San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-04

/ stood over him till he chose to sit erect,
which he presently did, rubbing his poll and
looking at me with an air of mingled be-
wilderment and fear.
This is scurvy usage to give shipmate in
distress" said he. "'Od's life, man! 1 had
thought there was some sense of humor in
you Your hand, Mr.. Rodney feel dazed!"
helped him TO rise, and he then sat down
in a somewhat rickety manner. rubbing his
eyes. 1t might have been fancy, it might
have been the illusion of the furnace light
: combined with the venerable appearance his
long hair and naked pate gave him, but me-
thought in those few minutes he had grown
to look twenty years older.
"Never concern yourself about my humor,
Mr.. Tassard," said l, preserving my deter
mined air and coming close to him again.
Glow is it to stand between us? l leave
the choice to you. If you will treat me
civilly you'll not find me wanting in every
disposition to render our miserable state toll
cradle; but if you insult me, use me inju-
riously, and act the pirate over me, who am
an honest man, by God, Mr.. Tassard will
kill you!"
He stopped away from me and raised his
hand in a posture as If to fend me off, and
cried, in a whining manner: 81 lost my head
this gunpowder business hath been a he'll
lish experimentation you, Mr.. Rodney.
Gomez We will drink can to our future
amity"
answered coldly that l wanted no more
wine, and babe him beware of me; that he
had gone far enough; that our hideous con-
dition had filled my soul with desperation
and misery, and that would not have my
life on this frozen schooner made more abom-
Unable than it was by his swagger, lies and
insults; and added, in a loud voice and in q
menacing manner, that death had no terrors
for me, and that would dispatch him with
as little fear as 1 should meet my doom,
whatever shape it took.
marched ON deck, not little astounded
by the cowardice of the old rascal, and very
well pleased with the marked impression my
bearing and language had produced on him.
Not that | supposed for a moment that my
bold compartment would save me from his
knife or his pistol when he should think
proper to make away with me. No. ALI I
reckoned upon was cowing him into a civiler
posture of mind, and checking his agressions
and insolence.
I stayed but minute or two on deck.
Such was the cold that do not know had
ever felt it more biting and bitter.
/ returned below and sat down. The
Frenchman asked me ne questions. He had
his can in the oven and his deaths head in
his great hand, and pulled out clouds of
smoke of the color of his beard, and indeed
in the candle and fire light looked like q,
figure of old Time, with his long nose and
bald head. l addressed one or two civil re-
marks to him, which he answered in a sub
dued manner, discovering no resentment
whatever that could trace in his eyes or the
expression of his countenance; and being
wishful to show that 1 bore no malice I
talked Of pirates and their usages, and asked
if the Boca del Dragon tough. under the red
| or black flag ...
"Why, the black flag, certainly" said he;
''but if we met with resistance il was our
custom to haul it down and hoist the red
flag, to let our opponents know we should
give no quarter"
"Where is your flag lockerT' said l.
''In my berth, he answered
81 should like to see the black fag," ex-
claimed; '"tis the one piece of bunting, be-
| lieve, have never viewed"
"rll fetch it" said he, and taking the Ian
tern went aft very quietly, but with GER
tain stagger in his walk. which should have
az h OEsA