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though greatly recovered, he was still in want of quiet. We laid her head for the nearest port in Spanish America, for we could not risk the voyage home without fresh hands; and as it was, what with baffling winds and a couple of fresh gales, we were all worn out before we reached it.

It was just at sundown when we cast anchor in a most beautiful landlocked gulf, and were immediately surrounded by shore boats full of negroes, and Mexican Indians, and half-bloods, selling fruits and vegetables, and offering to dive for bits of money. The sight of so many good-humored faces (especially the blacks), the taste of the tropical 20 fruits, and above all, the lights that began to shine in the town, made a most charming contrast to our dark and bloody sojourn on the island; and the doctor and the squire, taking me along with them, went ashore to pass the early part of the night. Here they met the captain of an English man-of-war, fell in talk with him, went on board his ship, and, in short, 30 had so agreeable a time that day was breaking when we came alongside the Hispaniola.

Ben Gunn was on deck alone, and, as soon as we came on board, he began, with wonderful contortions, to make us a confession. Silver was gone. The maroon had connived at his escape in a shore-boat some hours ago, and he now assured us he had 40 only done so to preserve our lives, which would certainly have been forfeit if "that man with the one leg had stayed aboard." But this was not all. The sea cook had not gone empty-handed. He had cut through a bulkhead unobserved, and had removed one of the sacks of coin, worth, perhaps, three or four hundred guineas, to help him on his further wanderings.

I think we were all pleased to be so 50 cheaply quit of him.

Well, to make a long story short, we got a few hands on board, made a good cruise home, and the Hispaniola reached Bristol just as Mr. Blandly was beginning to think of fitting out her consort. Five men only of those who had sailed returned with her. "Drink and the devil had done for the rest,' with a vengeance; although, to be 60 sure, we were not quite in so bad a case as that other ship they sang about:

With one man of her crew alive,
What put to sea with seventy-five.

All of us had an ample share of the treasure, and used it wisely or foolishly, according to our natures. Captain Smollett is now retired from the sea. Gray not only saved his money, 70 but, being suddenly smitten with the desire to rise, also studied his profession; and he is now mate and part owner of a fine full-rigged ship; married besides, and the father of a family. As for Ben Gunn, he got a thousand pounds, which he spent or lost in three weeks, or, to be more exact, in nineteen days, for he was back begging on the twentieth. Then 80 he was given a lodge to keep, exactly as he had feared upon the island; and he still lives, a great favorite, though something of a butt, with the country boys, and a notable singer in church on Sundays and saints' days.

Of Silver we have heard no more. That formidable seafaring man with one leg has at last gone clean out of my life; but I daresay he met his old 90 negress, and perhaps still lives in comfort with her and Captain Flint. It is to be hoped so, I suppose, for his chances of comfort in another world are very small.

The bar silver and the arms still lie, for all that I know, where Flint

buried them; and certainly they shall Jie there for me. Oxen and wainropes would not bring me back again to that accursed island; and the worst dreams that ever I have are

when I hear the surf booming about its coasts, or start upright in bed, with the sharp voice of Captain Flint still ringing in my ears: "Pieces of eight! pieces of eight!"

1. In the introductory poem "To the Hesitating Purchaser," page 85, Stevenson mentions "sailor tales to sailor tunes"; what are some of the sailor tunes in this sailor tale? What is their purpose in the story? Judging other young people by yourself, which one of the two conditions described in the poem do you think holds true today? Can some rimester in your class answer Stevenson in an eight-line stanza similar to his? You will enjoy hearing "Pirate Song" (Gilbert), sung by David Bispham, Columbia phonograph record. 2. Turn back to Part I and notice the various ways in which the readers' curiosity is aroused in "the seafaring man with one leg." Discuss the character of Captain Silver. Do you dislike him as much as he deserves?

3. Imagining a scenario for Part VI, tell the incidents related to: the stockade; the cache; Ben Gunn's cave; on board the Hispaniola. Which picture is unforgetable?

Class Reading. The voice among the trees, Chapter XXXII.

THE STORY AS A WHOLE

1. Prepare a report, giving in a brief paragraph the plot of Treasure Island as you would tell it to one who had not read the story.

2. Read again the quotation from Stevenson given on page 105. Do you think that Treasure Island meets the test of a true story as laid down by the author in this passage?

3. You read on page 79 that "Any great book is the expression of the innermost personality of its author"; can you show a parallel between this story and its author?

4. In the Introduction to "The World of Adventure," page 9, you read that "the first test of literature is its power to take us out of ourselves"; how does Treasure Island meet this test?

5. Compare this story about pirates' treasure with Poe's "The Gold Bug."

6. Make a list of stories and magazine articles you have read that deal with hidden treasures.

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CHAPTER V

Through Solway sands, through Taross

moss,

Blindfold, he knew the paths to cross;
By wily turns, by desperate bounds,
Had baffled Percy's best bloodhounds.
In Eske or Liddel, fords were none
But he would ride them, one by one;
Alike to him was time or tide,
December's snow or July's pride;
Alike to him was tide or time,
Moonless midnight or matin prime.
-Walter Scott

All the members of the Wharton family laid their heads on their pillows that night, with a foreboding of some interruption to their ordinary quiet. Uneasiness kept the sisters from enjoying their usual repose, and they rose from their beds, on the following morning, unrefreshed, and almost without having closed their eyes.

On taking an eager and hasty survey of the valley from the windows of their room, nothing, however, but its usual serenity was to be seen. It was glittering with the opening brilliancy of one of those lovely, mild days which occur about the time of the falling of the leaf; and which, by their frequency, class the American autumn with the most delightful seasons of other 20 countries. We have no spring; vegetation seems to leap into existence, instead of creeping, as in the same latitudes of the old world; but how gracefully it retires! September, October, even November and December, compose the season for enjoyment in the open air; they have their storms, but they are distinct, and not of long continuance, leaving a clear atmosphere 30 and a cloudless sky.

As nothing could be seen likely to interrupt the enjoyments and harmony of such a day, the sisters descended to the parlor, with a returning confidence in their brother's security and their own happiness.

The family were early in assembling around the breakfast table; and Miss Peyton, with a little of that minute precision which creeps into the habits 40 of single life, had pleasantly insisted that the absence of her nephew should in no manner interfere with the regular hours she had established; consequently, the party were already seated when the Captain made his appearance; though the untasted coffee sufficiently proved that by none of his relatives was his absence disregarded.

"I think I did much better," he 50 cried, taking a chair between his sisters, and receiving their offered salutes, "to secure a good bed and such a plentiful breakfast, instead of trusting to the hospitality of that renowned corps, the Cowboys."

"If you could sleep," said Sarah, "you were more fortunate than Frances and myself; every murmur of the night air sounded to me like the 60 approach of the rebel army."

"Why," said the Captain, laughing, "I do acknowledge a little inquietude myself-but how was it with you?” turning to his younger and evidently favorite sister, and tapping her cheek; "did you see banners in the clouds, and mistake Miss Peyton's Eolian harp for rebellious music?"

"Nay, Henry," rejoined the maid, 70 looking at him affectionately, "much as I love my own country, the ap

proach of her troops just now would give me great pain.'

The brother made no reply; but returning the fondness expressed in her eye by a look of fraternal tenderness, he gently pressed her hand in silence; when Cæsar, who had participated largely in the anxiety of the family, and who had risen with the dawn, and 10 kept a vigilant watch on the surrounding objects, as he stood gazing from one of the windows, exclaimed with a face that approached to something like the hues of a white man,

"Run-Massa Harry-run-if he love old Cæsar-run-here come a rebel horse."

"Run!" repeated the British officer, gathering himself up in military pride; 20 "no, Mr. Cæsar, running is not my trade." While speaking, he walked deliberately to the window, where the family were already collected in the greatest consternation.

At the distance of more than a mile, about fifty dragoons were to be seen, winding down one of the lateral entrances of the valley. In advance with an officer was a man attired in the 30 dress of a countryman, who pointed in the direction of the cottage. A small party now left the main body, and moved rapidly toward the object of their destination.

On reaching the road which led through the bottom of the valley, they turned their horses' heads to the north. The Whartons continued chained in breathless silence to the spot, watch10 ing their movements, when the party, having reached the dwelling of Birch, made a rapid circle around his grounds, and in an instant his house was surrounded by a dozen sentinels.

Two or three of the dragoons now dismounted and disappeared; in a few minutes, however, they returned to the yard, followed by Katy, from whose violent gesticulations it was

evident that matters of no trifling 50 concern were on the carpet. A short communication with the loquacious housekeeper followed the arrival of the main body of the troop, and the advanced party remounting, the whole moved toward the Locusts with great speed.

As yet none of the family had sufficient presence of mind to devise any means of security for Captain Whar- 60 ton; but the danger now became too pressing to admit of longer delay, and various means of secreting him were hastily proposed; but they were all haughtily rejected by the young man, as unworthy of his character. It was too late to retreat to the woods in the rear of the cottage, for he would unavoidably be seen, and, followed by a troop of horse, as inevitably taken.

At length his sisters, with trembling hands, replaced his original disguise, the instruments of which had been carefully kept at hand by Cæsar, in expectation of some sudden emergency.

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This arrangement was hastily and imperfectly completed, as the dragoons entered the lawn and orchard of the Locusts, riding with the rapidity of the wind; and in their turn the 80 Whartons were surrounded.

Nothing remained now but to meet the impending examination with as much indifference as the family could assume. The leader of the horse dismounted, and, followed by a couple of his men, he approached the outer door of the building, which was slowly and reluctantly opened for his admission by Cæsar. The heavy tread of the 90 trooper, as he followed the black to the door of the parlor, rang in the ears of the females as it approached nearer and nearer, and drove the blood from their faces to their hearts, with a chill that nearly annihilated feeling.

A man, whose colossal stature manifested the possession of vast strength,

entered the room, and removing his cap, he saluted the family with a mildness his appearance did not indicate as belonging to his nature. His dark hair hung around his brow in profusion, though stained with the powder which was worn at that day, and his face was nearly hid in the whiskers by which it was disfigured. Still, the ex10 pression of his eye, though piercing,

was not bad, and his voice, though deep and powerful, was far from unpleasant. Frances ventured to throw a timid glance at his figure as he entered, and saw at once the man from whose scrutiny Harvey Birch had warned them there was so much to be apprehended.

"You have no cause for alarm, 20 ladies," said the officer, pausing a moment, and contemplating the pale faces around him—“my business will be confined to a few questions, which, if freely answered, will instantly remove us from your dwelling.'

"And what may they be, sir?" stammered Mr. Wharton, rising from his chair, and waiting anxiously for the reply.

30 "Has there been a strange gentleman staying with you during the storm?" continued the dragoon, speaking with interest, and in some degree sharing in the evident anxiety of the father.

"This gentleman-here-favored us with his company during the rain, and has not yet departed."

"This gentleman!" repeated the 40 other, turning to Captain Wharton, and contemplating his figure for a moment, until the anxiety of his countenance gave place to a lurking smile. He approached the youth with an air of comic gravity, and with a low bow, continued "I am sorry for the severe cold you have in your head, sir."

"I," exclaimed the Captain, in surprise; "I have no cold in my head."

"I fancied it then, from seeing you 50 had covered such handsome black locks with that ugly old wig; it was my mistake, you will please to pardon it."

Mr. Wharton groaned aloud; but the ladies, ignorant of the extent of their visitor's knowledge, remained in trembling, yet rigid, silence. The Captain himself moved his hand involuntarily to his head, and discovered 60 that the trepidation of his sisters had left some of his natural hair exposed. The dragoon watched the movement with a continued smile, when, seeming to recollect himself, turning to the father, he proceeded,

"Then, sir, I am to understand there has not been a Mr. Harper here within the week."

"Mr. Harper," echoed the other, 70 feeling a load removed from his heart "yes- I had forgotten; but he is gone; and if there be anything wrong in his character, we are in entire ignorance of it-to me he was a total stranger."

"You have but little to apprehend from his character," answered the dragoon dryly; "but he is gone-howwhen-and whither?"

"He departed as he arrived," said Mr. Wharton, gathering renewed confidence from the manner of the trooper; "on horseback, last evening, and he took the northern road."

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The officer listened to him with intense interest, his countenance gradually lighting into a smile of pleasure; and the instant Mr. Wharton concluded his laconic reply, he turned on 90 his heel and left the apartment. The Whartons, judging from his manner, thought he was about to proceed in quest of the object of his inquiries. They observed the dragoon, on gaining the lawn, in earnest, and apparently pleased, conversation with his two subalterns. In a few moments