The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-04-04
PART w.
THE STOCKADE.

NARRATIVE CONTINUED BY THE
DOCTOR-HOW THE SHIP WAS
ABANDONED.
1t was about half-past three bells
in the sea phrase-that the two boats
went ashore from the "Hispaniola."
The captain, the squire and 1 We're
talking over matters in the cabin Had
there been breath of wind, we should
have fallen on the six mutineers who
were left aboard with us, slipped our
cable, and away to sea. But the wind
was wanting and to complete our
helplesSness, down came Hunter with
the news that Jim Hawkins had
slipped into boat and was gone
ashore with the rest.
1t had never occurred to us to doubt
Jim Hawkins; but we We're alarmed
for his safety. With the men in the
temper they were In, it seemed an even
chance If we should see the lad again.
We ran on deck. The pitch was bub-
bling in the seams; the nasty stencil of
the place turned me sick; if ever a
man smeled fever and dysentery, it
was in that abominable anchorage. The
six scoundrels were sitting grumbling
under a sail in the forecastle; ashore
we could see the gigs made fast and a
man sitting in each, hard by where the
river runs in. One of them was whist
ling "LillibullerO.
Waiting was strain; and it was de-
cided that Hunter and 1 should go
ashore with the jolly boat, in quest of
information.
The gigs had leaned to their right;
but Hunter and I pulled straight In, in
the direction Of the stockade upon the
chart. The two who were left guard
ing their boats seemed in hustle at
our appearance; "Lillibullero'' stopped
off, and I could see the pair discussing
what they ought to do. Had they gone
and told Silver, all might have turned
out differently; but they had their or
ders, I suppose, and decided to sit
quietly where they We're and bark
back again to 'Lillibullero."
There was slight bend in the coast,
and I steered so as to put it between
us; even before we landed we had thus
lost sight Of the gigs. I jumped out,
and came as near running as 1 burst,
with big silk handkerchief under my
hat for GOODNESS sake, and brace of
pistols ready primed for safety.
had not gone 100 yards when came
on the stockade.
This was how it was: A spring Of
clear water rose almost at the top Of a
knoll. Well, on the knoll, and inclos-
ing the spring, they had clapped a
stout log house, fit to hold two score
people on pinch, and loop-holed for
musketry on every side. All round
this they had cleared a wide space,
and then the thing was completed by
a palinG six feet high, without door
or opening, too strong to pull down
without time and labor, and too open
to shelter the beseigers. The people in
the log house had them in every way;
they stood quiet in shelter and shot the
others like cartridges. All they want
ed was a good watch and food; for,
oh nrf of 1afa leo
might have held the place against
regiment.
What particularly took my fancy was
the spring. For, though we had good
enough place of it in the cabin Of the
"Hispaniola," with plenty Of arms and
ammunition, and things to eat, and ex
cellent wines, there had been one thing
oyerlooked-we had no water. I was
thinking this over when there came
ringing over the island the cry Of q
man at the point Of death. I was not
new to violent death-I have served
his royal highness the duke Of Cum
berland, and got wounded myself at
Fontenoy-but I know my pulse went
dot and carry one: Jim Hawkins Is
gone" was my first thought
1t is something to have been an old
soldier, but more still to have been
doctor. There is no time to dilly-dally
in our work And SO now I made up
my mind instantly. and with no :ime
lost returned to the shore and jumped
on board the jolly-boat.
BY good fortune Hunter pulled
good oar. We made the water fly; and
the boat was soon alongside, and
aboard the schooner.
1 found them all shaken, as was nat
ural. The squire was sitting down, as
white as a sheet, thinking OF the harm
he had led us to, the good soul! and
one Of the six forecastle hands was
little better.
lett, nodding toward him, new to this
work. He came highland fainting,
doctor, when he heard the cry. An
other touch Of the rudder and that man
would Join u.s."
told my plan to the captain, and be-
tween us we settled on the details of
its accomplishment
We put old Redruth in the gallery
between the cabin and the forecastle
with three or four loaded muskets and
a mattress for protection. Hunter
brought the boat round under the
stern port, and Joyce and set to work
loading her with powder tins, muskets,
bags of biscuits, kegs Of pork. cask
of cognac and my Invaluable medicine
chest.
In the meantime the squire and the
captain stayed on deck, and the latter
hailed the cockswain, who was the
principal man on board.
Mr.. Hands," he said, there are two
of us with a brace Of pistols each. If
any one Of you six make signal of any
description, that mans dead"
They were a good deal taken aback:
and after little consultation, one and
all tumbled down the fore companion
thinking. no doubt, to take US on the
rear. But when they saw Redruth
waiting for them in the spared gal
lery, they went about ship at once. and
head popped out on deck.
Down, dog" cries the captain.
And the head popped back again;
and we heard no more, for the time, of
these six very faint -hearted seamen