Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-19

Il got her through my old friend Bland
ly, who has proved himself throughout the
most surprising trump. The admirable
fellow literally shaved In my interest, and
so. may say, did every one in Bristol as
soon as they got wind of the port we sailed
tor-treasure. mean"
"Redruth," said I, interruptinp the
letter, "Dr. Livesey will not like that.
The squire has been talking after ALL"
well, who's got a better right"
growled the gamekeeper. "a pretty
rum go if squire amt to talk for DR..
Livesey, should think"
At that l gave up all attempts at com.
mentary, and read straight on:
"Blandly himself found the TIispan iola.'
and by the most admirable mana cement
got her for the merest triie. There Is a
class of men in Bristol monstrously preju-
diced against Blandly. They go the length
of declaring that this honest creature
would do anything for money, that the
IIispaniola' belonged to him and that he
sold 1t me absurdly hlFh-the most trans
parent calumnies. None Of them dare,
however, to deny the merits of the ship.
so far there was not hitch. The work.
people to be sure-riggers and what not
were most annoy1ngly slow; but time cured
that. 1t was the crew that troubled me-
Il wished a round score of men--in case
of natives, buccaneers, or the odlous
Trench-and had the worry of the deuce
itself to find so much as half a dozen, till
the most remarkable stroke of fortune
brought me the very man that required.
IT was standing on the dock, when, by
the merest accident, fell in talk with him.
found he was an Old sailor, kept public
house. knew all the seafaun, men in Bris-
toll. had lost his health ashore, and want
ed good berth cook to get to sea again.
lie had hobbled down there that morning.
he said to get smell of the salt.
II was monstrously touched-so would
you have been-and, out of pure pity, en-
gagged him on the spot to be sh. p's cook.
Long John Silver, he is called, and has lost
leg; but that regarded as a recommended
ton, since no lost 1t in his country's serv-
Ice. under the immortal Hawke. He has no
pension, Livesey. Imagine the abomin-
able age we live in
well. sir, l thought + had only found
cook but it was crew had discovered.
Between Silver and myself We got to-
gether In a few days company of the
toughest old salts imaginable-not pretty
to look at, but fellows, by their faces, of the
most indomitable spirit. declare We could
fight a frigate.
Long John even got rid Of two out of the
six or seven l had already engaged. He
showed me in moment that they were
just the sort of fresh-water swabS we had
to fear in an adventure of importance.
II am in the most magnificent health and
spirits, eating like bull, sleeping like a
tree. yet I shall not enjoy moment till I
hear my old tarpaulins tramping round the
capstan. award no! Hang the treasure!
It's the glory of the sea that has turned
my head. So now. Livesey, come post: do
not lose an hour. If you respect me.
Let young Hawkins go at once to see
his mother. with Redruth for guard; and
then both come full speed to Bristol.
JOHN TRELAWNEY.
Up. 81 did not tell you that Blandly,
who, by the way, is to send a consort after
us If we don't turn up by the end of Au-
gust, had found an admirable fellow for
sailing stiff man, which l regret,
but. in all other respects, a treasure Long
John Silver unearthed a very competent
man for a mate, a man named Arrow.
have a boatswadn who pipes. Livesey; so
things shall go man-o'-war fashion on
board the good ship Hispauiola.'
II forgot to tell you that Silver is a man
OF subs bsnce; / know of my own knowled ge
that ne has a bankers account. which has
never been overdrawn. He leaves his wife
to manage the inn; and as she is woman
Of color pair of old bachelors like you and
| l may be excused for guessing that It is the
wife. quite as much as the health, that
sends him ba ok to rowing. j. r.
up. =. S.-Hawkins may stay one night
with his mother. J. T."
You can fancy the excitement into
which that letter put me. 1 was hal
beside myself with glee; and If ever
despised man, it was old Tom Red
ruth, who could do nothing but grumblt
and lament. Any of the under game
keepers would gladly have changed
places with him; but such was not The
squire's pleasure, and the squire's pleas
lire was like law among them all. No
body but old Redruth would have dared
SO much as even to grumble.
The next morning be and l set ou
on foot for the Admiral Benbow, anc
there l found my mother in goot
health and spirits. The captain, who
had so long been cause of so mucl
discomfort, was gone where the wicltec
cease from troubling. The squire haC
had everything repaired, and the pub
lie rooms and the sign repainted, anC
had added some furniture-above all ;
beautiful armchair for mother in thu
bar. He had found her boy as an ap
prentice also, so that she should no
want help while twas gone.
1t was on seeing that boy that l un
derstood, for the first time, my situa
ton. had thought up to that momen
of the adventures before me, not a al
of the home that | was leaving; an(
now, at sight of this clumsy stranger
who was to stay here in my place beside
my mother, I had my first attack o
tears. l am afraid l led that boy I
dogs life, for he was new to the work
had a hundred opportunities of set
ting him right and putting him down
and was not slow 10 profit by them.
The night passed, and the next day
after dinner, Redruth and l were afoo
again and on the road. | said goOd-b.
to mother and the cove where had live
since | was born, and the dear old Ad
miral Benbow-since he was reprinted
no longer quite so dear. One of my las
thoughts was of the captain, who ha'
so often strobe along the beach with hi
cooked hat, his saber-cut cheek, and hi
old brass telescope. Next moment w
had turned the corner, and my HON
was out of sight.
: The mail picked us up about dusl
at the Royal George, on the heath.
was wedged in between Redruth an
stout old gentleman, and in spite o
the swift motion and the cold night all
l must have ChoZed a great deal iron
the very first, and then slept like
log uphill and down dale through stag
after stage; for when l was awakened