Pittston Gazette

              KfttatDli»hud 1850. | TOL. XLVlllNo. M Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Valley. PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY, PA., FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1898. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. . ftl OO a Yea i in Advance* me, with all the deck to dodge about. Just forward of the mainmast 1 topped, drew a pistol from my pocket, drew a cool aim, though he had already turned and was once more coming directly after me, and drew the trigger. The hammer fell, but there followed neither flash nor sound; the priming was useless with seawater. 1 cursed myself for my neglect. Why had not I. long before, reprimed and reloaded my only weapon? Then 1 should not have been, as now, a mere fleeing sheep before this butcher. ROBERT LOUIS a slope of water so steep that it made me giddy, and struck her nose, with a spout of spray, deep into the side of the next wave. And then, of a sudden, 1 begtwi to comprehend. I had scarce time to think —scarce time to act nnd save myself. I was on the summit of one swell when the schooner came stooping over the next. The bowsprit was over my head. 1 sprung to my feet, and leaped, stnmping the coracle underwater. With one hnud I.caught the jib-boom, while my foot was lodged between the stay and the brnce; and as 1 still clung there panting, a dull blow told me that the schooner had charged down upon and struck the coracle, and that I was left without retreat on the "Hispanioia." heart, Mr. Tlands. Say on." And I went back to my meal with a good appetite.of the fore companion. I knew he would not expect to see me there; j'et 1 took every precaution possible; and certainly the worst of my suspicions proved too true. for fish in the very place where he had designed my slaughter. my adventures to get shot town oy my own party in mistake. The moon was 'limbing higher nnd higher; its light began to fall here and there in masses through the mdre open districts of the wood, nnd right in front of me a glow of a different color appeared among the trees. It was red and hot, and now and again it was a "This man." he began, nodding feebly at the corpse—"O'Rrien were his name—a rank Irelander—this man and me got the canvas on her, meaning for to sail her back. Well, he's dead now, he is—asdead asbilge; and who's to sail this ship, 1 don't see. Without I give you a hint, you ain't that man. as far's I can tell. Now. look here, you gives me food and drink, and a old scarf or ankecher to tie my wound up, you dto; ard rj] tell you how to sail her; and that's about square all round, I take it." I was no sooner certain of this than I began to feel sick, faint and terrified. The hot blood was running over my back and chest. The dirK, where it had pinned my shoulder to the mast, teemed to burn like a hot iron; yet It was not so much these real sufferings that distressed me, for these, it seemed to me, I could bear without a ruurmur; it was the horror I had upon iny mind of falling from the crosstrees into that still green water, beside the body of the cockswain. I was drenched and terrified, and fell instantly back into my old position, whereupon the coracle seemed to find her head again, and led me softly as before among the billows. It was plain she was not to be interfered with, and at that rate, since I could in no way influence her course, what hope bad I left of reaching land? He had risen from his position to his hands and knees;"and, though bis leg obviously hurt him pretty sharply when he moved—for I could hear him stifle a groan—yet it was at a good, rattling rate that he trailed himself across the deck. In half a minute be had reached the port scuppers, and picked out of a coil of rope a long knife, or rather a short dirk, discolored to the hilt with blood. He looked upon it for a moment, thrusting forth his under Jaw, tried the point upon his hand, and then, hastily concealing it in the bosom of his jacket, trundled back again into his old place against the bulwark. little darkened—as it were the embers of a bonfire smolderirfg. I began to be horribly frightened, but I kept my head, for all that. First, moving with all care, I gradually bailed out the coracle with my sea-cap; then getting my eye once more above the gunwale, I set myself to study how It was she managed to slip so quietly through the rollers. For the life of me I could not think what it might be. Wounded as he was, it was wonderful how fast he could move, his grizzled hair tumbling over his face, and his face itself as red as a red ensign with his haste and fury. I had no time to try my other pistol, nor, indeed, much inclination, for 1 was sure it was useless. One thing I saw plainly; I must not simply retreat before him, or he would speedily hold me boxed in the bows, as a moment since he had so nearly boxed me in the stern. Once so caught, and nine or ten inches of the blood-stained dirk would be my last experience on t his side of eternity. I placed my palms against the mainmast, which was of a goodish bigness, and waited, every nerve upon the itretch. At last I came right down upon the borders of the clearing. The western end was already steeped in moonshine; the rest, and the block-house itself, still lay in a black shadow, checkered with long silvery streaks of light. On the other side of the houseanimmensefire had burned itself into clear embers, and shed a steady, red j-evei beration, contrasted strongly with the mellow paleness of the moon. There a soul stirring, nor a sound beside the noises of the breeze. CIIAPTER XXV. I STRIKE THE JOLLY ROGER. "I'll tell you one thing," says I; "I'm not going back to Capt. Kidd's anchorage. I mean to get into North inlet, and beach her quietly there." I clung with both hands till my nails ached, and I shut my eyes as if to i over up the peril. Gradually my mind fame back again, my pulse quieted down to a more natural time, and I was once more in possession of lyyself It first thought to pluck forth | *5.'irk; but either it stuck too hard £ ? 'r\( failed me. and I dcsiste „ %■' violent shudder. Oddh mougu' y shudder did the business. Th e, in fact, had come the nearest in world to missing me r.ltogether; it held me by a mere pinch of skin, end this the shudder tore away The blood ran down the fa&ter, to be sure; but I was my own master again and only tacked to the mast by mj coat and shirt. ly through the water; indeed, we, bad already fetched up level with the campfire. The ship was talking, as sailor* say, loudly, treading the innumerable ripples with an incessant weltering splash; and until 1 got my eye above the window sill I could not comprehend why the watchman had taken no alarm. One glance, however, was sufficient; end it was only one glance that I durst take from that unsteady skiff. It showed me Hands and his com pan-ion locked together In deadly wrestle, each with a baud upon the other's throat. chapter xxm. I had ecarce gained a position on the bowsprit, when the flying jib flapped and filled upon the other tack, with a v-*port like a gun. The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse; but THE EBB-TIDE RUNS. "To be sure you did," be cried. "Why. I ain't sich an Infernal lubber, after all. I can see. can't I? I've tried my fling. I have, and I've lost, and It's you has the wind of me. North inlet? Why, 1 haven't no ch'ice, not II I'd help you sail her up to Execution dock, by t6V nderl so I would." The coracle—as 1 had ample reason to know before I was done with her—was a very safe boat for a person of my height and weight, both buoyant and clever in a seaway; but she was the most cross-grained, lop-sided craft to ima nage. Do as you pleased, she always made more leeway than anything else, ancf turning round and round was the maneuver she was best at. Even Ben iUunn himself has admitted that she was "queer to handle till her jvay." I found each wave. Instead of the big, smooth, glossy mountain it looks from shore, or from a vessel's deck, was for all the world like any range of hills on the dry land, full of peaks and smooth places and valleys. The coracle, left to herself, turning from side to side, threaded, so to speak, her way through these lower parts, and avoided the steep slopes and higher, toppling sumraits of the wave. This was all that 1 required to know. Israel could move about; he was now armed; and if he had been at so much trouble to get rid of me, it was plain that I was meant to be the victim. What he would do.afterward—whether he would try to crawl right across the Island from North inlet to the camp among the swamps, or whether he would fire Long Tom, trusting that his own comrades might come first to help him, was, of course, more than 1 could say. next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped hack again, and hung idle. This had nearly tossed me off Into the sea; and now I lost no time, crawled t«ck along the bowsprit, and tumbled bead-foremost on the deck. I stopped, with much wonder in my heart, and perhaps a little terror also. It had not been our way to build great fires; we were. Indeed, by the captain's orders, somewhat niggardly of firewood; and I began to fear that something had gone wrong while I was absent. Well, as it seemed to me, there was some sense in this. We struck our bargain on the spot. In three minutes I hud the "Ilispaniola" sailing easily before the wind along the coast of Treasure island, with good hopes of turning the northern point ere noon, and beating down again as far as North Inlet before high water, when we might beach her safely, and wait till the subsiding tide permitted us to land. I was on the lee side of the forecastle, and the mainsail, which was still drawing. concealed from me a certain portion of the after-deck. Not a soul was to be seen. The planks, which had not been swabbed since the mutiny, bore the print of many feet; and an empty bottle, broken by the neck, tumbled to and fro tike a live thing in the scuppers. I dropped upon the thwart again, none too soon, for 1 was near overboard. I could see nothing for the moment, but these two furious, encrimsoned faces, swaying together under the smoky lamp; and I shut my eyes to let them grow once more familiar with the "Well, now," thought I to myself, "it Is plain I must lie where I am, and not disturb the balance; but it is plain, also, that I can put the paddle over the side, and from time to time, in smooth places, give her a shove or two toward land." Seeing that I meant to dodge, he also paused, and a moment or two passed in feints on his part, and corresponding movements upon mine. It was such a game as I had often played at home about the rocks of Black Hill cove; but never before, you, may be sure, with such a wii®ly beating heart as now. Still, as I say, It (was a boyV game, and I thought I could hold my own at it against an elderly seamuii with a wounded thigh. Indeed, my courage had begun to rise so high that I allowed myself a few dartingthoughts on what would be the end of the affair; and while 1 saw certainly that 1 could spin it out for long; I saw no hope of any ultimate escape. Certainly I did not know her way. She turned in every direction birt one, the one I was bound to go; the most part of the time we were broadside on, and I am very sure 1 never should have made the ship at all but for the tide. By good fortune, puddle as I pieased, the tide was still sweeping- me down; and there lay the "Hispaniala" right in the fair way, hardly to be missed. Yet I felt sure that I could trust him in one point, since in that our interests jumped together, and that was in the disposition of the6chooner. We both desired to have tier stranded safe enough, in a sheltered place, and so that, when the time came, she could be got off again with as little labor and danger as might be; and until that was done I considered that my life would certainly be spared. These last I broke through with n Fudden jerk and then regained the deck by the starboard shrouds. For noth ing in the world would I have again ventured. shaken as 1 was, upon the overhanging port shrouds, from which Israel had so lately fallen. I stole round by the eastern end, keeping close in shadow, and at a convenient place where the darkness wa» thickest, crossed the palisade. No sooner thought upon than done. There I lay on my elbows, in the most trying attitude, and every now and ngain gave a weak stroke ortwo toturn her head to shore. The endless ballad had come to an end at last, and the whole diminished company about the campfire had broken Into the chorus I had heard so often: darkness. Suddenly the "Hispaniola" came right into the wind. The jibs behind uie cracked aloud; the rudder slammed to; the whole «hlp gave a sickening heave and shudder, und at the same moment the main-boom swung Inboard, the sheet groaning in the blocks, and showed me the lee after-deck. Then I lashed the tiller anC] went below to my own chest, where I got a soft si!k handkerchief of my mother's. With this, and with my aid. Hands bound up the great bleeding stab he bad received in the thigb, and after he bad eaten a little and had a swallow or two more of the brandy, he began to pick up visibly, sat straighter up, spoke louder and clearer, and looked in every way an- To make assurance surer. 1 got upon my hands and knees, and crawled, without a word, toward the corner of the house. As I drew nearer, my heart was suddenly and greatly lightened. It was not a pleasant noise in itself, and I had often complained of it at other times, but just then it was like music to hear my friends snoring together so loud and peaceful in their sleep. The sea-cry of the watch, that beautiful "All's well," never fell more reassuringly on my ear. I went below and did what I could for my wound; it pained me a great deal and still bled freely; but it was neither deep nor dangerous, nor did it preatly gall me when I used my arm. Then 1 looked around me, and as the Bhip was now, in a sense, my own, I began to think of clearing it from its last passenger—the dead man, O'Brien. It wns very tiring and slow work, yet I did visibly gain ground, and as wi? drew near the Cape of the Woods, though I saw I must infallibly miss that pointy I had still made some hundred yards of easting. I was. indeed, close in. I could see the cool, green tree-tops swaying together in the breeze, and I felt sure I should make the next promonotory without fail. First she loomed before me like a blot of something yet blacker than darkness, then her spars and hull began to take shape, and the next moment, as it seemed (for the further 1 went the brisker grew the current of the ebb), 1 was alongside her hawser, and bad laid hold. * "Fifteen men on the dead man's chest— Yo-ho-ho. and a bottle of rum! Drink and the devil had done for the rest— Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle'of rum!" While 1 was thns turning the business over in my mind I had not been idle with my body. I had sfo!en back to the cabin, slipped once more into my shoes, and laid my hand at random on a bottle of wine, and now, with this for an excuse, 1 made fny reappearance on the deck. 1 was just thinking how busy drink and the devil were at that very moment in the cabin of the "Hispaniola," when I was surprised by a sudden lurch of the coracle. At the same moment she yawed sharply and Heenied to change her conrse. The speed in the meantime had strangely increased. There were the two watchmen, sure enough; red-cap on bis back, as stiff as a handspike, with his arms stretched out like those of a crucifix, and bis teeth showing through his open lips; Israel Hands propped against the bulwarks, his chin on his chest, his hands lying open before him on the deck, hi? face as white, under itB tan, as a tallow candle. other man The breeze served us admirably. We skimmed before it like a bird, the coast of the island flashing by, and the view changing every minute. Soon we were past the high lands and bowling beside low, sandy country, sparsely dotted with dwarf pines, and soon we were beyond that again, and had turned the corner of the rocky hill that ends the island on the north. Well, while things stood thus, suddenly the "Hispauiola" struck, staggered, ground for an instant in the sand,- and then, swift as a blow, cantered over to the port side, till the deck stood at an angle of 45 degrees, and about a puncheon of water splashed into the scupper-holes, and lay in a pool between the deck and bulwark. He had pitched, as I have said, against the bulwarks, where he lay like some horrible, ungainly sort of puppet; lifelize, indeed, but how different from fife's color or life's comeliness! In that position I could easily have my way with him, and as the habit of tragical adventures had worn off almost all my terror for the dead, I took him by the waist as if he had been a sack of bran Rnd, with one good heave, tumbled him overboard. He went in with a sounding plunge, the red cap came off and remained floating on the surface, and as soon as the splash subsided I could see him and Israel lying side by side, both wavering with the tremulous movement of the water. O'Brien, though still quite a young man, was very bald. There he lay, with that bald head across the knees of the man who had killed him and the quick fishes steering to and fro over both. The hawser was as taut, as a bowstring—so strong she pulled upon her anchor. All round the hull, in the blackness, the rippling current bubbled and chattered like a little mountain si ream. One cut with my sea gully a-ad the "Hispaniola" would go bumming down the tide. In the meantime, there was no doubt of one thing; they kept an infamous bad watch. If it had been Silver and his lads that were now creeping in on them, not a soul would have seen daybreak. That was what it was, thought I, to have the captain wounded; and again I blamed myself sharply for leaving them in that danger with so few to mount guard. It was high time, for 1 now began to be tortured with thirst. The glow of the sun from above, its thousandfold reflection from the waves, the seawater that fell and dried upon me. caking my very Hps with salt, combined to make my throat burn and my brain ache. The sight of the trees so near at hand had almost made me sick with longing; but the current had soon carried me past the point, and as the next reach of the sea opened out 1 beheld h sight that changed the nature of my thoughts. Hands lay as 1 had left him, all fallen together in a huddle, and with his eye.lids lowered, as though he were too weak to bear the light. He looked up, however, at my coming, knocked the neck off the "bottle, like a man who had done the same thing often, and took a good swig, with his favorite toast of "here's luck!" Then he lay quiet for a little, and then, pulling out a stick of tobacco, begged me to cut him a quid. I opened my eyes at once. All round me were little ripples, combing over with a sharp, bristling sound and slightly phosphorescent. The "Hispaniola" herself, a few yards in whose wake I was still being whirled along, seemed to stagger in her course, and I saw her spars toss a little against the blacknessof thenight; nay.asllooked longer, I made sure she also was wheeling to the southward. For awhile the ship kept bucking and sidling like a vicious horse, the sails filling, now on one tack, now on another, and the boom swinging to and fro till the mast groaned aloud under the strain. Now and again, too, there would come a cloud of light spray over the bulwark, and a heavy blow of the ship's bows against the swell—so much heavier weather was made of it bv this great rigged ship than by my homemade. lop-sided coracle, now gone to the bottom of the sea. I was greatly elated with my new command, and pleased with the bright, sunshiny weather and these different prospects of the coast. I bad now plenty of water and good things to eat, and my conscience, which had smitten me hard for my desertion, was quieted by the great conquest 1 had made. I should. I think, have bad nothing left me to desire but for the eyes of the cockswain as they followed me derisively about the deck, and the odd smile that appeared continually on bis face. It was a smile that had in it something both of pain and weakness—a haggard, old man's smile; but there nat, besides that, a grain of derision, a shadow of treachery, in his expression as he craftily watched, and watched, and watched me at my work. We were both of us capsized in a second, and both of us rolled, almost together, into the scuppers, the dead redcap. with his arms still spread out. tumbling stiffly after us. So near were we. indeed, fbat my head came against (be cockswain's foot with a crack thai made my teeth rattlfe. Blow and all. I was the first afoot again, for Hands bad got involved with the dead body. The sudden canting of the ship had made the deck no place for running on; 1 had to find some new way of escape, and that upon the instant, for my foe was almost touching me. Quick as thought I sprang into the mizzen shrouds, rattled up hand over hand, and did not draw a breath till 1 was seated on the cross-trees. So far so good; but it next occurred to my recollection that a tant hawser, suddenly cut. is a thing as dangerous as a kicking horse. Ten to one, if I were so foolhardy as to cut the "Hispaniola" from her anchor, I and the coracle would be knocked clean out of the water. By this time I had got to the doorand stood up. All was dark With-in, so that I could distinguish nothing by the eye. As for sounds, there was the steady drone of the snorers, and a small occasional noise, a flickeringor pecking that I could in no way account tor. With my arms before me I walked steadily in. I should lie down in my own place (I thought, with a silent chuckle) and enjoy their faces when, they found 'me in the morning. My foot struck something yielding—it waa a sleeper's leg; and he turned and groaned, but without awaking. "Cut me a junk o' that," says he, "for I haven't no knife, and hardly strength enough, so be as I had. Ah, Jim, Jim, I reckon I've missed stays! Cut me a quid as'U likely be the last, lad; for I'm for my long home, and no mistake." I glanced over my shoulder, and my heart jumped against my ribs. There, right behind me, was the glow of the campfire. The current had turned at right angles, sweeping round along With it the tail scbooncr and the little dancing coracle: ever quickening, ever bubbling higher, ever muttering louder. It went spinning through the narrows for the open sea. Right in front of me, not half a Aile tway, 1 beheld the "Hispaniola," under •ail. I made sure, of course, that 1 should be taken; but I was so distressed for want of water that I scarce knew whether to be glad or sorry at the thought, and long before 1 had come to a conclusion surprise bad taken entire possession of my mind and I could do nothing but stare and wonder. This bronght me to a full stop, and if fortune had not again particularly favored me, I should have had to abandon my design. But the light airs which had begun blowing from the southeast and south had hauled round after nightfall into the southwest. Just while I was meditating, a puff came, caught the "Hispaniola" and forced her up into tlie current; and. to my great joy. 1 felt the hawser slacken in my grasp, and the hand by which I held it dip for a second under water. At every jump of the schooner, redcap slipped to and fro; bnt—what was gliastly to behold—neither his attitude nor his fixed teeth-disclosing grin was any way disturbed by this rough usage. At every jump, too. Hands appeared ■till more to sink into himself and settle down upon the deck, his feet sliding ever the further ont, and the whole body canting toward the stern, so that his face became, little by little, hid from me; and at last I could see nothing beyond his ear and the frayed ringlet of one whisker. "Well," said I, "I'll cut you some tobacco; but if I was you and thought myself so badly, 1 would go to my prayers, like a Christian man." "Why?" 6aid he. "Now, you tell me why." I waa now alone upon the ship; the tide had just turned. The sun was within so few degrees of setting that already the shadow of the pines upon the western shore began to reach right across the anchorage and fall in patterns on the deck. The evening breeze had sprung up, and though it was well warded off by the hill with the two peaks upon the east, the cordage had begun to sing a little softly to itself and the idle sails to rattle to and fro. Suddenly the schooner in front of me gave a violent yaw, turning, perhaps, through 20 degrees; and almost at the same moment one shout'followed another from on board; I could hear feet pounding on the companion ladder; and I knew that the two drunkards had at last beem interrupted in their quarrel and awakened to a sense of their disaster.The "Hispaniola" was under her mainsail and two jibs, and the beautiful white canvas shone in the sun like mow or silver. When I first sighted her all her sails were drawing; she was lying a course about northwest, and I presumed the men on board were going round the island on their way back to the anchorage. Presently she began lo fetch more and more to the westward, so that I thought they had sighted me and were going about in chase. At last, however, she fell right into the wind's eye, was taken dead aback, and stood there awhile helpless, with her soils shivering. "Why 7" 1 cried. "You were asking me just now about the dead. You've broken your trust; you've lived in sin and lies and blood; there's a man you killed lying at your feet this moment; and you ask me why! For God's mercy, Mr. Hands, that's why." And then, all of a sudden, a shrill voice broke forth out of the darkness: I had been saved by being prompt; the dirk had struck not a half foot below me, as 1 pursued my upward flight; and there stood Israel Hands with his mouth open and face upturned to mine, a perfect statue of surprise and disappointment."Pieces of eight! pieces 6f eightl pieces of eight! pieces of eight! pieces at eight!" and so forth, without pause or change, like the clacking of a tiny mill. With that 1 made my mind up, took out my gully, opened fl with my teeth, and cut one strand after another, till the vessel swung by two. Then I lay quiet, waiting to stiver these last when the strain should be once more lightened by a breath of wind. CHAPTER XXVI. ISRAEL HANDS. The wind, serving us to a deeire, now hauled into the west. We could run ao much the eaaier from the northwest corner of the island to the mouth of the North inlet. Only, aa we had no power to anchor, and dared not beach her tUl the tide had flowed a good deal further, time hung on our handa. The cockswain told me how to lay the ship to; after a good many trials I succeeded, and we both sat in ailence, over another meal. I spoke with a little heat, thinking of the bloody dirk he bad hidden in his pockeuand designed, in his ill thoughts, to end me with. He, for his part, took a great draught of the wine, and spoke with the most unusual solemnity. Silver's green parrot, Capt. Flint! It was She whom I had heard peckingata piece of bark; it was she, keeping better watch than any human being, who thus announced my arrival with her wearisome refrain. At the same time, I observed, around both of them, splashes of dark blood upon the planks, and began to feel sure that they bad killed each other In their drunken wrath. I lay down flat In the bottom of that wretched 6kiff, and devoutly commended my spirit to its Maker. At the end of the straits, 1 made sure we must fall Into some bar of raging breakers. Now that 1 had a moment to myself, I lost no time in changing the priming of my pistol, and then, having one ready for service, and to make assurance doubly sure, 1 proceeded to draw the load of the other and recharge it afresh from the beginning. I began to see a danger to the ship. The jibs I speedily doused and brought tumbling to the deck; but the mainsail was a harder matter. Of course, when the schooner canted over the boom had swung out-board and the cap of it and a foot or two of sail hung even under water. I thought this made it still more dangerous; yet the strain was so heavy that I half feared to meddle. At last I got my knife and cut the halyardy. The peak dropped instantly, a great belly of loose canvas floated broad upon the water, and since, pull as 1 liked, 1 could not budge the downhaul, that was the extent of what I could accomplish. For the rest, the "Hispaniola" must trust to luck, like myself. All this time 1 bad heard the sound •f loud voices from the cabin; but, to say truth, my mind hud been so entirely taken up with other thoughts that I had scarcely given ear. Now, however, when I bad nothing else to do, J began to pay more heed. While I was thus looking and wondering, in a calm moment, when the •hip wm still, Israel Hands turned partly round, and, with a low moan, writhed himself back to the position in which I had seen him first. The moan, which told of pain and deadly weakness, and the way in which his jaw hung open, went right to my heart. But when I remembered the talk I had overheard from the apple barrel, all pity left me. "For 30 year." be said, "I've sailed the seas, and seen good and bad, better and worse, fair weather and foul, provisions running out, knives going, and what not. Well, now, I tell you, 1 never seen good come o' goodness yet. Him as strikes first is my fancy; dead men don't bite; them's my views—amen, so belt. And now, you look here," he added, suddenly changing his tone, "we've had about enough of this foolery. The tide's made good enough by now. You just take my orders. Cap'nHawkins.and we'll sail slap in and be done with it." I hhd no time left me to recover. At the sharp, clipping tone of the parrot, the sleepers awoke and sprung up; and with a mighty oath, the voice of Silver cried: where all my troubles would be ended speedily, and though 1 could, perhaps, bear to die, 1 could not bear to look upon my fate as it approached. "Clumsy fellows," said I, ''they must still be drunk as owls." And I thought how Capt. Smollett would have set them skipping. My new employment struck Hands all of a heap; he began to see the dice going against him; and after an obvious hesitation, he again hauled himself heavily into the shrouds, and. with dirk in his teeth, began slowly and painfully to mount. It cost him no end of time and groans to haul his wounded leg behind him, and 1 had quietly finished my arrangements before he was much more than a third of the way up. Then, with a pistol in either hand, I addressed him. "Who goes?" One I recognized for the cockswain's, Israel Hands, that bad been Flint's gunner in former days. The other was. of course, my friend of the red' nightcap. Both men were plainly the worse of drink, and they were still drinking: for, even while I was listening, itoe of them with a drunken cry opened t.»e stern window and threw out someituing. which 1 divined to be an empty So 1 must have lain for hours, continually beaten to and fro upon the billows, now and again wetted with flying ►prays, and never ceasing to expect death at the next plunge. Gradually weariness grew upon me; a numbness, an occasional stupor, fell upon my mind *ven in the midst of my terrors; until sleep at last intervened, and in my sealossed coracle I lay and dreamed of home and the old Admiral Ben bow. "Cap'n," saM he, at length, with that same uncomfortable smile, "here's mi I turned to run, struck violently against one person, recoiled, and' ran full into the arms of a second. for his part, closed upon and held me tight. Meanwhile the schooner gradually fell off, and filled again upon another tack, sailed swiftly for a minute or so, and brought up once more dead in tbe wind's eye. Again and again was this repeated. To and fro, up and down, north, south, east and west the "HiBpaniola" sailed by swoops and dashes, and at each repetition ended us she had begun, with idly flapping canvas. It became plain to me that nobody was steering. And, if so, where were the men? Either they were dead drunk or had deserted her, I thought, and perhaps if I could get on board I might return the vessel to her captain."Bring- a torch. Dick," said Silver, when my capture wa» thus assured. And one of the men left the log-house, and presently returned with a lighted brand.  I walked aft until I reached the mainmast."Come aboard, Mr. Hands." 1 said. Ironically. By this time the whole anchorage had fallen into shadow—the last rays, I remember, falling through a glade of the wood and shining, bright as jewels, on the flowery mantle of the wreck. It began to be chill, the tide was rapidly fleeting seaward, the schooner settling more and more on her beam-ends. All told, we had scarce two miles to run; but the navigation was delicate, the entrance to this northern anchorage was not only narrow and shoal, but lay east and west, so that the schooner must be nicely handled to be got in. 1 think 1 was a good, prompt subaltern, and L am very sure that Hajids was an ••xeellent pilot; for we went about, and dodged in, shaving the bauks, with a certainty and a neatness that were a pleasure to behold. He rolled his eyes round heavily; but he was too far gone to express surprise. All he could do was to utter one word: "Brandy." PART VI. CAPTAIN SILVER. bottle. But they were not only tipsy: it was plain that they were furiously angry. Oaths llew like hailstones, and every now and then there came forth such an explosion as 1 thought was sure to end in blows. But each time the quarrel passed off. and the voices grumbled lower for awhile, until the next erisis came, and. in turn, passed away without result. "One more step. Mr. Hands," said I, "and I'll blow your brains outl Dead men don't bite, you know," I added, with a chuckle. CHAPTER XXIV. THE CRUISE OF THE CORACLE CHAPTER XXVHI. It occurred to me there was no time to lose; and, dodging the boom as it once more lurched across the deck. I slipped aft, and down the companionstairs into the cabin. IN THE ENEMY'S CAMP. . The red glare of the torch, lighting up the interior of the block-house, showed me the worsl of my apprehensions realized. The pirates were in possession of rhe house and stores; there was a cask of cognac, there were the pork and bread, as before; and, what tenfold increased my horror, not a sign of any prisoner. I could only judge that all had perished, and ray heart smote me sorely that I had not been there to perish with them. It was broad day when I awoke, and found myself tossing at the southwest end of Treasure island. The sun was up, but was still hid from me behind the great bulk of the Spy-glass, which on this side descended almost to tbe sea in formidable cliffs. He stopped instantly. I could see by the workings of his face that he was trying to think, and the process was so slow and laborious that, in my newfound security, 1 laughed aloud. At last, with a swallow or two, he spoke, his face Btill wearing the same expression of extreme perplexity. In order to speak he had to take the dagger from his mouth, but In all else he remained unmoved. I scrambled forward and looked over. It seemed shallow enough and, holding the cut hawser in both hands for a last security, I let myself drop 6oftly overboard. The water scarcely reached my waist, the sand was firm and covered with ripple marks, and 1 waded ashore in great spirits, leaving the "Hispaniola" on her side, with her mainsail trailing wide upou the surface of the bay. About the same time the sun went fairly down and the breeze whistled low in the dusk among the tossing pines. The current was bearing coracle and schooner southward at- an equal rate. As for the later's sailing, it was so wild and intermittent, and she hung each time so long in irons, that she certainly gained nothing, if she did not even lose. If only I dared to sit up and paddle I made sure that I could overhaul her. The scheme had an air of adventure that inspired me, and the thought of the water breaker beside the forecompanion doubled my growing courage.It was such a scene of confusion as you can hardly fancy. All the lockfast places hnd been broken open in quest of the churt. The floor was thick with mud, where ruffians had sat down to drink or consult after wading in the marshes round their camp. The bulkheads, all painted in clear white, and beaded round with gilt, bore a pattern of dirty hands. Dozens of empty bottles clinked together in corners to the rolling of the ship. One of the doctor's medical books lay open on the table, half of the leaves gutted out, I suppose, for pipe-lights. In the midst of all this the lamp still cast a smoky glow, obscure and brown as umber. On shore, I could see the glow of the preatcampfire burning warmly through the shore-side treeB, Some one was singing, a dull old droning sailor's song, with a droop and a quaver at the end of every verse, and seemingly no end to 1* at all but the patient* of tbe singer. I bad heard it on the voyage more than once, and remembered these words: Scarcely had we passed the head before the land clbsed around us. The shores of North inlet were as thickly wooded as those of the southern anchorage; but the space was longer and narrower, and more like, what in truth it was, the estuary of a river. Right before us. at the southern end, we saw the wreck of a ship in the last stages of dilapidation. It had beei* a great vessel of three masts, but had lain so long exposed to the injuries of the weather, that it was hung about with great webs of dripping 6ea-weed, and on the deck of it shore bushes had taken root, and now flourished thick with flowers. It was a sad sight, but it showed us that the anchorage was calm. Haulbowline Head and Mizzenmast Hill were at my elbow; the hill bare and dark, tbe bead bouncf with cliffs 40 or 50 feet high and fringed with great masses of fallen rock. I was scarce a quarter of a mile to seaward, and it was my first thought to paddle in and land. He picked out D lone knife. "Jim," says he, "1 reckon we're fouled, you and me, and we'll have to old shipmate. O'Brien; s'pose you was to heave him overboard. 1 ain't parti'clar as a mle, and I don't take no blame for settling his hash; but I don't reckon him ornamental, now, do you?" There were six of the buccaneers, all told; not another man was left alive. Five of them were on their feet, flushed and swollen, suddenly called out of the first sleep of drunkenness. The sixth had only risen upon his elbow; he was deadly pale, and the blood-stained bandage round his head told that he had recently been wounded, and still more recently dressed. I remembered the man who had beenshotacd had run among the woods in the great attack. and doubted not that this was he. That notion was soon given over- Among the fallen rocks the breakers spouted and bellowed; loud reverberations, heavy sprays flying and falling, succeeded one another from second to second, and I saw myself, if I ventured nearer, dashed to death upon the rough shore or spending my strength in vain to scalc the beetling crugs. At least, and at last, I was off the sea, nor had I returned thence emptyhanded. There lay the schooner, clear at last from buccaneers and ready for our own men to board and get- to sea again. 1 had nothing nearer my fancy than to get home to the stockade and boast of my achievements. Possibly 1 might be blamed a bit for my truantry, but the recapture of the "Ilispaniola" was a clinching answer, and I hoped that even Capt. Smollett would confess I had not lost my time. "But one man of the crew alive. What put to «ea with seventy-five." And 1 thought it was a ditty rather too dolefully appropriate for a company that had met such cruel losses in the morning. But, indeed, from what I saw, all these buccaneers were as callous as the sea they sailed on. Up I got, was welcomed almost Instantly by another cloud of spray, but this time stuck to my purpose, and set myself with all my strength and caution to paddle after the unsteered "Hispaniola." Once I shipped a sea so heavy that I had to stop and bail, with my heart fluttering like a bird; butgradually I got into the way of the thing, and guided my coracle umong the waves, with only now and then a blow upon her bow s and a dnsh of foam in my face. "I'm not strong enough, and I don't like the job; and there he lies, for me." said I. "This here's an unlucky ship—the 'Illspaniola.'Jim," he went on,blinking 'There's a power of men been killed fu '.his 'IJispaniola'—a sight o" poor seamen dead and gone since you and me took ship to Bristol. 1 never seen such 3irty luck, not I, There was this here O'Brien, now—he's dead, ain't he? Well, now, I'm no scholar, and you're a lad as iCao read and figure; and, to put it straight, do you take it as a dead man is dead for good, or do be come alive again?" I went into the cellar; all the barrels were gone, and of the bottles a most surprising number had been drunk out and thrown away. Certainly, since th«« mutiny began, not a man of them could ever have been sober. At last the breeze came: tbe schooner sidled and drew nearer in the dark; 1 felt the hawser slacken once more, and with a good, tough effort cut the last fibers through. The breeze had but little action on tbe ooracle, and I was almost instantly swept against the bows of the "Hispaniela." At the stfTue time tbe schooner began to turn upon her heel, spinning slowly, end for end, across the current. Nor was that all; for, crawling together on flat tables of rock or letting themselves drop into the sea with loud reports, I beheld huge slimy1 monsters —soft snails, as it were, of incredible bigness—tn o or three score of them together, making tbe rocks echo with their barkings. "Now," said Hands, "look there; there's a pet bit for to beach a ship in. Fine flat sand, never a catspaw, trees all around of it, and flowers a-biowing like a gardingon that old ship." The parrot sat, preeningher plumage, on Long John's shoulder. He himself, I thought, looked somewhat paler and more stern than I was used to. He still wore his fine broadcloth suit in which he had fulfilled his mission, but it was bitterly the worse for wear, daubed with clay and torn with the sharp briars of the wood. Foraging about, I found a bottle with some brandy left, for Hands; and for myself I routed out some biscuit, some pickled fruits, a great bunch of raisins, and a piece of cheese. With these 1 came on deck, put down my own stock behind the rudder-head, and well out of the cockswain's reach, went forward to the water-breaker, and had a good deep drink of water, and then, and not till then, gave nands the brandy. So thinking, and in famous spirits, i began to set my face homeward for the block-house and my companions. I remembered that the most easterly of the rivers which drain into Capt. Kidd'a anchorage ran from the two-peaked hill upon" my left, and I bent my course in that direction that 1 might pass the stream while it was small. The wood was pretty open, and, keeping along the lower spurs, I soon turned the corner of that hill, and not long after waded to the mid-calf across the water course. I was now rapidly gaining on tbe schooner; I could see the brass glisten on the tiller as It banged about, and still no soul appeared upon her decks. I could not choose but suppose she was deserted. If not. tbe men were i lying drunk below, where I might batten thein down, perhaps, and do what I ' chose with the ship. For some time she had been doing the I worst thing possible for me—standing still. She beaded nearly due south, yawing, of course, all the time. Each time she fell off her sails partly filled, and these brought her, in a moment, j right to the wind again. 1 have said : this was the worst thing possible for me; for helpless as she looked in this situation, with the canvas crackling like cannon, and the blocks trlindllng and banging on the deck, she still continued to run away from me, not only with the speed of the current, but by the whole amount of her leeway, which was naturally great. "And once beached," 1 inquired, "how shall we get her off again?" "Why, so," he replied; "you take a line ashore there en the other side at low water; take a turn about one o' them big pines; bring it back, take a turn round the capstan, and lie to for the tide. Come high water, all hands take a pull upon the line, and off she comes as sweet as natur'. And now, boy, you stand by. We're near the bit now, and she's too much way on her. Starboard a little — so—steady—star- starboard — larboard a little — steady— •teadyl" I have understood since that they were sea lions and entirely harmless. But the look of them, added to the "You can kill the body. Mr. Hands, but not the spirit; you must know that already," I replied. "O'Brien, there, is In another world, and may be watching us." "So," 6aid he, "here's Jim Hawkins, shiver my timbers! dropped in, like, eh? Well, come. I take that friendly." I wrought like a fiend, for I expected every moment to be swamped; and difficulty of the shore and the high running of the aurf, was more than enough to disgust m* of that landing place. I felt willing rather to starve at sea than to confront such perils. In the meantime I had a better chance, as I supposed. North of Haulbowline Ilead the land runs in a long way, leaving at low tide a long stretch of yellow sand. To the north of that, again, there comes another cnpe—Cape of the Woods, at it was marked upou the chart—buried In tall green pines, which descended to the margin of the sea. I remembered what Silver had said about the current that-sets northward along the whole west coast of Treasure island; and seeing from my position that I was already under Its influence, I preferred to leav# Haulbowltae Head behind me, and reserve my strength for an attempt to land upon the kindlierlooking Cape of the Woods. There was a great, smooth swell upon the sea. The wind blowing steady and gentle from the south, there was no contrariety between that and the current, and the billows rose and fell unbroken.Had It been otherwise, I must long ago have perished; but as it was. it Is surprising how easily and securely my little and light boat could ride. Often, as I still lay at the-bottom, and kept no more than an eye above the gunwale, I would see a big blue summit heaving close above me; yet the coracle would but bounce a little, dance as if on springs, and subside on the other side -Ah!" says he. "Well, that's unfortunat—appears as if killing parties was a waste of time. Howsomever, sperrit* don't reckon for much, by what I've seen. I'll chance it with the sperrits. Jim. And now. you've spoke up free, and I'll lake it kind if you'd 6tep down Into that there cabin and get me a— well, a—shiver my timbers! 1 can't hit the name on't; well, you get me a bottle of wine, Jim—this here brandy'a too strong for my bead.** With a choked cry. the cockswain plunged lnte the water. And thereupon he sat down across the brandy-cask, and began to fill a pipe. He must have drunk a gill before he took the bottle from his mouth. sign articles. I'd have had you but for that there lurch; but 1 don't have, no luck, not I; and I reckon I'll have to strike, which comes hard, you see, for a master mariner to a ship's younker like you, Jim." "Give me the loan of a link. Dick," said he: and then, when he had a pood light, "that'll do, lad," he added, "stick the glim in the wood heap; and you, gentlemen, bring yourselves to!—you needn't stand up for Hawkins; he'll excuse you, you may lay to that. And so, .Tim"—stopping the tobacco—"her© you are, and quite a pleasant surprise for poor old John. I 6ee you were smart when first 1 set my eves on you; but this here gets away from me clean. It do." "Ay,", said he, "by thunder, but 1 wanted some o' that!" This brought me near to where 1 encountered Ben Gunn, the maroou, and 1 walked more circumspectly, keepitg an eye on every side. The dusk had come nigh hand completely, and, as I opened out the cleft between the two peaks, I became aware of a wavering "glow against the eky, where, as 1 judged, the man of the island was cooking his supper before a roaring fire. And yet I wondered, in my heart, that he should show himself so careless. For if 1 could see this radiance, might it not re«ch the eye of Silver himself where he camped upon the shore among the marshes? I had sat down alreudy In my own corner and began to eat. "Much hurt?" I asked him. He grunted, or, rather. I might say he barked. So he Issued his commands, which 1 breathlessly obeyed; till, all of a sudden, he cried: "Now, my hearty, luff!" And I put the helm hard up, Hnd the "Hispaniola" swung round rapidly, and ran stem on for the low-wooded shore. I was drinking in his words and smiling away, as conceited as a cock upon a wnlk, when, all in a breath, back went his right hand over his shoulder. Something sung like an arrow through the *ir, I felt a blow and then a sharp pang, and there 1 was pinned by the shoulder to the mast. In the horrid pain and surprise of the moment—] scarce can say it was by my own volition, and I am sure it was without a conscious aim—both my pistols went off, and both escaped out of my hands. They did not fall alone; with a choked cry the cockswain loosed his grasp upon the shrouds and plunged head first into the water. "If that doctor was aboard." be said, 'Td be right enough In a couple of turns; but I don't have no manner of luck, you see, and that'6 what's the matter with me. As for that s-wab, he's good and dead, he 1b," he add«-d, indicating the man with the red cap. "He wnrn't no seaman, anyhow. And where mought you have come from?" Now the cockswain's hesitation »eemed to be' unnatural; and as for the notion of his preferring wine to brandy, I entirely disbelieved it. The whole story was a pretext. He wanted me to leave the deck—so much was plain; but with what purpose 1 could in no way Imagine. His eyes never met mine; they kept wandering to and fro, up and down, now with a look to the-sky, now with a flitting glance upon the dead O'Brien. All the time he kept smiling, and putting his tongue out In the most guilty, embarrassed manner, so that a child could have told that he was bent on some deception. I was prompt with my answer, however, for I saw where my advantage lay; and that with a fellow so densely stupid 1 could easily conceal my suspicions to the end. The excitement of these last maneuvers had somewhat interfered with the watch I had kept hitherto, sharply enough, upon the cockswain. Even then I was still so much interested, waiting for the ship to touch, that 1 had quite forgot the peril that hung over my head, and stood craning over the starboard bulwarks and watching the ripples spreading wide before the bows. I might have fallen without a struggle for my life, had not a sudden disquietude seized upon me, and made me turn my head. Perhaps 1 had heard a creak, or seen his shadow moving with the tail of my eye; perhaps it was an instinct like a cat's, but, sure enough, when 1 looked round, there was Hands, nlready half-way toward me. with the dirk in his right hand. To all this, as may be well supposed, 1 made no answer. They had set me wHh my back against Jhe wall] end I • But now, nt last, I had my chance. The breeze fell, for some seconds, very low, and the current gradually turning her, the "Hispaniola" revolved slowly round her center, and at last presented me her stern, with the cQbin window still gaping open, and the lamp over the table still burning on Into the day. The malnRail hung drooped like a ban ner. She was stock-still, Vut f°r the "Well," said I. "I've come aboard to take possession of this ship, Mr. Hands; and you'll please regard me as your captain until further notice." |M-L NAT'o^^fl4 Hr of Globe for f rheumatism! NEURALGIA and similar Complaints, I and prepared under the stringent U MEDICAL LAWS,^ presoribeu by eminent phyaciansi^^B |A) DR. RICHTER'S iWA1 ANCHOR  [PAIN EXPELLERl I World renowned! Remarkably successful! ■ HOnly genuine with Trade Mark " Anchor," ■ ■ F. Ad. Blchter 'Co., 815 PcariSL, New York. ■ I 31 HIGHEST AWARDS. I I 13 Branch Honaea. Own Glassworks. , * 50c-. Endorsed & recommended stirrer & Peck, 3(D Lnzerue Avenue, G. C. Olick, 90 North Main 8t. H Honck. 4 North Main Pitttston, Pa. DR mCKTTR'8 I «♦ ANCHOR" STOMACHAL beat fori Gradually the night fell blacker; it waa all I could do to guide myself even roughly toward my destination; the double hill behind me and the Spy-glass on my right hand loomed faint and fainter; the stars were few and "pale; "and in the low ground where 1 wandered I kept t ping among the bushes and rolling into sandy pits. Sacb with a band on tha other's throat. since I found I could not push the coracle directly off, I now shoved straight astern. At length 1 was clear of my dangerous neighbor; and just aE 1 gave the last impulsion, my hands came across the stern bulwarks. Instantly I grasped ft. Why I should have done so I can hardly say. It was at first mere instinct; but once I had it in my hands and found it fast, curiosity began to get the upper hand, and I determined I should have one look through the cabin window. He looked at me sourly enough, but said nothing. Some of the color had come back into his cheeks, though he still looked very sick and stijl continued to slip out and settle down as the 6hip banged about. CHAPTER XXVII. "PIECES OP EIGHT." current For the last little while I had even lost; but now, redoubling my efforts, I began once more to overhaul the chase. Owing to the cant of the vessel the masts hung far out over the water, and from my perch on the cross-trees I had nothing below me but th» surface of the bay. Hands, who was not m far un whs. in consequence. nearer to the ship, and fell between me and I he bulwarks. He rose once to the r.urface in a lather of foam and blood nnd then sunk again for good. As the water settled 1 could see him lying liuddled together on the clean, bright sand in the shadow of the vessel's ■ ides. A fish or two whipped past his body. Sometimes, by the quivering of the water, he appeared to move a little, us if he were trying to rise. But he was dead enough, for all that, b?ing shot and drowned, and waa food "Bv the by," I continued, "I can't have these colors, Mr. Hands; and by your leave I'll strike 'em. Better none than these." Snddenly a kind of brightness fell about me. I looked up; a pale glimmer of moonbeams had alighted on the summit of the Spy glass and soon after I s«w something broad and silvery moving low down behind the trees, and knew the moon had risen. I was not a hundred yards from her when the wind came again In a clap; she filled on the port tack, and was off again, stooping and skimming like a swallow. "Some wine?" I said. "Far better. Will you have white or red ?" And, again dodging the boom. T ran to the color lines, hauled down their We must both have cried outnlouil when our eyes met; but while mine was the shrill cry of terror, his was j» roar of fury like a charging bull's. Ai the same instant he threw himself forward, and I leaped sideways toward the bows. As I did so 1 left hold of tlie tiller, which sprung sharp to leeward: and 1 think this saved my life, for it struck Hands across the chest, and stopped him, for the moment, dead. "Well, 1 reckon it's about the blessed same to me, shipmate," he replied; "so It's strong, and plenty of it, what's the odds?" My first impulse was one of despair, but my second was toward joy. Bound she came, till she was broadside on to me-7-round still till she had covered a half, and then two-thirds, and then three-quarters of the distance that cursed black flag, and chucked It overboard.I pulled in hand over band on the cord, and, when I judged myself near enough, rose nt Infinite risk to about half my height, and thus commanded the roof and a slice of the interior of the eabia. By this time the schooner and her into the trough as lightly as a bind. ! I began after n little to grow very bold, and sat up to try my skill at paddling. But even u small change in the disposition of the -weight will produce | violent changes in the behavior of a cort ocle. And I had hardly moved befor# "God gave the king!" said I, w&vlnf my cap; "and there's an end to Capt. Silver." With this to help me I passed rapidly over what remained to me of my journey; and, sometimes walking, sometimes running, impatiently drew near to the stockade. Yet, as 1 began to thread the grove that lies before it, I was not so thoughtless but that I slacked my pace and went a trifle warilv. It would have been a poor end to "All right,*' 1 answered. "I'll bring you port, Mr. Hands. But I'll have to dig for It " He watched me keenly and slyly, bis chin all the while on his breast. With that T scuttled down the companion with all the noUe I could, •lipped off mv shoes, ran quietly along the sparred gallery, mounted the f orecMtle ladder, and pooped ray head «u( separated us. I could see the waves ttttle co&aort were gliding pretty ewilt- 1 boat, giving up at once her gentle, dancinjr movement, ran straight down boiling' white under her forefoot. Immensely tall she looked to ine from my low station in the coracle. "1 reckon," he said at lasrt.—"I reckon, Op'n Hawkins, you'll kind of want to get ashore, now. S'pose we talks." Before he could recover 1 was safe out of the corner where he had trapped "Wk» Dm - «ln X "w-Ufe all m*