Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-31

Shout
very different. AT the foot Of pretty
big pine, and involved in green
creeper, which had even partly lifted
some of the smaller bones, human
skeleton lay, with few shrcds of cloth
Ing, on the ground. l believe q chill
struck for moment to every heart.
"He was IA seaman" said George
Merry. who. holder than the rest, had
gone up close, and was examining the
rags Of clothing. "Leastways, this is
good sea-cloth."
SAY, ay," said Silver, "lke enough;
you wouldn't hook to find bishop here,
l reckon. But what sort of q way Ia
that for bones to lie? Tain't in
natur'."
Indeed, on second glance. It seemed
impossible to fancy that the body was
In natural position. But for some
disarray (the work, perhaps OF the
birds that had fed upon him, or of the
slow-growing creeper that had grad
ually enveloped his reInains) the man
lay perfectly straight--his feet point
ing in one direction, his hands. raised
above his head like a divers, pointing
directly in the opposite.
I've taken notion into my old
numskull," observed Silver. "IIere's
the compass; there's the tip-top pint
Of Skeleton island, sticbin' out like a
tooth. Just take a bearing, will YOU,
along the line of them bones"
It was done. The body pointed
straight in the direction of the island,
and the compass read duly f. S. f. by E.
II thought So cried the cook; this
here is p'inter. Right up there is our
line for the pole star and the jolly dol
lars. But, by thunder, il 1t don't make
me cold inside to think of Flint. This
is one Of his jokes, and no mistake.
Him and these six were alone here; he
killed EN-, every man; and this one he
hauled here and laid down by COM
pass, SILVER my timbers! They're long
bones, and the hairs been yellow. Ay,
that would be Allardyce. You mind
Allardyce, Tom MorganP"
"Ay, ay," returned Morgan, II mind
him; he owed me money, he did, and
took my knife ashore with him"
Speaking of knives" said another,
'why don't we find his'n lying round?
Flint warn't the man to pick seaman S
pocket; and the birds, I guess, would
leave it be-"
by the powers, and that's true!"
cried Silver.
There amt a thing left here" said
Merry, still feeling around among the
bones, mot o copper dot nor a baccy
box. It don't look nat'ral to me-"
mo, by gum, it don't" agreed Sill
YER; mot nat'ral, nor not nice, says
you. Great guns! messmate, but il
Flint was living, this would be hot
spot for you and me. Six they were
and six are we; and bones is what they
are now"
II saw him dead with these here dead
lights" said Morgan. Billy took me
IN. There he laid, with penny-pieces
on his eyes"
"Dead-ay, sure enough he's dead
and gone below" said the fellow with
the bandage; but if ever speerit
walked, it would be Flint's. Dear heart
but he died bad, did Flint"
"Ay, and that be did" observed an.
other: now he ragged, and now he hol.
Ter for the rum, and now he sung
Fifteen Men were his only song
mates; and tell you true, l never right
ly liked to hear 1t since. 1t was mair
hot, and the windy was open, and
hear that old song comm out as clea,
as clear-and the death-haul on the
man already"
Come, come" said Silver, "stow this
talk. He's dead, and he don't walk, that
! know; leastways, he won't walk By
day, and you may lay 10 that. Care
killed the cat. Fetch ahead for tn,
do1oloons."
We started, certainly; but in spite O.
the hot sun and the staring daylight
Che pirates no longer ran separat,
and shouting through the woods, blu,
kept side by SIDE, and spoke with batet
breath. The terror of the dead buc
cancer had fallen on their spirits.