The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-03-28

ton brought me to a stand.
| was now, it seemed cut off upon
both sides; behind me the murderers,
before me this lurking nondescript.
And Immediately began to prefer the
dangers that I knew to those l knew
not. Silver himself appeared less terri
Bile in contrast with this creature of
the woods, and I turned on my heel,
and, looking sharply behind me over
my shoulder, began to retrace my
steps in the direction of the boats.
Instantly the figure reappeared and,
making a wide circuit, began to head
me off. I was tired, at any rate; but
had 1 been as fresh as when l rose, /
could see it was vain for me to con-
tend in speed with such an adversary.
From trunk to trunk the creature fit
ted like a deer. running man-like on
two legs, but unlike any man that /
had ever seen, STOPPING almost double
as it ran. Yet a man it was l could
no longer be in doubt about that.
I began to recall what l had heard
Of cannibals. l was within an ace Of
calling for help. But the mere fact
that he was man, however wild, had
somewhat treasured me-, and my fear
of Silver began to revive in proportion.
l stood still, therefore, and cast about
for some method of escape; and as 7
was SO thinking, the recollection of my
pistol flashed into my mind. AS soon
as 1 remembered l was not defense
less, courage glowed again in my heart
and I set my face resolutely for this
man Of the island and walked briskly
toward him.
He was concealed by this time, be-
hind another tree trunk: but he must
have been watching me closely, for as
soon as l began to move in his direc
ton he reappeared and took step to
meet me. Then he hesitated, drew
back, and came forward again, and at
last, to my wonder, threw himself on
his knees and held out his clasped
hands in supplication.
AT that I stopped once more.
who are your l asked.
Ben Gunn," he answered, and his
voice sounded hoarse and awkward,
like rusty lock. I'm poor Ben Gum.
4 am; and I haven't spoke with
Christian these three years"
could now see that he was white
man like myself, and that his features
We're even pleasing. His skin, wher
ever it was exposed, was burned by the
sun; even his lips were black, and his
fair eyes looked quite startling in SO
dark face. OF all the beggar men that
/ had seen or fancied, he was the chief
for raggedness He was clothed with
tatters of old ships canvas and old
Sed-ClolH. anu ILLS eAlldol ulAdl
patchwork was all held together by a
system of the most various and in
congruous fastenings, brass buttons,
bits of stick and loops of tarry gaskln.
About his waist he wore an old BRASS
buckled leather belt, which was the
one thing solid in his whole accoutre
ment.
Three years. l cried. Were you
shipwrecked? 2"
ta CafH a 'fro rnnna6 -
I had heard the word. and I knew it
stood for a horrible kind Of punish
ment common enough among the buc-
cancers, in which the offender is put
ashore with little powder and shot,
and left behind on some desolate and
distant island.
"Marooned three years agone," he
continued, land lived on goats since
then, and berries, and oysters. Wher-
ever a man is, says I, man can do
for himself But, mate, my heart is
sore for Christian diet. You mightn't
happen to have piece of cheese about
you, now? No? Wen, many's the long
night I've dreamed of cheese-toast
nostly-and woke up again, and here
1 WERE
IF ever can get aboard again." said
I, you shall have cheese by the stone"
All this time he had been Telling the
stuff Of my jacket, smoothing my
hands, looking at my boots, and gener-
ally, in the intervals Of his speech,
showing childish pleasure in the
presence of a fellow creature. But at
my last words he perked up into a
kind Of startled slyness.
"If you ever get aboard again, says
you?" he repeated. why, now, who's
to hinder you?"
mot you, I know" was my reply.
And right you was he cried. Now
you-what do you call yourself.
mate?"
jim I told him.
Jim, JIM" says he. quite pleased,
apparently. We'll, now, Jim, I've lived
that rough as you'd be ashamed to
hear Of Now, for instance, you
wouldn't think had a pious mother
to look at me?" he asked.
Why, no; not in particular" an
swered
''Ah, WELL" said he, but I had-re-
markably pious. And l was a civil,
pious boy and could rattle off my cate
chism that fast, as you couldn't tell
one word from another. And here's
what it come to, Jim, and it begun
with church-farthen on the blessed
gravestones! That's what it begun
with, but it went further'n that; and
SO my mother told me, and predicked
the whole, she did, the pious woman.
But it were Providence that put me
here. I've thought it all out in this
here lonely island, and I'm back on
piety. You can't catch me tasting
rum SO much; but just thimbleful for
luck of course, the first chance have.
I'm bound I'll be good, and I see the
way to. And, jim looking all
around him, and lowering his voice to
a whisper-"I'm rich"
now felt sure that the poor fellow
had gone crazy in his solitude, and
suppose must have shown the feeling
in my face, for he repeated the
statement, holly:
Rich! rich! says. And I'll tell you
what; I'll make man OF you, Jim. Ah
Jim, you'll bless your stars, you will,
you was the first that found mel
And at this there came suddenly a
lowering shadow over his face, and he