Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-02-08

ISLAND So. ::s -: =

for me, sonny" he said; and L left
them together, and retired into the bar
For a long time, though | certainly
did my best to listen, / could hear
nothing 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.
mo, no, no., no.: and an n OF it,
he cried once. And again: IF 1t comes
to swinging, swing all, say l."
Then all Of a sudden there was O
tremendous explosion OF oaths ana
other notes.-the chair and table went
over in a lump, a clash of steel fol-
lowed, and then a cry Of pain, and the
mex instant l saw Black Dog in run
flight, and the captain holly pursuing,
both with drawn c~utlaSses, and the
former streaming blood from h left
shoulder. Just at The door the captain
aimed at the fugitive one last tremen-
dous cut, which would certainly have
split him to the chin had 1t not been
intercepted by our big ~signboard or
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 a wonder
| full clean pair OF heels, and disap-
peared over the edge OF the hill in half
a minute. The captain, for his part,
stood staring at the s~ignboard III a
bewildered 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 a little, n 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 ii; but l was quite un-
steadied by all that had fallen out and
l broke one glass n fouled the tap,
and while ] was still getting In my
own way, / heard a loud fall in the par
lor, and, running I'm, beheld the captain
lying full length upon the floor. Al the
same instant my mother, alarmed by
the cries and lighting, came running
down stairs to help me. Between us we
raised his head. He was breathing very
loud and hard; but his eyes were closed,
n his face a horrible color.
Dear, deary me-" cried my mother,
what a disgrace upon the house! Ana
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 I'm the scufile with the
stranger. l 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 a
happy relief for us when the door
opened and DR.. Livesey came in, on
his visit to my father.
"Oh, Doctor we cried, what shall
we do? Where is he wounded?"
wounded ? a fiddlestick's end!"
said the doctor. mo more wounded
than you or l. The mar has had a
stroke, as / warned him. Now, Mrs.
Hawkins, just you run up stairs to
your husband, and tell him, IL possible,
nothing about II. 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
sinewy arm. II was tattOoed I'm several
places. Here's luck "A fair wind"
and BILLY Bones his fancy" were very
neatly and clearly executed on the
forearm; and up near the shoulder
there was a sketch OF a gnllows and a
man hanging from it-done, as /
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'l have a look at the
color of your blood. Jim" he said.
"are you afraid of blood?"
mo, SIR" said ].
We'll, then" said he, you hold the
basin;" and with that he too his Ian
Get and opened a vein.
A great deal of blood was taken be-
fore the captain opened his eye and
looked mistily about him. First he
recognized the doctor with an unmis-
taxable frown; then his glance fell up
on me, and he looked relieved. But
suddenly his color changed, II he
tried to raise himself, crying: .
Where's Black Dog?'
There Is no Black Dog here said
the doctor, except what you have on
your w back. You have been drink
ing rum; you have had a stroke pre-
cisely rs / told you; and L have Just,
very much against my win,
dragged you headforemost out or the
grave. Now. Mr.. Bones-
That's not my name he inter
rupted.
IT'S the name Of a buccaneer Of my
acquaintance: and | call you by it for
the sake Of shortneSs, and what ! have
to say to you is this. one glass of rum
won't kill you, but if you take n
you'll AXE another and another, and
| stake my wig If YOU don't break off
short, you'll die-do you understand
that ?-die, and &c to your own place,
like the man In the bible. Come, now,
lldht an tllOlts i d hNip SOu = gOul
bed for once"
Between us, with much trouble, we
to hoist him up stairs, and
laid him on his bed, where his head
fell back on the pillow as If he were
almost fainting.
Now, mind you" said the doctor, Il
clear my consciencc-the name of rum
for you is DEATH"
And with that he went off to see my
father kim me with him hy the
arm.
'This is nothing, " he said, as soon as
he had closed the door. Il have drawn
blood enough to keep him quiet
awhile; he should lie for n week where
he is-that is the best thing for him
and you; but another stroke would set
tie him"