Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-10-28
Continued from preceding page.l

even supposing he meant what he said.
But it was no affair of mine, thought;
and, besides, it IVES difficult 10 know
what TO do. The stranger kept hang
Ing about just inside the inner door,
peering around the corner like a cat
waiting for mouse. 0nceI stepped out
myself into the road, but he immediate
ly called me back, and. as did not obey
quick enough for his fancy, most hor-
rible change came over his tallowy
face, and he ordered me in, with an
oath that made me jump.
As soon as | was back again he re-
turned to his former manner, hall
fawning. half sneering. patted me on
the shoulder, told me was a good boy,
and lie lad taken quite fancy TO me.
81 have a son of my own" said he, las
like you as two blocks, and he's all the
pride of my art. But the great thing
for boys is discipline, sonny-diseip-
line Now, if you had sailed along of
Bill, you wouldn't have stood there to
be spoke to twice-not you. That was
never Bills way, nor the way of such as
sailed with him. And here, sure
enough, is my mate Bill, with a spy
glass under his arm, bless his old art,
to be sure. You and nell just go back
into the parlor, sonny, and get behind
the door, and Wen give Bill little sur
prise-bless his art, say again."
So saying the stranger backed along
with me into the parlor, and put me be-
hind him in the corner so that we were
both hidden by the open door. l was
very uneasy and alarmed, as you may
fancy, and it rather added to my fears
to observe that the stranger was GER
tainly frightened himself. He cleared
the hilt of his cutlass and loosened the
blade in the sheath; and all the time
we were kept waiting there he kept
swallowing as if he felt what we used
to call lump in the throat.
At last in strobe the captain, slammed
the door behind him, without looking TO
the right or left, and marched straight
across the room to where his breakfast
awaited him.
BILL" said the stranger, in voice
that | thought he had tried to make
bold and big.
The captain spun round on his heel
and fronted us; all the brown had gone
out of his face, and even his nose was
blue; he had the look of man who
sees a ghost, or the evil one, or some
thing worse, if anything can be; and,
upon my word felt sorry TO see him,
all in a moment, turn 50 old and sick.
"Come, Bill, you know me; you know
an old shipmate, Bill surely" said the
stranger.
The captain made sort of gasp.
BLACK Dog!" said he.
"And who else?' returned the other, |
getting more at his ease. "Black Dog
as ever was. come for to see his old |
Billy, at the Admiral Ben
bow Inn. All, Bill, Bill, we have seen
a sight of times, us two, since | lost |
them two talous," holding up his mu-
tlated hand.
'Now, look here" said the captain;
you've run me down; here / am; well,
then. speak up; what is III"
That's you. Billy" returned Black
Dog, "you're in the right ofit, Billy. I'll
have glass of rum from this dear child
here, as I've took such liking to; and
ven sit down, il you please, and talk
square, like old shipmates."
When | returned with the rum. they
were already seated on either side of
the captains breakfast-tab.e - Black
Dog next to the door. and sitting side
ways, so as to have one eye on his old
shipmate, and one. as thought, on his
retreat.
He babe me go, and leave the door
vide open. None of your key-holes
or me. sonny" he said; and left them
ogether, and retired into the bar.
For long time, though | certainly
lid my best to listen, could hear moth.
ng but a low Cabling; but at last the
'oices began to grow higher, and |
ould pick up a word or two, mostly
'aths, from the captain.
mo. no. no, no; and an end of i'll"
lie cried once. And again: "If it comes
o swinging, swing all, say l."
Then all of a sudden there was ire
nendous explosion of oaths and other
ioises-the chair and table went over
n lump, clash of steel followed and
hen cry of pain, and the next instant
saw Black Dog in full flight, and the
aptain holly pursuing, both with
rawn cutlasses. and the former stream
ng blood from the left shoulder. just
I the door, the captain aimed at the
fugitive one last tremendous cut, which
would certainly have split him to the
hin had 1T not been intercepted by our ,
ig signboard of Admiral Benbow. You J
lay see the notch on the lower side of S
be frame to this day. ,
That blow was the last Of the battle.
'nce out upon the road, Black Dog. in
pite of his wound, showed a wonderful
lean pair Of heels, and disappeared /
YER the edge Of the hill in half min i
tie. The captain. for his part. stood I
iaring at the signboard like a bewil- S
cred man. Then he passed his hand Z
yer his eyes several times, and at last f,
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