Daily camera., 1901-08-22

allowing for his bodily weakness, more
violent than ever. He had an alarming
way now when he was drunk of draw
ing his cutlass and laying it bare be-
fore him on the table. But, with ali
that, he minded people less, and seemed
shut up in his own thoughts and rather
wandering. Once, for instance, to our
extreme wonder, he pipcd up to diff
ferent air, kind of country love-song,
that he must have learned in his youth
before he had begun to follow the sea.
So things passed until. the day after
the funeral, and about three o'clock OF
u bitter, foggy, frosty afternoon, l was
standing at the door for q moment, full
OF sad thoughts about my father, when
I saw some one drawing slowly near
along the road. He was plainly blind.
for he tapped before him with stick,
and wore u great green shade over his
eyes and nose: and he was hunchcd, as
II with age or weakness, and wore a
huge old tattercd sca-cloak with hood
that made him appear positively de-
formed. I never saw in my life more
dreadful-looking figure. He stopped a
little from the inn, and raising his voice
in an odd sing-song, addressed the air
in front of him: L
"Will any kind friend inform poor
blind man, who has lost the precious
sight Of his eyes in the gracious defense
of his native country. England, and God
bless King George!-where or in what
part of this country he may now be?"
"You are at the Admiral Benbow,
Black Hill Cove, my good man." said I.
Il hear voice." said he, "a young
soice. viii you give me your hand. my
kind young friend, and lead me imp
held out my hand, and the horrible,
soft-spoken, eyeless creature gripped IT
in moment like wise. was so much
startled that l struggled to withdraw;
but the blind man pulled me close up to
him with single action of his arm.
Now, boy" he said. take me in to
the captain"
Sir" said 1, upon my word dare
not"
"Oh," he sneered. that's it! Take
me in straight, or I'll break your arm"
He gave it, as he spoke, wrench that
made me cry out.
Sir" said I. "it is for yourself l mean.
The captain is not what he used to be.
He sits with drawn cutlass, Another
gentleman"
Come, now, march" interrupted he;
end l never heard voice so cruel, and
cold, and ugly as that blind mans. II
cowed me more than the pain; and
began to obey him at once, walking
straight in at the door and toward the
parlor, where the sick old buccaneer
was sitting, dazed with rum. The
blind man chung close to me. holding
me in with one iron fist. and leaning al
most more of his weight on me than
;ould carry. Lead me straight up TO
aim, and when I'm in full view cry out:
Here's a friend for you, Bill II you
don't. III do this; and with that he gave
me twitch that thought would have
made me faint Between this and that,
| was so utterly terrified by the blind
beggar that forgot my terror of the
and, as opened the parlor
door, cried out the words he had Or
dcred in trembling voice.
The poor captain raised his eyes. and
at one look the rum went out of him,
and left him staring sober. The express
sion of his face was not SO much of ter
ror as of mortal sickness. He made n
to rise, but do not believe
he had enough force left in his body.
Now. Bill, sit where you are" said
the beggar. If can't see. can hear
finger stirring. Business is business.
Hold out your left hand. Boy, take his
left hand by the wrist and bring it
near my right"
We both obeyed him to the letter, and
l saw him pass something from the
hollow of the hand that held his stick
into the palm of the captains. which
closed upon it instantly.
And now that's DONE" said the blind
man: and at the words he suddenly
left hold Of me. and, with incredible
accuracy and nimbleness, skipped out
OF the parlor and into the road, where,
as stood motionless, could hear his
stick go tap-tap-tapping into the dis
tance.
1t was some time before either / or
the captain seemed to gather our senses;
but at length, and about the same mo-
ment, l released his wrist, which was
still holding, and he drew in his hand,
and looked sharply into the palm.
Ten o'clock!" he cried. "Six hours
Wen do them yet" and he sprung to his
feet.
Even as he did SO, he reeled, put his
hand to his throat, stood swaying for
a moment, and then, with peculiar
sound, fell from his whole height face
foremost to the floor.
I ran to him at once, calling my
mother. But haste was all in vain.
The captain had been struck dead by
apoplexy. 1t is curious
thing to understand, for had certain
ly never liked the man, though of late
had begun to pity him, but as soon
as 1 saw that he was dead, burst into
q flood OF tears. 1t was the second
death had known, and the sorrow of
the first was still fresh in my heart.