a blue scarf. The sun was getting up, and mortal white he looked about
the cutwater. But, there he was, you mind, and the six all dead--dead
and buried. How he done it, not a man aboard us could make out. It was
battle, murder, and sudden death, leastways--him against six. Billy
Bones was the mate; Long John, he was quartermaster; and they asked him
where the treasure was. Ah, says he, you can go ashore, if you like,
and stay, he says; but as for the ship, she ll beat up for more, by
thunder! That s what he said.
Well, I was in another ship three years back, and we sighted this
island. Boys, said I, here s Flint s treasure; let s land and find
it. The cap n was displeased at that, but my messmates were all of a
mind and landed. Twelve days they looked for it, and every day they had
the worse word for me, until one fine morning all hands went aboard. As
for you, Benjamin Gunn, says they, here s a musket, they says, and
a spade, and pick-axe. You can stay here and find Flint s money for
yourself, they says.
Well, Jim, three years have I been here, and not a bite of Christian
diet from that day to this. But now, you look here; look at me. Do I
look like a man before the mast? No, says you. Nor I weren t, neither, I
says.
And with that he winked and pinched me hard.
Just you mention them words to your squire, Jim, he went on. Nor he
weren t, neither--that s the words. Three years he were the man of this
island, light and dark, fair and rain; and sometimes he would maybe
think upon a prayer (says you), and sometimes he would maybe think of
his old mother, so be as she s alive (you ll say); but the most part
of Gunn s time (this is what you ll say)--the most part of his time was
took up with another matter. And then you ll give him a nip, like I do.
And he pinched me again in the most confidential manner.
Then, he continued, then you ll up, and you ll say this: Gunn is a
good man (you ll say), and he puts a precious sight more confidence--a
precious sight, mind that--in a gen leman born than in these gen leman
of fortune, having been one hisself.
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