Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-06-07

The explosion of di~sapproval, which
nothing but Silver's black looks had
restrained, broke out Immediately the
doctor had left the house. Silver was
roundly accused Of playing double-of
trying to make q eparate peace Tor
himself-of sacrificing the interests OF
his accomplices and victims, and, IN
one word, of the Identical, exact thing
tina he was doing. 1t seemed to me
so obvious, in this case, hat l could
not imagine how he was to urn their
anger. But hi was twice the man
the rest were, and his last nights vic
tory had given hin a huge p~reponder-
ance on their minds. lie called them
all the fools and dolts you can inn
agine, said II was necessary l should
talk to the doctor, fluttered the hart
In their faces, asked them If they could
afford to break the treaty the very
day they were bound a-treasure hunt-
ing.
mo, by thunder" he cried, its us
must break the treaty when the time
comes; an tin then I'll CANNON that
doctor, If / have TO lie boots with
brandy"
And Their he bade them get the fire
lighted and stalked out upon his
crutch, with his hand on my shoulder,
leaving them in a ~disarray, and ST.
fenced by his v~olubility, rather than
convinced.
"slow lad, Slow he said. They
might round upon us In a twinkle OF
an eye, If we were seen TO hurry
Very delicately, then, did we adj
vance across the sand to where the
doctor waited us on the other sic of
the stockade, and as soon as we were
within easy speaking distance silver
stopped.
You'll make n note of this here, also,
DOCTOR" says he, and the boy'l tell
you how l saved his life, and were de
posed for il, too, and you may lay to
that. Doctor, when n mans steering
as near the win as me-playing
.chuck-farthing with the last breath I'm
his body, lie-you wouldn't think IT too
much, mayhap, TO give him one good
word! You please bear in mind It's
not my life only now-it's that boys
into the bargain; and you'll speak me
fat, doctor, and give me a bit o hope
10 go ON, for the sake o mercy
Silver was n changed man, once he
was out there and had his back on his
friends and the bloCk-house; his checks
seemed to have fallen in; his voice
trembled; never was a soul more dead
In earnest.
why, John, you're not afraid?'
asked DR.. Livesey.
Doctor, I'm no coward; no, not 1
not SO much!" and he snapped his fin
gers. IF / was l wouldn't say II. But
I'll own up fairly I've the shakes upon
me for the gallows. You're a good
man and a true; / eve see a better
man.! And you'll not forget what l
done good, not any more than you'll
forget the bad, l know. And | step
aside-see herc-and leave you Jim
alone. And youll put that down for
me, too, for it's a long stretch, is that
So saying, he stepped back a little
way till he was out of earShot, and
there sat upon n tree-stump; n began
tC whistle; spinning round now ANA
again upon his sea so as to IN
a sight sometimes OF me and the doc
tor, and sometimes of his unruly ruff
fans as they went to and fro in the
sand, between the nre-which they
were busy rekindling-and the house,
from which they brought forth pork
and bread TO make the breakfast.
80, jim" said the doctor, sadly,
here you are. AS you have brewed,
go shall you drink, my boy. Heaven
knows, ! cannot find It I'm my heart to
blame you; but this much will l say,
be II kind or unkind; when Captain
Smollett was well, you dared not have
gone off; and when he was Ill, and
COulun nelp II, ny ISolbc, IL was
downright CoWardly!'
/ will own that ! here began to weep.
Doctor" l said, you might spare me.
l have blamed myself enough; my
life's forfeited anyway, and l should
have been dead now. If Silver hadn't
stood for me; and, doctor, believe thus,
/ a die-and ] dare say ! deserve it
but what l fear is torture. If they
come to torture me
Jim" the doctor interrupted, and
his voice was quite canged, Jim, l
run for it."
Doctor said /, Il passed my
word"
Il know, l know" he cried. 1--WE
can't help that Jim, now. I'll take it
on my shoulders, holus, bolus, blame
and shame, my boy; but stay here, l
cannot help you. Jump! N jump,
and you're out, and We'll run for 1t like
a~ntelopes."
mo" l replied, you know right well
you wouldn't do the thing yourself;
neither you nor the squire, nor cap
tain; and no more will l. Silver trust
ed me: l passed my word, and back |
go. But, doctor, you need not let me
finish. If they come to torture me, l
might let slip a word where the ship
is; for / got the ship, part by luck and
part by risking. and she lies in North
inlet, on the southern beach, and just
below high water. At half-tide she
must be high and dry"
1.-THE ship!" exclaimed the doctor.
Rapidly I described 70 him my adj
ventures, and he heard me out in ST.
lence.
There is n kind of fate In this" he
observed when ! had done. Every step
It's you hat saves our lives; and do
you suppose by any chance we are 60
Ing to let you lose yours? That would
be a poor return, my boy. You found
out the plot; you found Ben Gum
the best deed that ever you did, or
will do, though you live to ninety.
Oh, by Jupiter! and talking of Ben
Gum, why, this is the mischief I'm per-
son. Silver!' he cried! SILVER, I'll
give you n piece OF advice" he con-
tinued, as the cook drew near again;
don't you be in any great hurry af-
ter that treasure"
why, sir, ] do my possible. which
that amt" said Silver. II can only,
asking your pardon, save my life and
the boys by seeking for that treasure,
and you may lay to that"
"Well, Silver" replied the doctor, "if
that is SO, I'll go one step further; look
out for squalls when you find it,"
Sir" said Silver, "as between man
and man, that's too much and too lit