Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-07

though for that matter, 1 suppose,
had reason to think even worse Of him
than anybody else, for had seen him
meditating fresh treachery upon the
plateau. Accordingly, 1t was pretty
gruffly that the doctor answered him.
'Drunk or ravingl" said he.
fright you were, sir" replied Silver;
land precious little odds which, to you
and me-"
IT suppose you would hardly ask me
to call you humane man." returned
the doctor, with a sheer, land so my
feelings may surprise you, Master Sill
YER. But il were sure they were raw
ing-as am morally certain one, at
least, Of them is down with feyer-I
should leave this camp. and, at what
ever risk to my own carcass, take them
the assistance of my skill"
ASK your pardon, sir, you would be
very wrong" quoth Silver. you would
lose your precious life, and you may
lay to that. I'm on your side now, hand
and glove; and shouldn't wish for to
see the party weakened. let alone your
self, seeing as know what owes you.
But these men down there, they
couldn't keep their word-no, not sup
posing they wished to; and what's more,
they couldn't believe as you could"
NO" said the doctor. you're the
man to keep your word, we know that"
Well, that was about the last news we
had of the three pirates. Only once we
heard a gunshot great way off, and
supposed them to be hunting. A coun-
Gil was held, and it was decided that we
must desert them on the island-to the
huge glee, l must say, of Ben Gum,
and with the strong approval Of Gray.
We left good stock of powder and
shot. the bulk of the salt goat, a few
medicines and some other necessnries,
tools, clothing, spare soil, a fathom or
two of rope, and, by the particular de-
sire of the doctor, a handsome present
of tobacco.
That was about our last doing on the
island. Before that we had got the
treasure slowed, and had shipped
enough water and the remainder of the
goat meat, in case Of any distress; and
at last. one fine morning, We weighed
anchor, which was about all that we
could manage, and stood out of North
inlet, the same colors flying that the
captain had flown and fought under at
the palisade.
The three fellows must have been
watching us closer than we thought for.
as we soon had proved. For, comm g
through the narrows, we had to lie
very near the southern point, and
there we saw all three Of them kneeling
together on spit of sand, with their
arms raised in supplication. 1t went
to all our hearts, think, to leave them
in that wretched state; but we could
not risk another mutiny; and to take
them home for the gibbet would have
been cruel sort of kindness. The
doctor hailed them and told them OF
the stores we had left, and where they
were to find them. but they continued
to call us by name and appeal to US
for Gods sake, to be merciful, and moi
leave them to die in such place.
At last. seeing the ship still bore or
her course, and was now swiftly draw
ing out Of earshot, one of them-I know
not which it was-leaped to his fee
with hoarse cry, whipped his musket
to his shoulder and sent shot whis
ting over Silver's head and through thu
mainsail.
After that we kept under cover Of
the bulwarks, and when next looked
out they disappeared from the spit
and the spit itself had almost melted
out of sight in the glowing distance
That was, at least, the end of that; anc
before noon, to my inexpressible JOY
the highest rock Of Treasure Island hat
sunk into the blue round of sea.
We were so short of men that every
one on board had to bear hand-onl.
the captain lying on a mattress IN tn
stern and giving his orders; for, thoug
greatly recovered. he was still in wan
Of quiet. We laid her head for tn
, nearest port in Spanish America, TO
we could not risk the voyage HON
, without fresh hands; and, as 1t wa:
what with battling winds and coupl
of fresh gales, we were all worn GU
, before we reached it.
It was just at shutdown when we cas-
anchor in a most beautiful land-locke
, ~