Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-11-16
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 a person than Silver
himself standing placidly by.
It was quite early, and the coolest
morning that | think / was ever
abroad in; chill that pierced into
the marrow. The sky was bright
md cloudless overhead, and the tops
)f the trees shone rosily in the sun.
But where Silver stood with his lieu
enant all was still in shadow, and
they waded knee-deep in a low, white
yapor, that had crawled during the
night out of the morass. The chill
and the vapor taken together told a
poor tale of the island. II was plain
ly a damp, feverish, unhealthy spot.
keep indoors, men," said the cap
tain. "Ten to one this is a trick"
Then he hailed the buecaneer.
who goes? stand, or we fire"
Flag of trueei" cried Silver.
The captain was In the porch,
'Ieeping himself out of the way of
a treacherous shot, should any be
intended He turned and spoke to
US.
Doctors watch on the lookout.
Doctor Livesey, take the north side,
II you please; Jim the east; Gray,
west. The watch below. all hands
to load muskets Lively men, and
,areful"
And then he turned again to the
nutineers.
"And what do you want with your
lag 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 he?" cried the captain. And
re could hear him adding to him
elf: "Cap'n, is IL? My heart, and
lere's promotion"
Long John answered for himself.
"Me sir. These poor lads have
chosen me cap'n after your deser-
lion, sir"-laying a particular en-
phasis upon the word "desertion.
We're willing TO submit, If we can
ONE to terms, and no bones about
It. All l ask is your word, Cap'n
Smollett, to let me safe and sound
ut of this here stockade, and one
minute to get out o. shot before a
gun is fired"
my man." said Captain Smollett,
I have not the slightest desire to
talk to you. If you wish TO talk to
me. you can come, that's all. IL
here's any treachery, it'll be on
vour side. and the Lord help you"
That's enough, cap'n." shouted
Long John. cheerily. A word from
you's enough I know a gentleman,
md you may lay to that"
We could see the man who carried
he flag of truce attempting to hold
Silver back. Nor was that wonder
rul. seeing how cavalier had been
the captains answer. But Silver
aughed at him aloud, and slapped
lim on the back, as If the idea of
,larm had been absurd. Then he adj
to the stOckade, threw over
MS crutch, got a leg up, and with
great vigor and skill succeeded in
the fence and dropping
safely to the other side.
/ will confess that I was far too
much taken up with what was going
IN to be OF the slightest use as
sentry; indeed ! had already de-
serted my eastern loop-hole and crept
~ behind the captain, who had now
seated himself on the threshold, with
MS elbows on his knees, his head in
his hand, and his eyes fixed on the
water as It dubbed out of the old
ron kettle in the sand He was
to himself, Come, Lasses
md Lads"
Silver had terrible hard work get
ing up the knoll. What with the
,teepness of the incline, the thick
and the soft sand, he
md his crutch were as helpless as
ship in stays But he stuck to It
ike a man in silence, and at last ar
lived before the captain, whom he
aluted in the handsomest style. He
vas tricked out in his best; an inn
nense blue coat, thick with brass
buttons, hung as low as to his knees,
md a fine laced hat was set on the
Jack of his head.
Here you are, my man, said
he captain, raising his head. "Yom
lad better sit down"
you amt a-going to let me in
ide. eap'n?" complained Long John.
IT'S q main cold morning, to be
ure. sir, to sit outside upon the
and"