Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-24

"Thsu here goes, r;said Morgan. with An oath.
Ill gentlemen of fortune, BY your ac-
count. Well, I'm ready. Take a cut
lass him that dares, and I'll see the
color of his inside, crutch and all, be-
fore that pipes empty"
Not a man stirred; not man an
swered.
That's your sort, is ZEE" he added,
returning his pipe to his mouth. We'll,
you're a gay lot to look at, anyway.
Not much worth to fight, you amt.
P'r'aps you can understand King
Georges English. I'm cap'n here by
lection. I'm cap'n here because I'm
the best man by long sea-nile. You
won't fight, as gentlemen O fortune
should; then, by thunder. you'll obey,
and you may lay to it! like that boy,
now; and Inever seen better boy than
that. He's more of man than any
pair of rats of you in this here house,
and what say is this: Let me see him
ash lay hand on him-that's what
say, and you may lay to it,"
There was long pause after this.
I stood straight up against the wall,
my heart still going like sledge-ham-
mer, lout with a ray of hope now shin
ing in my bosom. Silver leaned back
against the wall, his arms crossed, his
pipe in the corner of his mouth. as calm
us though he had been in church yen his
eye kept wandering furtively, and he
kept the tail of it on his unruly fol-
lowers. They on their part drew grad
ually together toward the far end of the
block house, and the low hiss of their
whispering sounded in my ears contin-
uously, like a stream. One after an
other they would look up, the red
light Of the torch would fall for Il Sec
ond on their nervous faces; but it was
not toward me, it was toward Silver
they turned their eyes.
you seem to have lot to say" re-
marked Silver, splitting far into the
air Pipe up and let me hear It, or
lay to-"
LAX your pardon, sir" said one of
the men. you're pretty free with some
of the rules; maybe you'll kindly keep
an eye upon the rest. This crews dis
satisfied; this crew don't vauy bully
ing a marlinspilSe; this crew has it's
rights like other crews, I'll make SO free
as that; and by your own rules, take
it we can talk together. l AK your
pardon, sir. acknowledges you for to
be capting at this present; but claim
my right, and steps outside for coun-
Gill;"
And with an elaborate sea-salute, this
fellow, long, Unlocking, yellow-eyed
man of fve-and-thirty, stepped coolly
toward the door and disappeared out
of the house. One after another the
rest followed his example,; each max
ing a salute as he passed; each adding
some apology. According to the rules"
eaid one. "Fo'k'sle council" said Nor
gan. And so, with one remark or an
other, all marched out, and left Silver
and ME alone with the torch.
The sea-cook instantly removed his
pipe.
Now, look here, Jim Hawkins" he
said. in steady whisper, that was no
more than audible you're within half
q plank of death, and what's a long
sight worse, of torture They're going
to throw me off. But you mark, I
stand by you through thick and thin.
! didn't mean to; no, not till you spoke
up. l was about desperate to lose that
much blunt, and be hanged into the
sort. l says to myself You stand by
Hawkins, John, and Hawkinsll stand
by you. You're his last card. and by
the living thunder, John, he's yours!
Back to back. says l. You save your
witness, and he'll save your neck!"
l began dimly to understand.
You mean all is lost?" asked.
"Ay, by gum, dol" he answered.
ship gone, neck gone-that's the size
of it. Once looked into that bay. Jim
Hawkins, and seen no schooner-well,
| I'm tough, but gave out. AS for that
lot and their council, mark me, they're
outright fools and towards. I'll save
your life-if so be as l can-from them.
| But see here, Jim-tit for tat-you save
Long John from swinging"
was bewildered; it seemed thing
so hopeless he was asking-he, the old
| buccaneer, the ringleader throughout.
"What can do, that I'll do" said.
ITS bargainl" cried Long John.
"You speak up plucky. and. by thunder!
| I've a chance"
lie hobbled to the torch, where u
stood propped among the firewood, and
took a fresh light to his pipe.
understand me, JIM" he said, re-
turning. 1--WE head on my shoulders,
I have. I'm on squire's side, now.
know you've got that ship safe someS
| where's. How You done it, don't know