Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-03-15
CHAPTER XII.
WHAT I HEARD IN THE APPLE

M not L. said silver. Flnt was
cap'n; / was quartermaster, along OF
my timber leg. The same broadside
lost my leg old Pew lost his headlights
1t was a master surgeon, him that am
putated me-out OF college and all
Latin by the bucket, and what not;
but he was hanged like a dog, and sun
dried like the rest, at Corso castle,
That was Roberts men, that was, and
coined Of changing names to their
ships-'Royal Fortune and so on Now,
what a ship was christened. so let her
stay, say l. So II was with the Cas-
sandra,' rs brought us all safe home
from Malabar, after England took the
'Viceroy OF the Indies so II was with
the old Walrus, Flint's old ship, as I've
seen amuck with the red blood and Mt
to sink with gold"
"Ah!' cried another voice, hat Of the
youngest hand on board, and evidently
full OF admiration, "he was the flower
Of the flock, was Flint"
Davis was a man, too, by all ac-
counts" said Silver. Il never sailed
along OF him; first with England, then
with Flint, that's my story; and now
here on my account, in n manner or
speaking. / laid by 900 safe, from Eng
land, and 1000 sitter Flint. That amt
bad for n man before the mast-all safe
In bank. 'Tain't earning now; it's saw
Ing does It, you may lay to that.
Where's all England's men now? 1
dunno. Where's Flint's? Why, most
on ems abroad here, and glad TO get
the duff-been begging before that,
some on EN-. old Pew, as has lost his
sight, n might have thought shame,
spends R1,200 n year, like a lord In
parliament. Where IS he now? Well,
he's dead now, and under matches; but
for two years before that, shiver my
tlmbers! that man was starving. He
begged and he stole, and he cut throats,
and starved at that, by the powers!'
well, It Amt much use, after all"
said the young seaman
"'Tain't much use for fools, you may
lay to it-that, nor nothing" cried Sill
YER. But now, o look here; you're
young, you ere, but you're as smart
as paint. ! see that when / set my eyes
on you, and I'll talk to you like a
man."
You can imagine how ] felt when !
heard this aDominaple old rogue ad-
dressing another In the very same
words OF fattery he had used to myself.
1 think, If ! had been able, | would
have killed him through the barrel.
Meantime he ran on, little suposing he
was overheard.
Here it is about gentlemen Of for
tune. They lives rough, and they risk
swinging, but they eat and drink like
fighting cocks, and when a cruise is
done, why It's hundreds Of pounds in
steal OF hundreds of farthings in their
pockets. Now, the most goes for rum
and q good fling, and to sea again in
their ships. But that's not the course
! lay. I puts 1t away some here, some
there, n nonc too much anywheres,
by reason OF suspicion. I'm so, mark
you; once back from this cruise, | set up
gentleman In earnest. Time enough,
too, say you. All! but I've lived easy
In the meantime; never denied myself
o. nothing heart desires, n slept
soft and eat dainty all my days, but
when nj sea. And how did l begin?
Before the mast like you!"
"Well," said the other, but all the
other moneys gon now, amt II? You
daren't show face in Bristol after this"
why, where might you suppose it
was?" asked Silver, derisively.
AT Bristol, IN banks and places"
answered his companion.
1T WERE said the cook; "it were
when we weighed anchor. But my old
missis has It all by now. And the Spy
glass is sold, lease and goodwill and
rigging; and the old girls off to meet
me. L would tell you where, for l
trust you; but 1t I'D make jealousy
among the mates"
And you can trust your pissis?"
asked the other.
Gentlemen of fortune returned
the cook, usually trusts little among
themselves, and right they are, you
may lay to 1t. But | have a way with
me. | have. When u mate brings a slip
on his cable-one as knows me, | mean
it won't be in the same world with
old John. There was some that was
feared of Pew, and some hat was
feared of Flint; but Flint his own self
was feared OF me. Feared he was, and
proud. They was the toughest crew
ailoat, waS Flint, the devil himself
would have been feared to go to sea
with them. Well, now, / tell you, I'm
not IA boasting man, and you seen
yourself how easy | keep company; for
when | was quartermaster, lambs
wasn't the word tor Flint's old buc-
cancers. All, you may be sure of your
self in old Johns ship"
well, | tell you now" replied the
lad, II didn't half q quarter like the job
TIL l had this talk with you, John; but
there's my hand on it now"
And a brave lad you were, and
smart, too" answered Silver, shaking
hands so heartily that all the barrel
shook. "and a finer fgure-head for u
gentleman of fortune l never Clapped
my eyes on.
by this time / had begun to under
stand the meaning of their terms. BY
II gentleman Of fortune they plainly
meant neither more nor less than a
common pirate. and the little scene
that L lad overheard was the last act
in the corruption of one of the honest
hands-perhaps of the last one left
aboard. But on this point i was soon
to be relieved, for Silver giving a little
whistle, a third man strolled up, and
sat down by the party.
Dicks square," said Silver.
ooh, l knowed Dick was square,"
returned the voice of the cockswain.
Israel Hands. Hes no fool, is Dick"
he turned his quid and spat. But,
here" he went ON, here's what /
want to know, Barbecue-how long are
we a-going to stand off and on like a
blessed bum-boat? I've had Almost
enough o. Cap'n Smollett; he's hazed
me long enough, by thunder! | want
to so into that cabin. / do. / want their
and wines, and that"
Israel" said Silver, your head amt
much account, nor never was. But
able to hear, 1 reckon; least
ways, our ears is big enough. Now,
here's what / say-youll berth for
ward. and you'll live hard, and you'll
speak soft, and you'll keep sober, till