The Treasure-hunt — Flint’s Pointer

           Jim,"saidSilverwhenwewerealone,"ifIsavedyourlife,yousavedmine;andI’llnotforgetit.Iseenthedoctorwavingyoutorunforit—withthetailofmyeye,Idid;andIseenyousayno,asplainashearing.Jim,that’sonetoyou.ThisisthefirstglintofhopeIhadsincetheattackfailed,andIoweityou.Andnow,Jim,we’retogoinforthisheretreasure-hunting,withsealedorderstoo,andIdon’tlikeit;andyouandmemuststickclose,backtobacklike,andwe’llsaveournecksinspiteo’fateandfortune."

           Justthenamanhailedusfromthefirethatbreakfastwasready,andweweresoonseatedhereandthereaboutthesandoverbiscuitandfriedjunk.Theyhadlitafirefittoroastanox,anditwasnowgrownsohotthattheycouldonlyapproachitfromthewindward,andeventherenotwithoutprecaution.Inthesamewastefulspirit,theyhadcooked,Isuppose,threetimesmorethanwecouldeat;andoneofthem,withanemptylaugh,threwwhatwasleftintothefire,whichblazedandroaredagainoverthisunusualfuel.Ineverinmylifesawmensocarelessofthemorrow;handtomouthistheonlywordthatcandescribetheirwayofdoing;andwhatwithwastedfoodandsleepingsentries,thoughtheywereboldenoughforabrushandbedonewithit,Icouldseetheirentireunfitnessforanythinglikeaprolongedcampaign.

           EvenSilver,eatingaway,withCaptainFlintuponhisshoulder,hadnotawordofblamefortheirrecklessness.Andthisthemoresurprisedme,forIthoughthehadnevershownhimselfsocunningashedidthen.

           "Aye,mates,"saidhe,"it’sluckyyouhaveBarbecuetothinkforyouwiththisherehead.IgotwhatIwanted,Idid.Sureenough,theyhavetheship.Wheretheyhaveit,Idon’tknowyet;butoncewehitthetreasure,we’llhavetojumpaboutandfindout.Andthen,mates,usthathastheboats,Ireckon,hastheupperhand."