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 in his solitude, and I suppose I must have shown the feeling in my face, for he repeated the statement hotly:

"Rich! rich! Isays. And I'll tell you what, I'll make a man of you, Jim. Ah, Jim, you'll bless your stars, you will, you was the first that found me!"

And at this there came suddenly a lowering shadow over his face and he tightened his grasp upon my hand and raised a forefinger threateningly before my eyes. "Now, Jim, you tell me true; that ain't Flint's ship?" he asked.

At this I had a happy inspiration. I began to believe that I had found an ally and I answered him at once. "It's not Flint's ship and Flint is dead, but I'll tell you true, as you ask me—there are some of Flint's hands aboard; worse luck for the rest of us."'

"Not a man—with one—leg?"' he gasped.

"Silver?" I asked.

"Ah, Silver!" says he, "that were his name.". "He's the cook, and the ringleader, too." He was still holding me by the wrist and at that he gave it quite a wring.

"If you was sent by Long John," he said, "I'm as good as pork and I know it. But where was you, do you suppose?"

I had made my mind up in a moment, and by way of answer told him the whole story of our voyage and the predicament in which we found ourselves. He heard me with the keenest interest, and when I had done he patted me on the head.

"You're a good lad, Jim," he said, "and you're all in