The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-10-27
THE BLACK DOG.

There was a ceaseless rumble in the
air as the heavy rain drops battered
upon the laurel thickets and the matted
moss and haggard rocks beneath. Four
water soaked men made their difficult
ways through the drenched forest. The
little man stopped and shook an angry
finger at where night was stealthily fol-
lowing them. "Cursed be fate and her
children and her children's children!
We are everlastingly lostr' he cried
The painting procession halted under
some dripping, dropping hemlocks and
swore in wrathful astonishment.
at will rain for forty days and forty
nights" said the pudgy man moaningly,
"and l feel like wet loaf of bread now.
We shall never find our way out of this
wilderness until am made into por-
ridge"
In desperation they started again to
drag their listless bodies through the
iwatery bushes. After time, the clouds
withdrew from above them and great
winds came from concealment and went
sweeping and swirling among the trees
Night also came very near and menaced
the wanderers with darkness. The little
man had determination in his legs He
scrambled among the thickets and made
desperate attempts to find path or
road. AS he climbed hillock he espied
a small clearing upon which sat desc
lation and venerable house, wept over
by wind waved pines.
"Ho," he cried, "here's house.
His companions struggled painfully
after him as he fought the thickets be-
tween him and the cabin. AT their APP
proach the wind frenziedly opposed
them and slrirled madly in the trees
The little man boldly confronted the
weird chances from the crannies of the
cabin and raped on the door. A score
of timbers answered with groans, and
within something fell to the floor with a
clang.
''Ho," said the little man. He stepped
back q few PAGES.
Somebody in a distant part started
and walked across the floor toward the
door with an ominous step. A slate col
ored man appeared. He was dressed in
ragged shirt and trousers, the latter
stuffed into his boots. Large tears We're
falling from his eyes.
''How d. do, my friend?' said the little
man affably.
''My oil uncle, Jim Crocker, he's sick
ter DEATH" replied the slate colored per-
son.
s'Hor' said the little man. SIS that so?''
The latter's clothing chung desperately
to him and water sogged in his boots.
He stood patiently on one foot for a
time.
"Can you put us up here until tomor-
row." he asked finally.
eyes," said the slate colored man.
The party passed into a little I'M
washed room, inhabited by a stove, a
stairway, few precarious chairs and a
misshapen table.
"Pll fry yer some polk ard make yer
some Coffee" said the slate colored man
to his guests.
$50 ahead, old boy" cried the little
man cheerfully from where he sat on
the table smoking his pipe and dangling
his legs.
''My oil uncle, Jim Crocker, he's sick
ter DEATH" said the slate colored man.
''Think he'll die?" asked the pudgy
man gently.
''Nor
"No!"
ssHe won't die! He's an oil man, but
he won't die yit! The black dorg hahn
been around yitl''
''The black dog" said the little MAJ
feebly. He struggled with himself fol
moment.
"Whats the black dog?" he asked a
last.
"He's sperrit," said the slate colore(
man in voice of somber hue.
''Oh, he is? Well?"
"He ha'nts these parts, he does, al
when people are goin to die he come
and sets and bowls"
sHo!" said the little man. He looket
out of the window and saw night max
ing million shadows.
The little man moved his legs nerv
ously.
81 don't believe in these things" sal
he, addressing the slate colored man
who was scuffiing with a side of pork.
'Wot things?" came incoherently fror
the combatant.
"Oh, these 'er phantomS ana SnoSt
and what not. All rot, say"
That's because you have merely
stomach and no soul" grunted the pudg
man.
"Ho, old pudgkins" replied the littl
man. His back curved with passion. !
tempest of wrath was in tho pudg
mans eye. The final epithet used
the little man was carefully studio
insult, always brought forth at crisi:
They quarreled.
"All right, pudgkins; bring on you
phantom" cried the little man in COZ
clusion.
His stout companions wrath was tc
huge for words. The little man smile
triumphantly. He had staked his o.
ponents reputation.
The visitors sat silent. The slate co
ored man moved about in a small pc
sonal atmosphere of gloom.
Suddenly strange cry came to the
ears from somewhere. 1t was Low
trembling call which made the lit
man quake privately in his shoes. II
slate colored man bounded at the stat