lest you should take II into
that head OF yours" he went on, "that
you was included in the treaty, here's
tie last words thnt was said: How
many are you? :? says l, to leave ? -Four.
says he-'four and one Of us wounded.
AZ for the boy. 1 don't know where
he is, confound him. says he. nor !
don't much care. We're about sick Of
him. These was his words"
"Is that all?" asked.
"Well. it's all you're to hear. my son, "
returned Silver.
"And now am 10 choose?"
"And now you are to choose. and you
may lay to that" said Silver.
"Well," said I, II am not such fool
but know pretty well what have TO
look for. Let the worst come to the
worst, it's little care. I've seen too
many die since fell in with you. But
there's thing or two haveto tell you" I"
I said. and by this time was quite ex-
cited; "and the first is this: Here you
are in the bad way; ship lost, treasure
lost, men lost; your whole business
gone to wreck; and II you want to
know who did tit was 1! wns
in the apple barrel the night you sight
ed land. and l heard you, John. and
you, Dick johnson, and Hands. who is
now at the bottom Of the sea, and told
every word you said before the hour
was out. And as for the schooner. 1t
was who cut her cable. and it was
who killed the men you had aboard Of
her, and ii was / who brought her
where you'll never see her more. not
one Of you. The laughs on my side;
I've had the top OF this business from
the first; no more fear you than l fear
a fly. XII me. IL you please, or spare
me. But one thing I'll say. and no
more; II you spare me, by-gones are
by-goncs, and. when you fellows are in
court for piracy. I'll save you Gil can.
1t Is for you to choose. Kill another
and do yourself no good, or spare me
and keep witness TO save you from
the gallows."
stopped, for. l tell you. was out Of
breath. and. to my wonder. not a man
of them moved, but all sat staring at
me Ike as many sheep. And whie
they were still staring, l broke out
again:
"And now. Mr.. Silver" snid. II be-
licve you're the best man here. and il
things 60 to the worst, III take it kind
Of you to let the doctor know the way
took L."
"I'll bear ii in mind" said Silver. with
an accent so curious that could not.
for the life. OF me, decide whether he
were laughing at my request or had
been favorably affected by my cour-
age.
I'll put one to that cried the old
sunhogany-faced seaman-Morgan by
nnme-whom had seen in Long Johns
public house upon the quays Of Bristol.
1T was him that knowed Black Dog"
"Well, and see here" added the sea-
cook. "I'll put another again to that,
by thunder! For it was the same boy
that faxed the chart from Billy Bones
First and last we've split upon jim
uawkinS!
Then here goes!" said Morgan, with
an oath.
And he sprang up. drawing his knife
as If he had been twenty.
"Avast, there!" cried Silver. "Who
are you, Tom Morgan? Maybe you
thought you were captain here, per
maps. By the powers, II teach you
better! Cross me, and you'll GO where
many good mans gone before you
first and last, these 80 year back-some
to the yard-arm, shiver my sides! and
iome by the board, and all to feed the
fishes. There's never a man looked me
between the eyes and seen q good day
a'terward. Tom Morgan, you may lay
to that"
Morgan paused; but hoarse muir
muir rose from the others.
Toms right" said one.
II stood hazing long enough from
one" added another. "I1l be hanged II
I'll be hazed by you, John Silver"
"IHd anv NJ vOu tep fIem>u v,nu< IN