Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-26
CHAPTER TX.
POWDER AND ARMS.

meath our keel and sometimes swung
above us. At last. however, we swung
alongside and were met and saluted as
we stepped aboard by 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 a sharp-loolSing man
who seemed angry with every thing on
board, and was soon to tell us why, for
we had hardly got down into the cabin
when sailor followed us.
Capt. Smollett, sir, axing to speak
with you" said he.
"I am always at the captains or
ders Show him in" said the squire.
The captain, who was close behind
his messenger, entered at once and shut
the door behind him.
well, sir" said the captain, "better
speak plain, I 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, n ot hav-
ing seen her tried" said the captain.
"She seems a clever craft; more I can't
say"
Possibly, sir, you may not like your
employer, either?" says the squire.
prt boro Ia. Tivacav In
"Stay bit," said he, stay a bit. No
use Of such 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 require an ex-
PLANTATION of hrs words. You don't. you
say, like the cruise. Now, why?"
II was engaged. sir, on what we call
sealed orders. to sail this ship for that
gentleman where he should bid me-"
said the captain. $50 far so good. But
now I find that every man before the
mast knows more than l do. l don't
call that fair, now. do you?"
NO" said DR.. Evesey, Il don't"
Next" said the captain, II learn we
are going after trrasure-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, I 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 a
close run"
THAT is all clear, and. dare say. true
enough" replied DR.. Livesey. eve take
the risk; but we are not so ignorant as
you believe us. Next, you say you don't
like the crew. Are they not good sea
menu"
81 don't like them, sir" returned
Capt. Smollett. "And 1 think should
have had the choosing of my own hands,
if you go to that"
perhaps you should" replied the
doctor. MY friend should, perhaps,
have taken you along with him; but the
slight, if there be one, was uninten-
tional. And you don't like Mr.. Arrow
Il don't, sir. l believe he's good
seaman: but he's too free with the crew
to be a good officer. \ 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, captan?" asked the doctor. Tell us
, what you want"
well, gentlemen. are you determined
to go on this cruise?"
, Like IRON" answered the squire.
every good" said the captain. Then
as you've heard me very patiently, say
ing things that could not prove, hear
me a few words more. They are put
ting the powder and the arms in the
fore hold. Now, you have a good place
under the cabin; why not put then
; there First point. Then you are bring
ing four of your own people with you
and they tell me some of them are t.
, be berthed forward. Why not give then
the beTths here beside the cabin--sec
!, ond point"
ANY more?" asked Mr.. Trelawney.
"One more" said the captain
There's been too much blabbing al
ready"
!, Far too much" agreed the doctor.
"1'll tell you what I've heard my
SELF" continued Capt. Smollett: "Tha
l you have a map Of an island; tina
there's crosses on the map to SHOW
where the treasure is; and that tn
island lies" And then he named tn
y latitude and longitude exactly.
II never told that" cried the squire
: "to n soul"
r THE hands know it. sir" returned
: the captain.
4 "Livesey, that must have been you o
+ Hawkins" cried the squire.
at doesn't much matter who il was,
n replied the doctor. And ] could Sc
s that neither he nor the captain pai'
i much regard to Mr.. Trelawney's pro
:. testations. Neither did I, to be sure, h
e was so loose a talker; yet in this cas-
I believe he was really right, and tina
@ nobody had told the situation of tn
:, island.
t "Well, gentlemen" continued the car
d tain, 81 don't know who has this map
but make it point, it shall be KEEP
4 | rat nd Mr. Arrn