The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-09-18

But 1t was no ufair of mine, thought;
and, besides, II was difficult to know
what to do. Ths stranger kept hang
ing about just Inside the inner door,
peering arouna~the corner like cal
waiting for a mqse. OnceI stepped out
myself into the'bad, but he immediate.
ly called me buck, and. us did not obey
quick enough fYE bis fancy, q most hor-
rible change ca1ne over his tallowy
face, and he ordered me in, with an
oath that made tne jump.
AS soon us twas back again he re.
turned to his former manner, half
fawning, half snecring. patted me on
the shoulder, told mo 1 was n good boy,
and he had taken quite fancy to me.
II have son of my own" said he, "as
like you as two blocks, and he's all tho
pride of my art. But the great thing
for boys is discipline, sonny-discip-
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 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 we'll give Bill a 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. was
very uneasy and alarmed, as you may
fancy, and it rather added to my fears
to observe that tho stranger was GER
tainly frightened himself. He cleared
the hilt of his cutlass and looscncd 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 a 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.
"Biil," 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 fuce, and even his nose was
blue; he had the look of a man who
sees ghost, or the evil one, or some
thing worse, if anything can be; and,
upon my word, felt sorry to see him,
all in moment, turn SO old and sick.
"Come. Bill, you know me; you know
an old slMplnate, Bill, surely" said the
stranger.
The captain made a sort of gasp.
"Black Dog!" said he.
Sand who elSe?" returned the other,
getting more at. his ease. "Black Dog
rs ever was, come for to see his old
shipmate. BillEv ct the Admiral Ben
bow Inn. Ah,y Bill, Bill, we have seen
them two talons,'". holding up his mu-
tilnted hand. ,,,
"Now, look ]lcrc," said the captain:
"you've run me;lown; here am; well,
then. speak up,i what is it?"
"That's you, rBilly," returned Black
Dog, "you're in .the right it, Billy. I'll
have glass Of rum from this dear child
here, aus I've took such a liking to; and
We'll sit DOWN if,you please, und talk
oIudlCs llhC wy OPP CludlCS.
When 1 returned with the rum, they
were already seated on either side Of
the captains breakfast-tnblc - Black
Dog next to the door, and sitting side
ways, SO as to have one eye on his old
shipmatc, and one, as thought, on his
retreat.
He babe me go, and leave the door
wide open. "None of your lsey-holes
for me, sonny" he said; and l left them
together, and retired into the bar.
For long time, though l certainly
did my best to listen, could hear moth,
ing but low Cabling; but at last the
voices began to grow higher, and
could pick up a word or two, mostly
oaths, from he captain.
'No, no. no, no; and an end of it'll"
he cried once. And again: "lf comes
to swinging. swing all, say T."
Then all of sudden there was ire
mendous explosion Of ouths and other
noises-thc chair and table went over
IN lump, a clash of steel followed, and
then cry of pain, and the next instant
I saw Black Dog in full flight, and the
captain hotly pursuing. both with
drawn cntlasscs, and the former stream
ing blood from the left shoulder just
at the door, the captain aimed at the
fugitive one last tremendous cut, which
would certainly have split him to the
chin had it not been intercepted By our
big signboarl of Admiral Bcnbow. You
may see the notch on he lower side of
the frame TO this day.
That blow was the last of the battle.
Once out upon the road. Black Dog, in
spite of his wound, showed Il wonderful
clean pair of heels. and disappeared
over the edge of the hill in half min
ute. The captain, for his part, stood
staring ut the sgnboard like IL bcwil-
dcred man. Then he passed his hand
over his eyes several times, and at last
turned back into the house.
"Jim," says he, rum" and. as he
spoke, he reelcd a little, and caught
himself with one hand against the wall.
Are you hurt ?" cried J..
"Rum." he repeated. 81 must get
away from here. Rum! rum!"
| ran to fetch it; but was quite I'M
stcaded by oil that had fallen out, and
broke one glass and fou!cd the tap,
and while wnS still getting in my own
way, l heard loud fall in the parlor,
and, running ii, hchcld Tie captain ly-
ing full length upon the floor. Attic
same instant my mother, alarmed by
the cries and Fighting, came running
u