Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-12
CHAPTER IL.
BLACK DOG APPEARS AND DrsAP-
PEARS


BLACK DOG APPEARS AND DrsAP-
PEARS
1t was not long after this that there
occurred the first of the mysterious
events that rid us at last of the aptain
though not, as you will see. of his af-
fairs. 1t was bitter, cold winter, with
long, hard frosts and heavy gales; and
1t was plain from the first that my poor
father was little likely to see the
spring. He sunk daily and my mother
and had all the inn upon our hands,
and were kept busy enough without
paying much regard to our unpleasant
guest.
1t was one January morning, very
early-a pinching, frosty morning
the cove all gray with hoarfrost, the
ripple Tipping softly on the stones, the
sun stilllow, and only touching the hill
| tops and shining far to seward. The
captain had risen earlier than usual.
and set out down the beach, his cutlass
swinging under the broad skirts of
the old blue coat, his brass telescope
under his arm, his hat tilted back upon
his head. ! remember his breath hang
| ing like smoke in his wake as he strobe
off, and the last sound | heard of him,
as he turned the big rock was a loud
snort of indignation, as though his
mind was still running upon DR.. Live
sey.
Well, mother was upstairs with ia
Their; and ! was laying the breakfast
table against the captains return,
! 1Nha bn nr1n
man stepped in on whom l had never
set my eyes before. He was pale. tai
lowy creature, wanting two fingers on
the left hand; and, though he wore a
cutlass, he did not look much like a
fighter. l had always my eyes open
for seafaring men, with one leg or two,
and l remember this one puzzled me.
He was not sailorly, and yet he had a
smack Of the sea about him, too.
I asked him what was for his service,
and he said he would take rum;
but as I was going out of the room to
fetch it he sat down upon a table and
motioned to me to draw near. paused
where l was with my napkin in my
hand.
Come here, sonny" says he. "Come
nearer here"
took step nearer.
rs this here table for my mate
Bill?' he asked, with kind OF leer.
| told him l did not know his mate
Bill; and this was for person who
stayed in our house, whom we called
the captain.
WELL" said he, my mate Bill would
be called the captain, as like as not. He
has cut on one cheek, and mighty
pleasant way with him, particularly in
drink, has my mate Bill. Well put it,
for argument like, that your captain
has cut on one cheek-and Wen put
1t, if you like, that that checks the
Now, is my mate Bill in this here
house?"
told him he was out walking.
(Which way, sonny? Which way is
he gomez"
And when had pointed ont the rock
and told him how the captain was like
~ to return, and how soon, and an
Swered few other questions, "Ah,"
said he, "this'll be as good as drink to
my mate Bill"
The expression of his face as he said
these words was not at all pleasant,
and had my own reasons for think
ing that the stranger was mistaken,
even supposing he meant what he said.
But 1t was no affair of mine, | thought;
and, besides, it was difficult to know
what 10 do. The stranger kept hang
ing about just inside the inner door,
pecring around the corner like a cat
waiting fora mouse. Once stepped out
myself into the road, but he Immediate
~ called me back, and, as did not obey
quick enough for his fancy, a most hor-
rible change came over his tallowy
face, and he ordered me in, with an
oath that made me jump.
AS soon as ] was back again he re-
turned to his former manner, half
fawning, half sneering, patted me ON
the shoulder, told me | was a good boy,
and he had taken quite fancy to me.
Il have a son of my own" said he, "as
like you as two blocks, and he's all the
pride of my art. But the great thing
for boys is discipline, sonny-dscip-
line Now, if you had sailed along of
Bill, you wouldn't have stood there to
be spoke to twice-not you. That was
never Bits way, nor the way of such as
sailed with him. And here, sure
enough, is my mate Bill, with a spy
glass under his arm, bless his old art,
to be sure. You and nell just go back
into the parlor, sonny, and get behind
the door, and We'll give Bill little sur
prisc-bless his art, say again"
So saying the stranger backed along
with me into the parlor, and put me be-
hind him in the corner, so that we were
both hidden by the open door. l was
very uneasy and alarmed, as you may
fancy, and 1t rather added to my fears
to observe that the stranger was GER
tainly frightened himself. He cleared |
the hilt of his cutlass and loosened the |
blade in the sheath; and all the time
we were kept waiting there he kept |
swallowing as if he felt what we used |
to call lump in the throat,