S URE enough, there were two men just outside the
stockade, one of them waving a white cloth; the
other, no less a person than Silver himself, stand-
ing placidly by.

It was still quite early, and the coldest morning
that I think I ever was abroad in; a chill that pierced
into the marrow. The sky was bright and cloudless
overhead, and the tops of the trees shone rosily in the
sun. But where Silver stood with his lieutenant all
was still in shadow, and they waded knee-deep in a
low, white vapor, that had crawled during the night
out of the morass. The chill and the vapor taken
together told a poor tale of the island. It was
plainly a damp, feverish, unhealthy spot.

"Keep indoors, men," said the captain. "Ten to
one this is a trick."

"Who goes? Stand, or we fire."

"Flag of truce!" cried Silver.

The captain was in the porch keeping himself
carefully out of the way of a treacherous shot, should
any be intended. He turned and spoke to us.

"Doctor's watch on the lookout. Doctor Live-
sey, take the north side, if you please; Jim the east;

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