Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-02-04
CHAPTER III.
THE RACK SPOT.

door WITH some COOLING drinks ana
medicines. He was lying very much
as we had left him, only little higher,
and he seemed both weak and excited.
"Jim," he said, you're the only one
here that's worth anything; and you
know I've been always good to you.
Never month but I've given you sill
yer fourpenny for yourself. And now
you see, mate, I'm pretty low, and de-
serted by all; and Jim, you'll bring me
one noggin of rum, now won't you,
matey?"
1.-THE Doctor" I began.
But he broke in cursing the doctor, in
a feeble voice, but heartily. Doctors
is all swabs." he said; "and that doctor
there, why, what do he know about
seafaring men? I been in places hot
as pitch, and mates dropping round
with Yellow Jack, and the blessed land
a-heaving like the sea with earth
quakes-what do the doctors know of
lands like that? and lived ON rum, I
tell you. It's been meat and drink, and
man and wife, to me; and if I'm not to
have my rum now I'm poor old hulk
on lee shore, my blood'll be on you,
Jim, and that doctor swab;" and he ran
onagain for awhile with curses. Look,
Jim, how my fingers fidges," he con-
tinued, in the pleading tone. II can't
keep 'em still, not I. / haven't had
drop this blessed day. That doctors
fool, tell you. If don't have drain
O. rum, Jim, I'll have the horrors;
al, Il
Flint in the corner there, behind you;
as plain rs print, l seen him; and if
get the horrors, I'm a man that has
lived rough, and I'll raise Cain. Your
doctor hisself said one glass wouldn't
hurt me. I'll give you golden guinea
for noggin, jim"
He was growing more and more eX-
cited, and this alarmed me, for my IA
Their was very low that day, and
needed quiet; besides. was treasured
by the doctors words, now quoted to
me, and rather offended by the offer Of
bride.
~ want none of your money" said
/, "but what you owe my father. I'll
get you one glass, and no more"
/
greedily, and drank it out.
cay, 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 I.
"Thunder!" he cried IA week! /
can't do that; they'd have a 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
anothers. Is that seamanly behavior,
now, want to know? But I'm saw
ing soul. never wasted good money
of mine, nor lost it, neither; and I'll
trick 'em again. I'm not afraid on 'em.
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 sitting
position on the edge.
"That doctors done me-" he MUIR
INJURED. My ears is singing. Lay me
back"
Before could 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?"
"Black Dog?" ] asked.
"Ah! Black Dog" says he. Hes a
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 a horse-you can,
can't you? Well, then you get on a
horse, and go towel, yes, willie
that eternal doctor swab, and tell him
to pipe all hands-magistrates and sicI
land he'll lay 'em aboard at the Ad.
miral 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 only one as knows the
place. He gave it me to Savannah
when he lay a-dying, like as if was tc
now, you see. But you won't peach I'M
less they get the black spot on me, o,
unless you see that Black Dog again
or a seafaring man with one leg, jim
him above ALL"
"But what's the black spot, captain q
asked.
That's a summons, mate. I'll tel
you if they get that. But you keep YOU
weather-eye open, Jim, and I'll share
with you equals, upon my honor"
He wandered little longer, his voice
growing weaker; but soon after hat
given him his medicine, which he tool
like "a child, with the remark, '.if evel
a seaman wanted drugs, it's me" he fel
at last into heavy, swoon-like sleep il
which 1 left him. What should hav,
done had all gone well do not know
Probably should have told the who'll,
story to the doctor; for I was in morta
fear lest the captain should repent O
his confessions and make an end of me
But as things fell out, my poor fathe
died quite suddenly that evening
which put all other matters on one side
Our natural distress, the visits of tn,
neighbors, the arranging of the funeral
and all the work of the inn to be car
ried on in the meanwhile, kept me S,
busy that had scarcely time to thinl
of the captain, far less to be afraid o
him.
He got downstairs next morning, t
be sure and had his meals as uslla'