Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-03-15
TREASURE
ISLAND ::.:::::::::::

/ give the word; and you may lay tc
that, my son."
We'll. / don't say no, do II" growled
I the cockswain. What / say Is, when
That's what / say"
when! by the powers!" cried Silver
We'll, now, IL you want to know, IL
tell o when. The last moment l car
MANAGE; and that's when. Here's a
first rate seaman, Cap'n Smollett, sails
the blessed ship for us. Here's this
squire n doctor with a man and such
Il don't know where 1t is, do /? Nc
more do you, says you. Well, then, ]
mean this squire and doctor shall find
the stuff, and help us TO get ii aboard,
by the powers. Then We'll see. If ]
was sure of you all, sons Of double
Dutchmen, I'd have Cap'n Smollett
navigate us halfway back again be-
fore / struck"
why, we're all seamen aboard here,
/ should think" said the lad Dick.
Were all fok's'le hands, you mean
snapped Silver. I'VE can steer a course,
but who's to set one? That's what all
you gentlemen split on, first n last.
II / had my way, I'd have Cap'n Smol-
lett work us back into the trades, at
least; then we'd have no blessed mis-
calculations and a spoonful of water a
day. But / know the sort you are. I'll
finish with 'em or the island, as soon's
the blunt's on board and a pity 1t is.
But you're never happy till you're
drunk. Split my sides, I've a sick ear
to sail with the likes Of you!"
Easy all, Long John" cried Israel.
who's a-crossin' of your"
why, how many tall ships, think We,
now, have | seen laid aboard? and how
many brisk lads drying in the sui at
Execution Dock?" cried Silver; land all
for the same hurry and hurry and
hurry. You heal me? / seen a thing
or two at sea, | have. IL you would
on'y lay your course, and a pint to
windward. you would ride in carriages,
you would. But not you! I know you.
You'll have your mouthful OF rum to-
morrow, and go hang"
Everybody know'd you was a kind
Of a chapliug, John; but there's others
as could hand and steer as well as you"
said Israel. They liked a bit O. fun,
they did. They wasn't so high n dry,
nohow, but took their fling, like jolly
companions every one"
500 says Silver. well, and where
are they now? Pew was that sort, and
he died n beggar-man. Flint was, and
he died of rum at Savannah. All, they
was a sweet crew, they was! on'y,
where are they?"
But asked Dick, when we do lay
EN- athwart, what are we to do with
'em, anyhow"
There's the man FOR mel" cried the
cook, admiringly. That's what / call
business. Well. what would you think?
Put 'em ashore like maroons? That
would have been E~ngland's way. Or
cut 'em down like that much pork?
That would have been Flint's or Billy
Bones"
BILLY was the man for that" said
Israel. dead men don't bite says he.
Well, he's dead now, hisself; he knows
the long and short on 1t now; and IL
ever a rough hand come to port, 1t was
Billy"
Right you are said Silver, rough
and ready. But mark you here; I'm an
easy man-I'm quite the gentleman,
says you; but this time it's serious.
Dooty is dooty, mates. l give my vote
death. When I'm in parlyment and
riding in my coach, l don't want none
of these ~sea-lawyers in the cabin a
coming home, unlocked for, like the
devil at prayers. Wait, is what / say;
but when the time comes, why, let her
rip"
john cried the cockswain, you're
q man."
You'll say so, Israel, when you see"
said Silver. "Only one thing | claim
/ claim Trelawney. I'll wiring his calf's
head off his body with these hands.
Dick" he added, breaking off, "you
must jump up, like n sweet lad, and get
me an apple, to wet my pipe like"
You may fancy the terror | was in.
I should have leaped out and run for 1t,
If | had found the strength; but my
limbs and heart alike misgave me. 1
heard Dick begin to rise, and then some
n seemingly stopped him, and the
voice Of Hands exclaimed:
"Oh, stow that! Don't you get suck
ing Of that bilge. John. Let's have a
go of the rum"
Dick said silver, II trust you I've
n gauge on the keg, mind. There's the
key; you fill a pannikin and bring it
up"
Terrified as | was I could not help
thinking to myself that this must nav
been how Mr.. Arrow got the strong va
tcrs hat destroyed him.
Dick was gone but a little while. and
during his absence Israel spoke
straight on in the cooks ear. 1t was
but a word or two that / could catch,
and yet / gathered some important
news. for, besides other scraps hat
tended to the same purpose. this whole
clause was audible: Not another man
of them'll jine." Hence there were still
faithful men on board.
When Dick returned, one after an
other Of the trio took the pannikin and
drank-one, ITO luck" another with
a Here's to old Flint" and Silver him
self saying, in a kind Of a song: Here's
to ourselves, and hold your huff, plenty
of prizes and plenty of duff"
JUS then a sort OF brightness fell
upon me | nthe barrel, and. looking up,
l found the moon had risen and was
silvering a mizzen-top and shining
white on the huff of the foresail; and
almost at the same time the voice on
the lookout shouted: Land ho!"