Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-05-22

have 1t out with me?" roared Silver,
bending far forward from his position
on the key, with his pipe still glowing
in his right hand. Put name on
what you're at; you aint' dumb, I
reckon. Him that wants shall get it.
Have / lived this many years, and a
son of rum puncheon cock his hat
athwart my hawse at the latter end Of
it? You know the way; you're all gen.
tlemen of fortune. by your account.
Well, I'm ready. Take cutlass him
that dares, and I'll see the color of his
inside. crutch and all, before that
pipes empty
Not a man stirred; not a man an
swered.
That's your sort, is it?" he added,
returning his pipe to his mouth. We'll,
you're q gay lot to look at, anyway.
Not worth much to fight. you amt.
Praps you can understand King
Georges English. I'm capn here by
lection. I'm cap'n here because I'm
the best man by Il long sea-mile. You
won't fight, as gentlemen o fortune
should; then, by thunder, you'll obey,
and you may lay to 1T! l like that boy,
now; and i never seen a better boy
than that. He's more of man than
any pair of rats of you in this here
house, and what l say is this: Let me
see him ash lay a hand on him-that's
what say, and you may lay to it..
There was a long pause after this.
1 stood straight up against the WALL
my heart still going like a sledge-ham-
mer, but 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 as though he had been in church;
yet his eye kept wandering furtively,
and he kept the tail of 1t on his unruly
followers. They on their part drew
gradually together toward the far end
of the block -house, and the low hiss of
their whispering sounded in my ears
continuously, like a stream. One after
another they would look up, the red
light of the torch would fall for Sec
ond on their nervous faces; but 1t was
not toward me, 1T was toward Silver
they turned their eyes
You seem to have a lot to say" re-
marked Silver, splitting far into the
air. Pipe up and let me hear it, or
lay to-
AK 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 vally bullying
a marlinspike; this crew has it's rights
like other crews, I'll make 80 free as
liittl, anu ny SOQl OWN uiGo, lethc ~
we can talk together. l ak your par
don, sir acknowledging you for to be
capting at the present; but I claim my
right, and steps outside for council"
And with an elaborate sea salute,
this fellow, long, ill-looking, yellow
eyed man of five ndthiTty, stepped
coolly toward the door and disappeared
out of the house. One after another the
rest followed his example; each making
,1,,t I'm sod RI "A r,ty
some apology. According TO the rules"
said one. "Fo'ksle council" said Nor
gan. And so, with one remark or am
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
sight worse, of torture. They're going
to throw me off. But YOU mark, l
stand by you through thick and thin. l
didn't mean to; no, not till You spoke
up. l was about desperate to lose that
much blunt. and he hanged into the
bargain. But l see you was the right
sort / says to myself: You stand by
Hawkins, John, and Hawkins'll stand
by YOU You're his last card, and by
-llls llN4ll5 lAlSAAiSASAp oSAAaAs AAS % SONAk'.
Back to back, says I. You save your
witness, and he'll save your neck!"
/ began dimly to understand.
You mean all is lost?" asked.
"Ay, by gum, l do" he answered.
Ship gone, neck gone-that's the size
of it. Once 1 looked into that bay, Jim
Hawkins, and seen no schoonel-well,
I'm tough. but gave out. AS for that
lot and their council, mark me, they're
outright fools and towards. III have
your life--if so be as can-fron them.
But see mere, Jim-tit for tat-you save
Long John from swinging"
L was bewildered; it seemed thing
so hopeless he was asking-he, the old
buccaneer the ringleader throughout.
What / can do thatll do. i said.
Its u bargain!' cried Long John.
"You sS,cak up plucky, and. by thun-
der. I've u chance
He hobbled to the torch, where 1t
stood propped among the firewood, and
took ~ fresh light to his pipe.
Understand me, Jim" he said, re-
turning. 1--WE "A head on my shoulders,
/ have I'm on squire's side, now. l
know you've got that ship safe some
where's How 70 done it, | don't know,
but safe it is. | guess Hands and
O'Brien turned soft. / never much be-
lieved in neither of them. Now you
mark me. | ask no questions, nor /
won't let Others. | know when a games
up, / do; and | know a lads that
stanch All, you that's young-you and
Inc might have done u power of good
together.'
He drew some cognac from the cask
into tin canikin.
win you taste, messmate?" he
asked and when i had refused; We'll,
III ltase u drain myself. Jim," said he.
II need Il caulker, for there's trouble
on hand. And, talking o trouble, why
did that doctor give me the chart,
Jim?'
My face expressed a wonder so I'M
affected that he saw the needlessness
of further questions.
"Ah. we'll. he did. though" said he
"And there's something under that, no
doubt something, surely. under that,
Jim-bad or good
And he took another swallow of the
brandy, shaking his great fair head
like a man who looks forward to the
worst.
CONTINUED next week.)
v,vE IE CANuCk.