Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-10
CHAPTER Xxx.
SILVER'S EMBASSY.


Sure enough. there were two men
just outside the stockade, one of them
waving a white cloth; the other, no less
person than Silver himself, standing
placidly by.
1t was still quite early and the cold
est morning that l think l ever was
abroad in; a chill that pierced into the
marrow. The sky was bright and cloud
less overhead, and the tops of the trees
shone rosily in the sun. But where Sill
yer stood with his lieutenant all was
still in shadow, and they waded knee
deep in q low white vapor, that had
crawled during the night out of the
morass. The chill and vapor taken to-
gether told poor tale of the island. 1t
was plainly damp, feverish, unhealthy
spot.
Keep indoors, men," said the cap
tain. Ten TO one this is a trick"
Then he hailed the buccaneer.
who goes? Stand or we fire"
Flag of truce" cried Silver.
The captain was in the porch. keep
ing himself carefully out ot the way of
treachcrous shot should any be in
tended. He turned and spoke to us.
doctors watch on the lookout. DR..
livescy, take the north side, if you
please; Jim, the east, Gray the west.
The watch below, all hands to load mus
kets. Lively, men, and careful"
And then he turned again to the mu-
tineers.
And what do you want with your
flag of truce?" he cried
This time it was the other man who
replied.
"Cap'n Silver, sir, to come on board
and make terms" he shouted.
"Cap'n Silver! Don't know him.
Who's hep" cried the captain. And we
could hear him adding to himself:
"Cap'n, is it? My heart and here's
pronotion!"
Long John answered for himself.
"Me, sir. These poor lads have
chosen me cap'n, after your desertion,
sir"-laying particular stress upon the
word "desertion.' We're willing to
| submit, if we can come to terms, and no
bones about it. All ask is your word.
Cap'n Smollett to let me safe and sound
out of this here stockade, and one
minute to get out o. shot before gun
is fred!"
MY man." said Capt Smollett. ~
have not the sligl test desire TO talk to
you. If you wish to talk to me. you can
come, that's all. If there's any treach-
cry, it'll be on your side, and the Lord
help you"
THAT'S enough, cap'n," shouted Long
John, cheerily. "A word from you's
enough. Iknov q gentleman. and you
may lay to that
We could see the man who carried the
flag OF truce attempting to hold Sill
yer back, nor was that wonderful. see
ing how cavalier had been the cap
tain's answer. But Silver laughed at
him aloud, and slapped him on the
back, as il the idea of alarm had been
absurd. Then he advanced to the
stockade, threw over his crutch, got n
leg up, and with great vigor and skill,
succeeded in surrounding the fence
and dropping safely to the other side.
will confess that was far too much
taken up with what was going on to
be Of the slightest use as sentry; in
deed, had already deserted my eastern
loophole and crept up behind the cap
tain. who had now seated himself on the
threshold, with his elbows on his knees,
his head in his hands, and his eyes fixed
on the water as ii dubbed out of the
old iron kettle in the sand. He was
whisNng to himself: Come. Lasses
and Lads"
Silver had terrible hard work get
ling up the knob, With the steepness
of the incline, the thick tree stumps,
and the soft sand, he and his crutch
were as helpless as n ship in stays. But
he stuck to it like man in silence, and
at last arrived before the captain, whom
he saluasd in the handsomest style.