Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-24

me-you, that sunk the lot of usl By
the powers! but this tops the stiffest
yarn to nothing"
Silver paused, and could see by the
faces of George and his companions
that these words had not been said In
vain.
That's for number one" cried the
accused, wiping the sweat from his
brow, for he had been talking with
vehemence that shook the house.
"Why, give you my word, I'm sick to
speak to you. You've neither sense nor
memory. and leave it to fancy where
your mother was that let you come to
sea. Seal Gentlemen o. fortune! !
reckon tailors is your trade"
go on, john" said Morgan. "Speak
up to the others"
"Ah, the others!" returned John.
They're q nice lot, amt they? You say
this cruise is bungled! Ali by gum,
If you could understand how bad it's
bungled, you would seel We're that
near the gibbet that my peck's stiff
with thinking on it. You've seen 'em,
maybe, hanged in chains, birds about
'em, seamen printing 'em out as they
go down with the tide. Who's that%
says one. That Why, that's John Sill
YER. / knowed him well, says another.
And you can hear the chains a-jangle as
you go about and reach for the other
buoy. Now, that's about where we are,
every mothers son of us, thanks to
him and Hands, and Anderson, and
other runation fools of you. And If you
want to know about number four, and
that boy, why, SILVER my timbers! isn't
he hostage? Are we going to waste
hostage? No, not us; he might
be our last chance, and l shouldn't
wonder. Kill that boy2 Not me, mates!
And number three? All, well, there's
deal to say to number three. Maybe
you don't count it nothing to have areal
college doctor come to see you every
day-you, John, with your head broke
OK you, George Merry, that had the
ague shakes upon you not six hours
agone, and has your eyes the color Of
lemon peel to this same moment on the
clockP And maybe, perhaps, you didn't
know there was consort coming.
till then; and We'll see who'll be glad to
have q hostage when it comes to that.
And as for number two, and why
made bargain-well, you came crawl
ing on your knees to me to make ton
your knees you came, you was that
northumberland you'd have starved
too, if hadn't-but that's trife! you
look there-that's why!"
And he cast down upon the floor a
paper that instantly recognzed-none
other than the chart on yellow paper,
with three red crosses, that had found
in the oilcloth at the bottom of the cap
tain's chest. Why the doctor had given
1t to him was more than could fancy
But if it were inexplicable to me the
appearance of the chart was incredible
to the surviving mutineers. They
leaped upon it like cats upon a mouse.
1t went from hand to hand, one tear
ing it from another; and by the oaths
and the cries and the childish laughter
with which they accompanied their ex-
animation, you would have thought, not
only they were lingering the very gold,
but were at sea with it, besides, in
safety.
yes" said one, that's Flint, sure
enough. J. F., and a score below, with
Glove hitch to ii, so he done ever"
mighty pretty" said George. but
how are we to get away with it, and us
70 ship"
Silver suddenly sprung up, and sup
porting himself with hand against
the wall: Nov, give you warning,
George" he cried "One more word OF
your sauce, and I'll call you down and
fight you. How? Why, how do know
You had ought to tell me that-you
and the rest, that lose me my schooner,
with your Interference, burn you!
But not you, you can't; you hain't got
the invention Of coclroach. But civil
you can speak, and shall, George Merry,
you may lay to that"
That's fair enow," said the old man
Morgan.
'Fair! reckon So" said the sea-cook.
"You lost the ship; found the treasure.
Who's the better man at that? And
now resign, by thunder! Electwhom
you please to be your cap'n now; I'm
done with It,"
"Silrer!" they cried barbecue for
ever! Barbecue for cap'n!"
$50 that's the toon, is it?" cried the
cook. George, I reckon you'll have to
wait another turn, friend, and lucky for
you as I'm not revengeful man. But
that was never my way. And now,
shipmates, this black spot? Tain't
much good now, is it? Dicks crossed
his luck and spoiled his Bible, and that's
about all"
It'll do TO kiss the book on still, won't
it?" growled Dick, who was evidently
uneasy at the curse he had brought
upon himself.
"a Biblewith bit cut outl" return ed
Silver, derisively. "Not it. It don't
bind no more'n ballad book"
Don't it, though? ?" cried Dick, with
a sort Of Joy. well, reckon that's
worth having, TOO"
"Here, Jim-here's curiosity for
YOU" said Silver; and he tossed me the
paper.
II was n round about the size Of a
crown piece. One side was blank, tor
1t had been the last leaf; the other con-
tanned a verse or two of Revelation
these words among the rest, which
struck sharply home upon my mind:
"Without are dogs and murderers.'
The printed side had been blackened
with wood -ash which alreadyr heuap VI