Daily camera., 1901-08-21
For 1 long time, though I certainly

For 1 long time, though I certainly
did my best TO listen, I could hear moth.
ing but low Cabling; but at last the
voices began to grow higher, and l
could pick up word or two, mostly
oaths, from the captain.
"No, no, no, no; and an end of it'll"
he cried once. And again: "If it comes
to swinging, swing all, say l."
Then all OF sudden there was tre-
mendous explosion Of oaths and other
notes.-the chair and table went over
in lump. a clash Of steel followed, and
then cry OF pain. and the next instant
1 saw Black Dog in full flight, and the
captain hotly pursuing, both with
drawn cutlasses, 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 sigrboard of Admiral Benbow. You
may see the notch on the 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 wonderful
clean pair of heels, and disappeared
over the edge Of the hill in half u min
ute. The captain, for his part, stood
staring at the signboard like bewil.
dered 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 reeled little, and caught
himself with one hand against the wall.
"Are you hurt?" cried l.
"Rum," he repeated II must get
away from here. Rum! rum!"
! ran to fetch it; but was quite un-
stcadied by all that had fallen out, and
broke one glass and fouled the tap,
and while was still getting in my own
way, heard loud fall in the parlor,
and, running in, beheld the captain ly-
ing fuh length upon the floor. At the
same instant my mother, alarmed by
the cries and fighting, came running
downstairs to help me. Between us we
raised his head. He was breathing very
loud and hard; but his eyes were closed,
and his face horrible color.
Dear. deary me-" cried my mother,
"what disgrace upon the house! And
your poor father sick!"
In the meantime, we had no idea
what to do TO help the captain, nor any
other thought but that he had got his
death-hurt in the scuffle with the stran-
ger. got the rum, to be sure, and tried
to put it down his throat; but his
teeth were tightly shut. and his jaws as
strong as iron. 1t was happy relief
for rs when the door opened and DR..
Livesey came in, on his visit 10 my IA
ther.
"Oh. DOCTOR" we cried, "what shall
we do? Where is he wounded?"
Wounded? A fddlestick's end!"
said the doctor. NO more wounded
than you or /. The man has had
stroke, as / warned him. Now, Mrs.
Hawkins, just you run upstairs to your
husband, and tell him, if possible, moth
ing about it. For my part, must do
my best TO save this fellows trebly
worthless life; and Jim here will get me
basin"
When l got back with the basin, the
doctor had already ripped up the cap
tain's sleeve. and exposed his great
sinewy arm. 1t was tattooedin several
places. Here's luck" ~ fair wind"
and Billy Bones his fancy" were very
neatly and clearly executed on the fore
arm; and up near the shoulder there
was a sketch Of gallows and man
hanging from it-done, as l thought,
with great spirit.
prophetic" said the doctor, touch
ing this picture with his finger. "And
now. Master Billy Bones, II that be
your name, We'll have look at the
color of your blood. Jim," he said, "are
you afraid of blood? p
NO. SIR" said I.
We'll, then" said he. you hold the
BASIN" and with that he took his
lancet and opened vein.
A great deal of blood was taken be-
fore the captain opened his eyes and
looked mistily about him. First he
recognized the doctor with an unmis-
taxable frown; then his glance fell upon
me. and he looked relieved. But sud
denly his color changed, and he tried to
raise himself, crying:
where's Black Doge-
There is ne Black Dog here" said
the doctor. "excep, what yca have on