Daily camera., 1901-08-22
CHAPTER III.
THE pY.ACK spot

medicines. He was lying very much
as we had left him, only little higher,
land 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?" sa.s
1.-THE doctor" I began.
But he broke in cursing the doctor, In
n feeble voice, but heartily. doctors
is all swabs," he said: "and that doctor
there, why, what do he know about
seafaring men? 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 l lived on rum, l
tell you. It's been meat ad drink, and
man and wife, to me; and il I'm not to
have my rum now I'm poor old hulk
on q lee shore, my blood'n 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. l haven't had a
drop this blessed day. That doctors a
fool, tell you. If / don't have drain
O. rum, jim, I'll have the horrors; I
seen some on 'em already. seen old
Flint in the corner there, behind you;
as plain as print, I seen him; and if l
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 a noggin, jim"
He was growing more and more eX-
cited, and this alarmed me, for my ia
ther was very low that day, and
needed quiet; besides, l was reassured
by the doctors words, now quoted to
me. and rather offended by the offer Of
o bribe.
II want none Of your money" said
l, but what you owe my father. I'll
get you one glass. and no more"
When brought it to him, he seized it
greedily, and drank it out.
"Ay, ay," said he, that's some bet
ter, sure enough. And now, matey,
did that doctor ny how long was to
lie here in this old berth?"
"a week at least" said I.
"Thunder." he cried "a week! I
can't do TINT; they'd have 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
another's. LIS that senmanly behavior,
now. want to know? But I'm saw
ing soul l never wasted good money
OF mine, nor lost 1t. neither; and I'll
trick 'em again. I'm not afraid on 'em.
I'll shake out another reef, matey, and
daidle '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 q sitting
position on the edge
THAT doctors done me-" he muir
INJURED. MY ears is singing. Lay me
back"
BeforeIcould do much to help him he
had fallen back n.gain to his former
place, where he lay for awhile silent.
Jim" he said. at length, you saw
that seafaring man to-day?"
"Black Dog?" l asked.
"Ah! Black Dog" says he. Hes q
bad 'un; but there's worse that put
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 q horse-you can.
can't you? Well, then you get on n
horse, and go lowell, yes, will!-to
that eternal doctor swab, and tell him
to pipe all hands-magistrates and sich
and he'll lay en- aboard ut the Ad-
mird Benbow-all old Flint's crew.
man and boy, all on 'em that's left.
was first mate, l was, old Flint's first
mate, and I'm the on'y one as knows the
place. He gave it me to Savannah,
when he lay a-dying, like as if was to
now, you see. But you won't peach UNI
less they get the black spot on me. or
unless you see that Black Dog again.
or a seafaring man with one leg. Jim
him above all"
But what is the black spot, captain ?"
I asked. 3,
| That's a summons, mate. I'll tell
you II they get that. But you keep your
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 l lad
given him his medicine, which he took
like child, with the remark, IF ever
q seaman wanted drugs, it's me-" he fell
at last into heavy, swoon-like sleep in
which left him. What should have
done had all gone well do not know.
Probably should have told the whole
story to the doctor; for was in mortal
fear lest the captain should repent OF
his confessions and make an end Of me.
But as things fell out, my poor father
died quite suddenly that evening,
which put all other matters on one side.
Our natural distress, the visits of the
neighbors, the arranging Of the funeral,
and all the work of the inn to be car
ried on in the meanwhile, kept me so
busy that had scarcely time to think
Of the captain, fur less to be afraid Of
him.
He got downstairs next morning, to
be sure, and had his meals as usual.
though he eat little, and had more, /
am afraid, than his usual supply Of
rum, for he helped himself out OF the
bar, seowling and blowing through his
nose, and no one dared to cross him.
On the night before the funeral he was
a. drunk as ever; and 1t was shocking,
In that house Of mourning. to hear him
singing away. hh ugly oh sea-song;
but, weak as he was, We were all in. fear
of death for him, and the doctor was
suddenly taken up with case many
miles away, and was never near the
lhouSe after nv tather's death, have