The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-09-17
CHAPTER XIX
Cap'n Bill Bones


sea-boots up and down the echoing
length of the companionway, and the
mutter of voices beat an accompani-
ment to them.
AYE, there he lies"
"-me, was there ever such a mug"
"Ah, but ye'd oughter ha' seed him
afore Long John put the pennies to
his eyesp'
"'Tain't right to put pennies to
John Flint's eyes. him as handled
enzas like other fellers does fardin's."
"Are We daft, mate? Ye'd never put
gold in dead mans shroud!"
"Mebbe not! Mebbe not! Not to
be sewed up, me-"
"Ah, what's it matterf He's dead.
The river1l have him"
The dumping became q measured
tramp as four tall seamen carried out
the canvas cylinder that had been
John Flint. A baShse Of grief from
Darby broke the silence.
"Glory be to God, and him gone
oversize In all his sin! Och, st. Bird
set and st. Patrick and Blessed We
ronica and Holy Mark, do ye 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 acme by to give him the chance
Of purgateryI"
A roar from Bones.
"Stow that CUFF! Here, pair o.
We strangle the mick il he'll not hush"
Darby whimpered and was still.
downstream" continued Bones.
"here. to la'b'd. Ease him up. Where's
that shot? Is 1t fast2 Let him 60,
mates!"
A splash.
Sand now who'll say as Bill Bones
is not cap'n O. the WalrusY demand
ed Bones, grufiy menacing.
Peter touched my arm, pushing
open Moira's door very gently.
"YeIl not be leaving mel" 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 yel-
low light showed him to be nigh as
drunk as his dead commander.
and to - wi luck! He was q
good pal, Flint was; but he thought
~ Inc
Give me sun and stars, and I'll steer
We course Give me sight o. topsIs,
and I'll fetch We longside o. a prize.
I'm no man for fuss, I'm not. Ye can
ha' all the rum We want, SO be We saf
the ship and fight her.
"Now, what ha' We to say? Speal
up, any o. you swabs as is for trou-
ble!''
Long John Silver spoke from the
shadows, his words flowing smoothly
with an insinuating, oily infection
1--WE better make 1t all reg'lar, Bill
You're mate, and you say as how Flint
give you the treasure-map and says
you was to be cap'n alter him; but
reglars reg1ar, and 1t don't do no
harm to-"
Bones pulled stiff, cracking sheet
of map-paper from his breast, and
waved it In the air.
Here's the map" he declared.
'Long John there was alter it, but
Flint give it to me, as he says"
"Sure 1 says 1t, Bill" proceeded Sill
yer, undisturbed. But what I says.
too, is as we'd oughter have lection
as the Articles provide"
A murmur of assent greeted this
declaration. Bones scowled.
"Tain't necessary" he returned,
I'm mate, and I'm the only real navi-
gator We got. But 60 ahead and 1ect
whoever We please-only remember
got the treasure-map."
"Yes, you got the treasure-map,
Bill" agreed Silver, and his voice
somehow became more hateful than
ever. "But we don't allow as it'a
yours, We know. You're what the law.
yer sharks calls trustee You keeps
it for the rest o. us, and we" he
chuckled venomously-"why, we keeps
our eyes on you, Dill.
Bones swore.
sect on WI the lection" he ad
jured the crew. who's to be cap'nf
Speak up and name some onel"
A dozen sycophants shouted .Bones,n
with vim whicl inspired him with
sweating vanity, and several CALLED
out: SILVER" and Long John!"
anybody elseT challenged 8onea
Nobody answered.
(ro Bin csasFHeAAl