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

WIFI Oil was S;ttltu .IOIIlt, has ally
one OF you ever seen that land ahead?"
IL have. SIR said Silver. I've wa
tered there with a trader / was cook
In"
1.-THE anchorage is on the south, be-
hind an islet, l fancy?" asked the cap
tain.
Yes, sir; Skeleton island they call
1t. 1t were a main place for pirates
once, and a hand we had on board
knowed all their names for IL. The hill
to the nor'ard they calls the Foremost
hill; there are three hills in a row run
ming south'ard-fore, main and miZ-
zen, sir. But the ~main-that's the big
'un, with the cloud on it-they usually
calls the Spy-glass. by reason of a look
out they kept when they was in the
anchorage cleaning; for it's there they
cleaned their ships, sir. asking your
pardon"
II have a chart here. say Captain
Smollett. See II that's the place"
Long Johns eyes burned in his head
as he took the chart; but, by the fresh
look OF the paper, l knew he was
doomed to disa ppointment. This was
not the map we found In Billy Bones
chest, but an accurate copy, complete
in all things-names, and heights, and
soundings-with the single exception
of the red crosses and the written notes.
o0dTD an IHuSl nave DttH Aho dHfoJ
ance, silver had the strength of mind
to hide 1t.
Eyes, sir" said he, this is the spot,
to be sure; and very prettily drawed
out. VIII might have lone that, 1
wonder? The pirates were too igno-
rant, j reckon. Ay, here 1t is: capt.
Kidd's anchorage'-just the name my
shipmate called 1t. There's a strong
current runs along the south, n then
- ~ .vAr coast Riphf
YOU was, sir" says he, ito haul your
wind and keep the weather OF the
island. Leastways. IL uch was your
intention as to enter and careen, and
there amt no better place for that in
these waters
Thank you, my man." says Capt.
Smollett. "Tll ask you. later on, to
give us a help. You may 60
l was surprised at the coolnes with
which John avowed his knowledge Of
the island; and / own l was half fright
ened when ! saw him drawing nearer
to myself. He did not know, TO be sure,
that / had overheard his council from
the apple barrel, and yet | had, by this
time. taken such "A horror Of his cruelty
dupllcity and power, that l could
scarce conceal q shudder when he laid
his hand upon my arm.
All" says he; this here is a sweet
spot, this island-a sweet spot Tor q
lad to get ashore on. You'll battle, and
goats, you will; and you'll get aloft
on them hills like n goat yourself.
Why, it makes me young again. L
was going ia forget my timber leg, L
was. It's a pleasant thing TO be young
and a V ten toes, and you may lay
to that. When you van TO go a bit
of exploring, you just ask old John, and
he'll put up a snack for o to take
along"
And clapping me in the f~riendliest
way upon the shoulder, he hobbled off
forward and went below.
Captain Smollett. the squire and DR..
Livesey were talking together on the
quarterback; and, anxious as / was to
tell them my story, | burst not inter-
rupt them openly. While ] was still
casting about in my thoughts to find
some probable Reuse, DR. Livesey
called me "a his side. He had left his
ps)e below, and, being a slave TO tobac-
co, had meant that / should fetch 1t;
but as soon as | was neal enough to
speak and not be overheard broke out
Immediately: Doctor, let me speak.
Get the captain and squire down to
the cabin and then make some pretext
to send for nfe. | have terrible news"
The doctor changed "countenanCe n
little, but next moment he was master
of himself.
Thank you, jim" said he, quite
loudly, that was all ] wanted to
know" as If he had asked me a ques-
ton.
And with that he turned on his heel
and rejoined the other two. They
spoke together for a little, and though
lone Of them started, or raised his
voice, or so much as whistled, IT was
plain enough hat DIR. Livesey a
communicated my request: for the next
thing that I heard was the captain Civ
ing an order to Job Anderson, and all
hands were piped or deck.
MY lads said Captain Smollett,
i've a word TO say to you. This land
that we have sighted is the place we
have Deer sailing to. Mr.. Trelawney,
being a very open-handed gentleman,
as we all know. had just asked me a
word or two, and as l was able to tell
him that every man on board had done
his duty, allow and aloft, as / never ask
to see it one better, why, he n | and
the doctor are going below to the cabin
TO drink your health and luck, and
you'll have grog served out for you TO
drink our health n luck. I'll, tell you
what / think of this: l think II hand
some. And If you think as l do you'll
GIVE 1t BoOu sea NIlSSl lOt hiS 6NiNlS-
man thai does it,"
The cheer followed-that was a mat
ter of course; but 1t rang out so full
and hearty that 1 confess could hard
ly believe these same men were plot
ting for u blood.
lone more cheer for Captain Smol-
lett" cried Long John, when the first
had subsidized.
And this also was given with a will.
ON the top of that the three gentle
men went below, and not long after
word was sent forward that Jim
Hawkins was wanted in the cabin.
| found them all three seated round
the table, a bottle Of Spanish wine and
some raisins before them, and the doc
tor smoking away, with his wig on his
lap, and that, / knew, was a sign that
he was agitated. The stern window was
open, for it was a warm night, and you
could see the moon shining behind on
the ships wake.
Now. Hawkins said the squire,
'you have something to say. Speak
up"
Continued Daxt yvaek