Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-03

dicament IN winch we lOulu OuTSeINcs'
He heard me with the keenest interest,
and when / had done he patted me on
the head.
you're a good lad, JIM" he said;
"and you're all in a Glove hitch, amt
you? Well. you just put your trust in
Ben Qunn--Ben Gums the man 70 do
it. Would you think it likely, now,
that your squire would prove liberal.
minded one in case of hefp-him being
in a Glove hitch, as you remark"
I told him the squire was the most lib
eral of men.
"Ah, but you Sec" returned Ben
Gum, 81 didn't mean giving me a gate
to keep, and suit of livery clothes
and such; that's not my mark, Jim.
What mean is, would he be likely to
come down to the toon Of, say 1000
out of money that's as good as a man S
own already?"
81 am sure he would" said 1. GAS il
was, all hands were to share"
"And a passage home?" he added
with look of great shrewdness.
"Why," / cried, "the squire's a gen.
tleman. And, besides, if we got rid OF
the others, we should want you to help
work the vessel home"
"Ah," said he, 80 you would" And
he seemed very much relieved.
"Now, III tell you what" he went
on. $50 much TIL tell you. and no more
| were in Flint's ship when he buried
the treasure; he and six along-siS
strong seamen. They was ashore nigh
on a week, ard us standing off and
on in the old 'Walrus.' One fine day
up went the signal, and here come
Flint by himself in a little boat and his
acad done up in blue scarf. The sun
was getting up. and mortal white he
looked about the cut-water. But, there
he was, you mind. and the six all dead
dead and buried. How had he done
it. not d man aboard US could make out
It was bat tie, murder and sudden death
leastways--him against six. Billy
Bones was the mate; Long John. he was
quartermaster; and they asked him
where the treasure was. 'Ah,' says he
you can go ashore. if you like, ant
stay he says; but as for the ship. shell
beat up for more, by thunderi' That's
what he said.
well, ! was in another ship three
years back, and we sighted this island
Boys said /, here's Flnt's treasure;
let's land and find it, The captain was
displeased at that; but my messmat ties
were all of mind and landed. Twelve
~ havy 11Dlya1 e. a u
they had the worse word for me, unit
one fine morning all hands went
aboard. AS for you, benjamin Gum.
says they, here's a musket,' they says
and a spade. and pick-ax. Yon car
stay here, and find Flint's money fol-
yourself they saws.
well. jim, three years have beer
here. and not bite of Christian die
from that day to this. But now, yor
look here; look at me. Do look like {
man before the mast? No, says you
Nor I weren't. neither, I says"
And with that he winked and pinchec
me hard.
"Just you mention them words II
your squire. Jim'-he went on: "Nor he
weren't, netherlands the words
Three years he were the man of thi.
island, hoht and dark. fair and rain
ard sometimes he would. maybe, thinl
upon PRAYER (says you). and some
times he would, maybe. think of his ole
mother, so be as she's alive (you'll say)
but the most part of Gums time (thi'
is what you'll say)-the most part O.
his time was took up with another mat
ter. And then you'll give him nip, Xix,
I do"
And he pinched me again, in the mos
confidential manner.
"Then." he continued-"then you'll
up and you'll say this: Gum is gooC
man (you'll saw. and he puts precious
sight more confdence-a precious sight
mind that--in a gentleman born than il
these gentlemen of fortune. having
been one hisself."
one word that you've been saying. Blu
that's neither here nor there; for how
am to get on board? ?"
"Ah," said he. that's the hitch TO,
sure. Well. there's my boat that
made with my two hands. keep he
under the white rock. If the wors
come to the worst, we might try tina
after dark. Hill" he broke out, what
that"
For just then. although the sun hat
still an hour or two to run, all the echoes
of the island awoke and beloved t.
the thunder of cannon.
They have begun to fight" cried
Follow me-"
| And | began to run toward tn
anchorage, my terrors all forgotten
while. close at my side, the maroone,
man in his goatskins trotted easily an,
lightly.
Left, left" says he; keep to you
left hand, mate JIM Under the tree
with you! There's where | killed m,
first goat. They don't come down her
now; they're all mastheaded on then
mountings for the fear of enjamil
Gum. All! and there's the cetemery
cemetery he must have meant
You see the mounds? l come her
and pray, nows and thens, when
thought maybe a Sunday would b.
about doc. II weren't quite a chapel
but it seemed more solemn like; ant
then, says you, Ben Gum was short
handed-no chapling, nor so much as
Bible and flag, you says"
So he kept talking as / ran, neithe
expecting nor receiving any answer,
The cannon-shot was followed, afte
considerable interval, by volley o
small arms.