Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-03-22

round at a Instance in q sort OF amphl-
theater, one here, one there. Two lit
tie rivers, or, rather, two swamps,
emptied out into this pond, as you
might call it; and the foliage round
that part of the shore had q kind OF
poisonous brightness. From the ship,
we could see nothing of the house or
stockade, for they were quite buried
among trees; and il it had not been
for the chart on the companion, we
might have been the first that had
ever anchored there since the island
arose out of the
There was not a breath Of air NOV
ing, nor a sound but that of the surf
booming half q mile away along the
beaches and against the rocks outside.
A peculiar stagnant smell hung over
the anchorage-a smell OF sodden
leaves and rotten tree trunks. 1 OBJ
served the doctor smiling, and sntttlng,
like some one tasting a bad egg.
Il don't know about treasure, he
said, but III stake my wig there's
fever here
If the conduct of the men had been
alarming in the boat, 1t became truly
threatening when they had come
aboard. They lay about the deck
growing together in talk. The slight
est order was received with a black
look, and grudgingly and carelessly
obeyed. Even the honest hands must
have caught the infection, for there
was not one man aboard TO mend an
other. Mutiny, it was plain, hung over
us like q thunder-cloud.
And it was not only we of the cabin
party who perceived the danger. Long
John was hard al work going from
group to group, spending himself in
good advice, and as for example no
man could have shown n better. He
fairly outstripped himself in willing
ness and Ciyility; he was all smiles 10
every one. If an order were given,
John would be on his Crutch in an In
slant, with the Cheeriest "Ay, ay, slr!'
In the world; n when there was
nothing else to do, he kept up one
song after another, as II TO conceal the
discomfort Of the rest.
or all the gloomy features of that
gloomy afternoon, this obvious anxiety
on the part Of Long John appeared the
worst.
We held a council In the cabin.
Sir" said the captain, IF / risk an
other order, the whole shipll come
about our ears by the run. You see,
sir, here it is. / get a rough answer,
do | not? Well, if / speak back, pixies
will be going in two shakes: II / don't,
Silver will see there's something under
that, and the games up. Now, we've
only one man to rely on
And who is that?" asked the
squire.
"Silver, sir" returned the captain;
hes as anxious as you and l 70
smother things up. This is n TIN; hed
soon talk 'em out of 1t IL he had the
chance, and what l propose to do Is
to give hin the chance. Let's allow the
men an afternoon ashore. If they all
go, why wen fight the ship. If none of
them go, well, then, we hold the CABIN,
and God defend the right. II some go,
you mark my words, sir, Silvern bring
'em aboard again as mild as lambs.'
1t was so decided; loaded pistols
were served out to all the sure men;
Hunter, Joyce and Redruth were ta-
ken into our confidence, and received
the news with less surprise n a bet
ter spirit than we bad looked for, and
then the captain went OF deck n ad-
dressed the crew.
my lads" he said, we've had n lot
day, and are all tired and out OF sorts.
A turn ashore'l hurt nobody-thC
boats are still in the water; you can
take the gigs, and as many as please
can so ashore for the afternoon. I'll
fire a gun half an hour before sun
down.
/ believe the silly fellows must have
thought they would break their shins
over the treasure as soon as they were
landed; for they all came cut OF their
sulks in a moment, II gave a cheer
that started the echo in a far-aWay
hill, and sent the birds once more flying
and squalling around the anchorage.
The captain was too bright to be in
the way. lie whipped out of sight in
n moment, leaving silver to arrange
the party; and / fancy it was rs well
he did so. Had he been on deck, he
could no longer SO nue. as have pre-
TENDED not to understnd the situation.
It was plain as day. Silver was the
cGptain, and a mighty rebeliious crew
he had Of il. The honest hands-aud
| was soon to see it proved that there
were such on board-muSt have been
very stupid fellows. or, rather, i sup
nose the truth was this: that all hands
were disaffected by the example Of
the ring leadcrs-only some more,
some less; and a few, being good fell
lows in the main, could neither be led
nor driven any further. 1t is one thing
to be idle and sulk, and quiet another
to AXE a ship and murder a number OF
innocent men.
At last, however, the party was
made up. Six fellows were to stay on
board and the remaining IS, including
Silver, began to embark.
Then II was that there came into my
ANaAN AAtN 4 = VI AlAV AllAAN IAOAlpllo Alld
contributed so much to save our lives.
If six men were left by Silver, it was
plain our party could not take and
fight the ship; and since only six were
left, ii was equally plain that the cabin
party had not present need for my as
s~istance. 1t occurred to me at once to
go ashore. In a jiffy l had slipped over
the side, and curled up in the fore
sheets of the nearest boat, and almost
at the same moment she showed off.
No one took notice of me, only the
bow a saying: rs that you, Jim?
Keep your head down" But Silver,
from the other boat, looked sharply
over and called out to know If that
were me; and from that moment L be-
gan to regret what | had done.
The crews raced for the beach; but
the boat L was in, having some start,
and being at nee the lighter and the
better manned, shot far ahead of her
consort. and the bow had struck among
the shore-side trees, and | had caught
a branch and swung myself out, and
plunged into the nearest thicket, while
Silver and the rest were still 100 yards
behind.
Jim, JIM" / heard him shouting.
But you may suppose i paid no heed:
jumping, ducking, and breaking
through, ] raj straight before my
nose, till l could run no longer.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE FIRST BLOW.