Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-10-28

| uuEt NIX 4 a. 3d. y - = .
for noggin, jim"
| lie was growing more and more eS'
cited. and this alarmed me. for my IA
thcr was very low that day. and
| needed dniet; besides, | was treasured
TO the doctors words, now quoted e
me. and rather offended by the offer OF
bride.
81 want none of your money" said
T. but what you owe my father. III
get you one glass, and no more"
When / brought it to him, he seized II
lgreedily, and drank it out
Jay, ay," said he, that's some bet
ter, sure enough. And now, matey.
did that doctor say how long ! was to
lie here in this old berth?'
"A week at least" said l.
"Thunderl" he cried ~ week!
can't do that; they'd have black spot
ON me by then. The lubbers is going
about TO get the wind of me this blessed
moment; lubbers as couldn't keep
what they got. and want to nail what is
another's. Is that seamanly behavior,
now, | want to know? But I'm saw
ing soul. / never wasted good money
Df mine, nor lost it, neither; and III
trick 'em again. I'm not afraid on EN-
I'll shake out another reef, matey, and
daddle 'em again"
As he was thus speaking he had risen
from bed with great difficulty, holding
to my shoulder with grip that almost
made me cry, and moving his legs like
so much dead weight His words,
spirited as they were in meaning, con
trasted sadly with the weakness OF the
voice in which they were uttered. He
paused when he had got into a sitting
position on the edge.
THAT doctors done me-" he muir
INJURED. MY ears IS singing. Lay me
back"
BeforeIco do much TO help him he
had fallen back again TO his former
place, where he lay for awhile silent.
"Jim." he said, at length, you saw
that seafaring man to-day?"
"Back Dog2' asked.
"Ah Black Dog" says he. He's
bad 'un; but there's worse that put
him on. Now, if can't get away no
how, and they tip me the black spot,
mind you, it's my old sea-chest they're
after. You get on n horse-you can.
can't you? Wen, then you get on
horse, and go towel, yes, willl--to
that eternal doctor swab, and tell him
to pipe all hands-magisirates and sieh
and he'll lay 'em aboard at the Ad-
mral Benbow-all old Flint's crew.
man and boy, all on 'em that's left. !
was first mate, was. old Flint's first
mate, and I'm the ony one as knows the
place. lie gave il me to Savannah,
when he lay a-dying, like as IL was 10
now, you see. But you won't peach un-
less they get the black spot on me, or
unless you see that Black Dog again.
or seafaring man with one leg, Jim
him above all"
But what is the black spot, captains"
/ asked.
That's summons, mate. Ill tell |
you if they get that But you keepyour
weather-eye open, Jim, and IN share !
with you equals, upon my honor"
He wandered little longer, his voice
growing weaker; but soon after had
given him his medicine, which he took |
like a child, with the remark. IF ever
a seaman wanted drugs it's me-" he fell
at last into heavy, swoon-like sleep ia
which | left him. What 1 should have
done had all gone well | do not know.
Probably | should have told the whole
story to the doctor; for was in mortal
fear lest the captain should repent OF
his confessions and make an end of me
But as things fell out, my poor father
died quite suddenly that evening,
which put all other matters on one side.
Our natural distress. the visits of the
neighbors, the arranging of the funeral,
md all the work Of the inn TO be car
lied on in the meanwhile, kept me so
busy that l had scarcely time TO think
IF the captain far less to be afraid OF
him.
He got downstairs next morning. 10
'e sure, and had his meals as usual,
hough he eat little, and had more,
I'm afraid, than his usual supply OF
nm, for he helped himself ont OF the
'ar. scowling and blowing through bis
'ose, and no one dared TO cross him.
On the night before the funeral he was
Is drunk as ever; and it was shocking. :
n that house OF mourning. TO hear him
inging away his ugly old sea-song;
'ut, weak as he was. we were all in fear
4 death for him. and the doctor was
uddenly taken up with a case many
niles away. and was never near the
ouse after my fathers death. | have
aid the captain was weak; and indeed {
e seemed rather TO grow weaker than
egain his strength. lie clambered up /.
nd downstairs. and went from the
'arlor to the bar and back again, and {
ometimes put his nose out-of-doors to
nell the sea, holding on TO the walls
S he went for support, and breathing
ard and fast like man on a steep
FOUNTAIN. He never particularly adj :
ressed me, and it is my belief he had :
5 good as forgotten his condolences;