Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-17

low CANDLE
For awhile the ship kept bucking and
siding like vicious horse, the sails
filing, now on one tack, now on an
other. and the boom swinging TO and
fro till the mast groaned aloud under
the strain. Now and again, too, there
would come q cloud Of light spray over
the bulwark, and heavy blow Of the
ships bows against the swell-so much
heavier weather wos made of II by this
great rigged ship than by my home
made, lop-sided coracle, now gone 70
the bottom of the sea.
At every jump Of the schooner, red
cap slipped to and fro; but-what was
CHASTITY to beholtl---neither his attitude
nor his fixed teeth disclosing grin was
any way disturbed by this rough usage.
At every jump, too, Hands appeared
still more to sink into himself and set
tie down upon the deck, his feet sliding
ever the further out, and the whole
body canting toward the stern, 50 that
his face became, little by little, hid
from me; and at last could see moth
ing beyond his ear and the frayed ring
| let of one whisker.
At the same time, I observed, around
both of them, splashes Of dark blood
upon the planks, and began to feel sure
that they had killed each other in their
drunken wrath.
| While I was thus looking and won
| dering in calm moment, when the
ship was still, Israel Hands turned part
| ly round. and, with low moan, writhed
himself back to the position in which
l had seen him first. The moan, which
| told of pain and deadly weakness and
the way in which his jaw hung open.
went right to my heart. But when
remembered the talk I had overheard
from the apple barrel, all pity left me.
| | walked aft until reached the main
mast.
Come aboard. Mr.. Hands," said,
ironically.
He rolled his eyes round heavily; but
| he was too far gone to express surprise.
| All he could do was to utter one word:
Brandy"
| 1t occurred to me there was no time
to lose; and, lodging the boom as it
once more lurched across the deck. l
slipped aft, and down the companion
stairs into the cabin.
1t was such a scene of confusion as
you can hardly fancy. All the lockfast
places had been broken open in quest of
the chart. The floor was thick with
mud, where ruffians had sat down to
drink or consult after wading in the
marshes round their camp. The bulk
heads. all painted in clear white, and
beaded round with gilt, bore a pattern
of dirty hands. Dozens Of empty bot
ties clinked together in corners to the
rolling Of the ship. One Of the doctors
medical books lay open on the table,
half OF the leaves Quilted out, suppose.
for pipelights. In the midst of all this
the lamp still cast a smoky glow, OBJ
scure and brown as lumber.
| went into the cellar; all the barrels
were gone. and of the bottles a most
surprising number had been drunk out
and thrown away. Certainly, since the
mutinv begun. not man of them could
ever have been sober.
ForaPing about, found a bottle with
some brandy left. for Hands; and for
|
| picked fruits, great bunch of rnisins.
and piece of cheese. With these |
came on deck, put down my own stock
behind the rudGer-head ard well ont of
the cockswain's reach. went forward
TO the water-breakcr. and had a good
deep drink OF water and then. and not
I'LL then, gave Hands the brandy.
lie must have drunk gill before he
! took the bottle from his mouth.
"Ay," said he. ''by thunder, but l
wanted some o that"
had sat down already in my own
corner and began to eat
much hurt?" I asked him.
He grunted or, rather nj ght say he
barked.
IF that doctor was aboard" he said
"Pd be right enoughin a couple of turns;
but don't have no manner of luck, you
see, and that's what's the matter with
me. As for that swab. he's good and
dead, he is" he added, Indicating the
man with the red cap. "Ie warn't no
seaman, anyhow. And where mought
you have come FROM"
WELL" said |. 1--WE come aboard 10
take possession of this ship. Mr.. Hands;
and you'll please regard me as your
captain until further notice"
lie looked at me sourly enough. but
said nothing. Some Of the color had
come back into his checks. though he
still locked very sick and still contin-
ued to slip ont and settle down as the
ship banged about.
"By the by" continued, 81 can't
have these colors, Mr.. Hands; and by
your leave I'll strike 'em. Better none
than these"
And, again lodging the boom. ran to
the color lines. hauled down their
cursed black flag, and chucked it over
board.
God save the king!" said I, waving
my cap; land there's an end to Capt.
Silver"
lie watched me keenly and slyly, his
chin all the while on his breast.
II reckon" he said at last-'T reckon,
Cap'n Hawkins, you'll kind of want to
get ashore, now. S'pose we talks"
"Why, yes" says I. with all my
heart, Mr.. Hands. Say on" And l
went back to my meal with good appe-
tite.
This man." he began, nodding feeb
ly at the corpse-''O' Brien were his
name-a rank Irelander-this man and