Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-11-02
CHAPTER XII
Council of War

the fOresail, made a double Jo"dII
the stern, and came out upon th'
.open deck in time to join Hunter anC
Doctor Livesey in the rush Tor the
weather bow.
There all hands were already con,
gregated. A belt of fog had lifted
almost simultaneously with the ap'
pearance of the moon. Away to the
southwest of us we saw two low
hills, about a couple Of miles apart
and rising behind one of them q
third and higher hill, whose peak
was still buried in the fog. All three
seemed sharp and conical in figure,
So much | saw almost in a dream,
for 1 had not yet recovered from my
horrid fear of a minute or two be-
fore. And then l heard the voice OF
Captain Smollett issuing orders. The
Hispaniola was laid a course that
would just clear the island on the
east.
"And now, men," said the captain,
when all was sheeted home, has
any one of you ever seen that land
ahead?"
81 have, sir" said Silver. 1--WE
watered there with a trader was
cook on"
"The anchorage is on the south,
behind an islet, l fancy?" asked the
captain.
Eyes, sir. Skeleton Island they
calls it. It were a main place for
pirates once. and hand we had on
board knowed all their names for
it. That hill to the nor'ard they
calls the Foremost Hill; there are
a., III -, ,fra.or n
'ard-fore, main, and mizzen, sir
But the main-that's the big 'un,
with the cloud on it-they usually
calls the Spy-Glass, by reason of a
lookout they kept when they was in
the anchorage cleaning; for it's
there they cleaned their ships, sir,
asking your pardon.
. 81 have a chart here" said Cap
tain Smollett. "See if that's the
place"
Long Johns eyes burned in his
head as he took the chart, but, by
the fresh look of the paper, 1 knew
he was doomed to appointment.
This was not the map we found in
Billy Bones chest, but an accurate
copy, complete in all things-names,
and heights, and soundings-with
the single exception of the red
crosses and the written notes. Sharp
as must have been his annoyance,
Silver had the strength of mind to
hide it.
Eyes, sir" said he, "this is the
spot, to be sure, and very prettily
irawed out. Who might have done
hat, wonder? The pirates were too
gnorant, l reckon. Aye, here it is
Captain Kidd's anchorage - just
he name my shipmate calls it.
There's a strong current runs along
he south, and then away hoard up
he west coast. Right you was, SIR"
laid he, ito haul your wind and
Keep the weather of the island, |
1eastways, if such was your inten-
ion as to enter and careen, and |
here amt better place for that in |
hese waters"
THANK you, my man." said Cap
ain Smollett. "Pll ask you, later
n, to give us a help. You may 60"
l was surprised at the GOODNESS
With which John avOwed his know
edge of the island, and l own | was
when l saw him |
rawing near to myself. He did
lot know, to be sure, that l had |
verheard his council from the ap-
lie barrel, and yet 1 had, by this
ime, taken such a horror of his
ruelty, duplicity, and power, that
could scarce conceal a shudder
7hen he laid his hand upon my arm.
"Ah," said he, " this here is
weet spot for a lad to get ashore
n. You'll battle, and you'll climb
rees, and you'll hunt goats, you
yill, and you'll get aloft on them
ills like a goat yourself Why, it
lakes me young again. / was go
ng to forget my timber leg, 1 was
is a pleasant thing to be young,
nd have ten toes, and you may lay
D that. When you want to go a
it of exploring, you just ask old
ohm and he'll put up a snack for
GU to take along"
And clapping me in the friendliest
ray upon the shoulder, he hobbled
if forward and went below.
Captain Smollett, the squire, and
'octor Livesey were talking together
n the quarter deck, and anxious as \
was to tell them my story, IL
urst not interrupt them openly.
While / was still casting about in
ly thoughts for a probable excuse,
octor Livesey called me to his side.
e had left his pipe below, and being
slave to tobacco, had menat that
should fetch it; but as soon as 1
as near enough to speak and not
e overheard, l broke out Immediate
:: Doctor, let me speak. Get the
lptain and squire down to the
lbin, and then make some pFetense
, send for me. have terrible
ews."
The doctor changed countenance J
tile, but next moment he was mas
n of himself.
Thank you, jim" said he, quite
'udly; that was all l wanted to {
now" as if he had asked me a
lestion.
And with that he turned on his j
eel and rejoined the other two.
hey spoke for a little. and though S
one of them started, or raised his
lice, or so much as whistied, IL !
as plain enough that Doctor Live '
" had communicated my request, J
IT the next thing that heard was q
lie captain giving an order to Job
nderson, and ali hands were piped s
] deck.
my lads" said Captain Smoliett, q
rye word to say to you. This