The Fall of a Chieftain

           Thereneverwassuchanoverturninthisworld.Eachofthesesixmenwasasthoughhehadbeenstruck.ButwithSilvertheblowpassedalmostinstantly.Everythoughtofhissoulhadbeensetfull-stretch,likearacer,onthatmoney;well,hewasbroughtup,inasinglesecond,dead;andhekepthishead,foundhistemper,andchangedhisplanbeforetheothershadhadtimetorealizethedisappointment.

           "Jim,"hewhispered,"takethat,andstandbyfortrouble."

           Andhepassedmeadouble-barrelledpistol.

           Atthesametime,hebeganquietlymovingnorthward,andinafewstepshadputthehollowbetweenustwoandtheotherfive.Thenhelookedatmeandnodded,asmuchastosay,"Hereisanarrowcorner,"as,indeed,Ithoughtitwas.Hislookswerenotquitefriendly,andIwassorevoltedattheseconstantchangesthatIcouldnotforbearwhispering,"Soyou’vechangedsidesagain."

           Therewasnotimeleftforhimtoanswerin.Thebuccaneers,withoathsandcries,begantoleap,oneafteranother,intothepitandtodigwiththeirfingers,throwingtheboardsasideastheydidso.Morganfoundapieceofgold.Hehelditupwithaperfectspoutofoaths.Itwasatwo-guineapiece,anditwentfromhandtohandamongthemforaquarterofaminute.

           "Twoguineas!"roaredMerry,shakingitatSilver."That’syoursevenhundredthousandpounds,isit?You’rethemanforbargains,ain’tyou?You’rehimthatneverbunglednothing,youwooden-headedlubber!"

           "Digaway,boys,"saidSilverwiththecoolestinsolence;"you’llfindsomepig-nutsandIshouldn’twonder."