The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-06-20
i RE A SUR F.
ISLAND -: =: :: :::::::::


ceeded leisurely doYnhill to where the
boats were lying. related in a few words
what had taken place It was, g story
that profoundly interested Silver, and
Ben Gum, the half-idiot maroon, was
the hero from beginning to end.
Ran. In his long. lonely wanderings
; about the Island, had found the skele-
ton-it was he that had rifled It: he
had found the treasure: he had dug
1t UP ct was the half Of his pickax
!. that lay broken in the excavation): he
, had carried it on mis- back In many
weary journeys from the foot Of the tall
ed hill at the northeast angle Of the is
land, and there it had laid stored in
safety since two -lonths before the ar
rival of the "Hispa aiola."
When the doctor had wormed his Sc
cret from him on the afternoon Of the
attack, and when, next morning, he
saw the anchorage deserted, he had
gone to Silver, given him the chart,
which was now useless-given him the
stores, for Ben Gums cave was well
supplied with goats meat sailed by
himself-given anything and every
thing to get a chance of moving in
safety from the stockade to the two
pointed hill, there to be clear Of ma
laria and keep guard upon the money.
''As for you, JIM" he said, "it went
against my heart, but I did what
thought best for those who had< stood
by their duty; and If you were not one
of these, whose fault was it?''
That morning, finding that was to
be involved in the horrid disappoint-
ment he had prepared for the mu-
tineers, he had run all the way to the
captain, had taken squire to guard the
captain, had taken Gray and the ma
room and started. making. the diagonal
across the island, to be at hand be-
side the pine. Soon, however, he saw
that our party had the start Of him:
and Ben Gum, being fleet of foot, had
been dispatched in front to do his best
alone. Then it had occurred to him to
work upon the superstitions Of his for
mer shipmates, and he was so far sue
cessful that Gray and the doctor had
come up and were already ambushed
before the arrival of the treasure hunt
erS.
"Ah," said Silver ut was fortunate
for me that had Hawkins here. You
would have let old John cut to bits
and never given it thought, doctor"
mot a thought" replied DR.. Livesey,
, cheerily.
And by this time we had reached the
gigs. The doctor, with the pick ak, de-
molished one OF them, and then we all
got aboard the other, and set out to go
| round by the sea for North Inlet
This was a run of eight or nine miles.
Silver though he was almost killed
already with fatigue, was set to an oar,
like the rest of US, and we We're soon
Swimming swiftly over a smooth sea.
Soon we passed out Of tho straits and
doubled the southeast corner Of the
Island, round which, four days ago, we
had towed the "Hispaniola."
AS we passed the tWo-pointed hill, we
| could see the black mouth of Ben
Gums cave, anda figure standing by it
leaning on a musket. 1t was the squire;
and we waved handkerchief and gave
him three cheers, in which the voice of
Silver joined as heartily as any.
Three miles turtle just inside the
| mouth or North AE,el. what should we
, meet but tt 'Hispaniola," cruising
by herself. The last flood had lifted
her; and had there been much wind,
| or a strong tide current. as in the
| southern anchorage, we should never
have found her more, or found her
stranded beyond help, AS it was, there
was little amiss, beyond the wreck of
| the mainsail. Another anchor was got
ready, and dropped in fathom and a
half Of water. We all pulled round again
to Rum cove, the nearest point for Ben
| Gums treasure house; and then Gray
| single-handed, returned with the gig
| to the "Hispaniola," where he was to
pass the night on guard.
| A gentle slope ran up from the beach
| to the entrance Of the cave. At the tor
the squire met us. To me he was cor
dial. saying nothing of my escapade
either in the way of blame or praise. AT
Silvers polite salute he somewhat
! flushed.
John Silver" he said you're a
prodigious villain and imposter-a mon
| strous imposter, sir, am told am not
to prosecute you. Well, then, I will not
But the dead men, sir, hang about your
neck like milstones."
! THANK you kindly. SIR" replied
Long Jof i, !. ain saEuting.
"How arr you to thank mel" cried
4 tho squire. 1T Is a gross dereliction OF
my duty. Stand back!"
| And lthereupon we all entered the
cave. It Was large. airy place, with 6
little spring and a pool of clear water
overhuns with ferns. The floor was
sand. Before big fire lay Captain
;, SIN ollett; and in far corner only
duskily flickered owe rthe blaze. I be.
| held great leaps of coin and quadhilat.
erals built Of bars of gold. That wa.
Flint's treasure that we had come 81
far to seek, and that had cost alread,
I the lives of II men from the "Hispan
lola" How many 1t had cost in thu
amassing, what blood and sorrow, wha
good ships scuttled on the deep, wha
brave men walking the plank blindfold
what shot Of cannon, what shame ant
/ lies and cruelty. perhaps no man aliv,
could tell. Yet there were still thre
upon that fsland-Silvef and old Nor
! gan, and Ben Gu nn-who had each ia
ken his share III these crimes as eacl
had hoped in vain to share in the re
/ ward.
Come in, Jim," said the captain
4 You're a good boy in your line. Jim
but don't think you and nell GO i
sea again. You're too much Of tn
born favorite for me. Is that you, Johl
/ Silver? What brings you here, man?,'
\ Come back to do my dooty, SIR re
4 turned Silver. a
1 aAhH, said the captain; and that wa
! all he said. #
What a supper had Of 1t that nigh,
with all my friends around me; an
what a meal it was, with Ben Gum.
\ sailed goat, and some delicacies and
4 bottle of old wine from the ..Iispa
niola. =" Never, am sure. were peopl
i gayer or happier. And there was Sfl
yer, sitting back almost out of the fire
i light. but eating heartily, prompt t
spring forward when anything wa
wanted, even Joining quietly in ou
A 1aughter-the same bland Dolite nj