, 1926-06-23

~ 49, NPf aO
"Ah, what's 1t matter? He's dead.
The riverll have him"
The dumping became a measured
tramp as four tall seamen carried put
the canvas cylinder that had been
John Flint. A babble of grief from
Darby broke the silence.
GLORY be to God, and him gone
oversize in all his sin Och, st. Bird
get and st. Patrick and Blessed We
ronica and Holy Mark, do We intercede
for him? Let We cry upon the Virgin
to be speakin' for him in the heaven
ly courts. oh. wirra, wirra, wirra,
evil he was, and good in his way, and
there's none by to give him the chance
of p%urgatoryl"
A roar from Bones.
STOW that guffl Here, a pair o.
We strangle the mick if he'll not hush"
Darby whimpered and was still.
downstream" continued Bones.
here. to laid. Ease him up. Where's
that shot? Is it fast? Let him go,
mates !"
A splash.
And now who'll say as Bill Bones
is not cap'n o. the Walrus?" demand
ed Bones. gruflly menacing.
Peter touched my arm. pushing
open Moira's door very gently.
yen not be leaving me?" she
breathed.
"Neen," he denied. But we better
hear what they do"
Bones was talking again as we stole
into the deserted companionway. He
sat on the barrel which Flint had
been used TO occupy. A battle lanthorn
hung over his head, and the pale vel
low light showed him to be nigh as
drunk as his dead commander.
and to - wi luck He was n
good pal, Flint was; but he thought
too much o. luck. I'm a seaman, 1 am.
Give me sur and stars, and I'll steer
We n course. Civ me sight o. tops'ls.
and I'll fetch We 1ongside o. a prize.
I'm no man for fuss, I'm not. Ye can
ha' all the rum We want, so be We sail
the ship and fight her.
"Now, what ha' we to say? Speak
up, any o. you swabs as is for trou-
bic I"
Long John Silver spoke from the
shadows, his words flowing smoothly
with an insinuating, oily infection.
"We better make it all regular, Bill.
You're mate, and you say as how Flint
give you the treasure-map and says
You was to be capn alter him; but
reg1ars reglar, and it don't do no
harm to"
Bones pulled a stiff, cracking sheet
of map-paper from his breast, and
waved 1t in the air.
Here's the map" he declared.
Long John there was alter it, but
Flint give 1t to me, as he says"
Sure I says it, Bill" proceeded Sill
yer, undisturbed. But what says,
too, is as we'd oughter have a lection
as the Articles provide"
A murmur of assent greeted this
declaration. Bones scowled.
""Tain't necessary" he returned.
Tn mate, and I'm the only real navi-
gator We got, But go ahead and lect
whoever We please-only remember L
got the treasure-map."
Yes, you got the treasure-map,
Bill" agreed Silver, n his voice
somehow became more hateful thar
ever. But we don't allow as it's
yours, We know. You're what the law
yer sharks calls a trustee. You keeps
1t for the rest O. us, and We he
chuckled venomously-"why, we keeps
our eyes on you, Bill"
Bones swore.
Get on WI the lection he adj
jured the crew. who's to be cap'n?
Speak up and name some one"
A dozen sycophants shouted Bones"
with "A vim which inspired him with
sweating vanity, and several called
out: "Silverr' and Long Johnl"
Anybody else?" challenged Bones.
Nobody answered.
"Well. Long John" he leered, at
seems like twas you m me. The
Articles says them what votes for one
Teller goes to n side, and them what
votes for t'other goes opposite. So,
seem as you're on the la'b'd side, I'll
say them as votes for you goes la'b'd
and them as votes for me goes sta'b'd."
Suits me-" grunted Silver.
There was n subdued rustling and
patter of feet MS the men divided, md
The la~nthornlight revealed two I'M
equal groups on either side of the
mizzen with Bones sitting on his bar
rel between them. Probably three
ffths of the crew had voted for him.
well, Long John" he said without
trying to repress the triumph in his
tones, dye want to tell over the
voter"
NO" replied Silver briefly. "You
win"
Bones rubbed his hands gleefully.
"Ah, | win, do I?'
81 said yes"
The opposing factions regarded each
other like packs of wolves preparing
TO diSDutp the carcass Of a frash