Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-05-08
CHAPTER XNEI.
ISRAEL HANDS.

The wind, serving us to q desire,
now hauled into the west. We could
run so much the easier from the north
west corner of the island to the mouth
of the North inlet. Only, as we had no
power to anchor, and dared not beach
her till the tide had flowed good deal
further, time hung on our hands The
cockswain told me how to lay the ship
to; after Il good many trials l succeed
ed, and we both sat in silence, over am
other meal.
"Gap'n. said he, at length, with that
same uncomfortable smile, here's my
cid shipmate, 0lirien; s.pose you was
To heave him overheard. amt par
tclar as a rule, and | don't take no
blame for settling his hash; but | don't
reckon him ornamental, now, do your"
- m not strong enough, and | don't
like tho job; and there he lies, for me,
said |.
This here's am unlucky ship-the
'iIispaniola.' Jim he Went ON, blink
ing There's a power of men been
killed in this Hispaniola II sight o.
poor scamen dead and gone since you
and me took ship to Bristol | never
seen such dirty luck, not i. There was
this here O'Brien, now-he's dead, amt
he? Well, now, I'm no scholar, and
you're lad as can read and figure;
and. to put it straight, do you take it
as Il dead man is dead for good, or do
he come alive again."
GU can kill the body, Mr.. Hands,
but not the spirit; you must know that
already, replied. 'O'Brien, there, is
in another world, and may be watching
us.
Ah!' says he. WELL that's unfort'
nate-appears as if killing parties was
waste of time. Howsomever, sper-
TITS don't reckon for much, by what
I've seen. III chance ii With the sper-
l'its, Jim. And now, you've spoken up
free, and III take it kind ii you'd step
down into that there cabin and get me,
Wei, a-shiNer my tinbers. can't
nit tile name ont; We'll, YOU get me n
bottle of Wine, Jim this here brandy's
too strong Tor my head"
Nov the cockswain's hesitation,
seemed to be unnatural and as for the
motion. of his prefcrring wine to
brandy, 1 entirely disbelieved ii. The
whole story Was = IorcteXt. He wanted
me to leave the dcck-so much was
plain; but with what purpose L could
in no way imagine. His eyes never
met mine; they kept wandering to
and fro. up and down. now with u
look to the sky, now with fitting
glance upon the dead O13ren. All the
time he kept smiling, and putting his
tongue out in the most guilty, embar
raised manner, so that q child could
have told ne was bent on some decep-'
ton. | was prompt with my answer.
however, for j saw where my advant
age lay; and that with fellow SO
densely stupid / could easily conceal
my suspicious to the end.
Some wine?" / said. Far better
Will you have white or red?"
well, ] reckon it's abput the blessed
same to me, shipmate," he replied; so
it's strong, and plenty OF it,, what's the
, odds?"
IAN right" I answered. "I'll bring
you port, Mr.. Hands. But I'll have to
dig for it,
With that j scuttled down the COM
panion with all the noise / could,
slipped off my shoes, ran quietly along
the SPARED gallery, mounted the fore
castle ladder, and popped my head out
of the fore companion. l knew -
would not expect to see me there; yet
1 took every precaution possible; and
certainly the worst of my suspicious
| proved too true.