sunshiny weather and these different prospects of the coast. I had 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 I
had made. I should, I think, have had nothing left me to desire but for
the eyes of the coxswain as they followed me derisively about the deck
and the odd smile that appeared continually on his face. It was a smile
that had in it something both of pain and weakness--a haggard old man s
smile; but there was, 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.
XXVI
Israel Hands
The wind, serving us to a desire, now hauled into the west. We could run
so much the easier from the north-east corner of the island to the mouth
of the North Inlet. Only, as we had no power to anchor and dared not
beach her till the tide had flowed a good deal farther, time hung on our
hands. The coxswain told me how to lay the ship to; after a good many
trials I succeeded, and we both sat in silence over another meal.
Cap n, said he at length with that same uncomfortable smile, here s
my old shipmate, O Brien; s pose you was to heave him overboard. I ain t
partic lar as a rule, and I don t take no blame for settling his hash,
but I don t reckon him ornamental now, do you?
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, this HISPANIOLA, Jim, he went on,
blinking. There s a power of men been killed in this HISPANIOLA--a
sight o poor seamen dead and gone since you and me took ship to
Bristol. I never seen sich dirty 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 can read and figure, and to put it straight, do you take it as a
dead man is dead for good, or do he come alive again?
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