Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-12

that I thought he had tried to make
bold and big.
The captain spun round on his heel
out Of his face, and even his nose was
blue; he had the look Of man who
sees ghost, or the evil one, or some
thing worse, II anything can be; and,
upon my word, felt sorry to see him,
all in a moment, turn SO old and sick.
"Come. Bill, you know me; you know
an old shipmate, Bill, surely" said the
stranger.
The captain made sort of gasp.
"Blnck Dogl" said he.
"And who else?" returned the other,
getting more at his case. "Black Dog
as ever was, come for to see his old
shipmate, Billy, at the Admiral Ben
bow Inn. An, Bill, Bill, we have seen
sight of times, us two, since lost
them two talons," holding up his mu-
tilated hand.
"Now, look here" said the captain;
"you've run me down: here am; well
then. speak up; what is it?"
That's you. Billy" returned Black
Dog, you're in the right of it, Billy. I'll
have glass Of rum from this dear child
here, as I've took such liking to; and
we'll sit down. if you please, aud talk
square, like old shipmates."
When 7 returned with the rum, they
were already seated on either side OF
tie captains breakfast-table - Black
Dog next to the door, and sitting side
ways. so as to have one eye on his old
shipmate. and one, as thought, on his
retreat.
lie babe me go, and leave the door
wide open. "None of your key-holes
for me, sonny" he said; and left them
together and retired into the bar.
For a long time, though l certainly
did my best to listen, could hear moth
ing but a low Cabling; but at last the
voices began to grow higher, and /
could pick up"a word or two, mostly
oaths, from the captain.
"No, no, no, no; and an end of it,"
he cried once. And again: "If it comes
to swinging, swing all, say l."
Then all of sudden there was u ire
mendous explosion of oaths and other
nOises-the chair and table went over
in lump, a clash of steel follow ed. and
then cry of pain, and the next instant
| saw Black Dog in full flight, and the
captain holly 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 signboard 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, aud disappeared
over the edge Of the hill in half min
ute. The captain, for his part, stood
staring at the signboard like a Devil
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 nurt z C11eQ /.
Rum" he repeated. II must get
away from here. Rum! rum."
l ran to fetch it; but | was quite I'M
stcadied by all that had fallen out, and
l broke one glass and fouled the tap,
and while | was still getting in my own
way, l heard loud fall in the parlor
and, running in, beheld the captain ~
ing full 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
dcath-hurt in the scuGle 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 US when the door opened and DR..
Lvesey came in, on his visit to my IA
Their.
"Oh, DOCTOR" we cried, what shall
we do? Where is lie wounded"
wounded? A fddlestick's end!"
said the doctor. "No more wounded
than you or |. The man has had a
stroke, as I 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
a basin"
When got back with the basin. the
doctor had already ripped up the cap
tain's sleeve, and exposed his great
snewy arm. II was tattooed in several
places Here's luck" "A fair wind"
and BILLY Bones his fancy" were very
neatly and clearly executed on the fore
arm; and up near the shoulder there
was sketch Of gallows and a man
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, if that be
your name, we'll have a look at the
color of your blood, JIM" he said, fare
you afraid of blood"