The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-02-28
CHAPTER VIII.

When l had done breakfaSting, the
squire gave me a note addressed to
John Silver. at the sign of the Spy
glass. and old me l should easily find
the place by following the line Of the
docks, and keeping a bright outlook
for a little tavern with a large brass
telescope for a sign. I set off, over
joyed at this opportunity to see some
more of the ships and seamen, n
picked my way among a great crowd
Of people and carts and bales, for the
dock was now at its busiest, until l
found the tavern in question.
1t was a bright enough little place Of
entertainment. The sign was newly
painted; the windows had neat red
curtains; the floor was clearly sanded.
There was a street on either side, and
an open door on both. which made the
large, low room pretty clear to see in.
in spite of clouds Of tobacco smoke.
The customers We're mostly seafar-
Ing men; and they talked so loudly
that l hung at the door, almost afraid
to enter.
AS l was waiting. q man came out of
of a side room, and at a glance, l was
sure he must be Long John. His left
leg was cut off close by the hip, and
under the left shoulder he carried a
crutch, which he managed with Won
derful deXterity, hopping about upon
1t like a bird. He was very tall and
strong, with a face as big as a ham
plain and pale, but intelligent and
smiling. Indeed, he seemed in the most
cheerful spirits, whistling as he moved
about among the tables. with a merry
word or a slap on the shoulder for the
most favored of his guests.
Now, to tell o the truth, from the
very first mention of Long John in
Squire Trelawney's letter, I had taken
a fear in my mind that he might prove
to be the very one-legged sailor whom
I had watched for so long at the old
Benbow. But one Dol at the man be-
fore me was enough. l had seen the
captain, and Black Dog and the blind
man Pew, and l thought l knew what
a ~buccaneer was Ikea very different
creature, according to me, from this
Clean and pleasant-tempered landlord.
l pluckcd up courage ct once,
crossed the threshold. and walked
right up to the man where he stood,
propped on his crutch, talking to a
customer.
Mr.. Silver, sir?" I asked, holding
out.th note.
Yes, my lad said he: such is my
name, to be sure. And who may you
be-" And when he saw the squire's
letter he seemed to me to give some
thing almost like a start.
OH" said he, quite aloud, and offer
ing his hand, Il see. You are our new
cabin boy; pleased 1 an to see you"
And he took my hand in his large
firm grasp.
Just then one of the customers at the
far side rose suddenly and made for
the door. 1t was close by him, and he
was out in the street in a moment. But
his hurry had attracted my notice, n
l recognized him at a glance. 1t was
he tallow-faced man, wanting two
In nrc It-rn hnI ~, &~r+ ~ ~ Al
miral Benbow.
oh" I cried, "stop him.! it's Black
Dog!"
Il don't care two upper who he u.s."
cried Silver. But he hasn't paid his
score. Harry, run and catch him.
One of the others who was nearest
the door leaped up and started in pur-
suit.
IF he We're Admiral Hawke he shall
pay his score" cried Silver; and then,
relinquishing my hand, who did you
say he was?' he asked. 'Black WHAT"
Dog, sir" said I. HAS Mr.. Trelaw-
ney not told you of the buccaneers? He
was one of them"
Sop cried Silver. In my house,!
Ben; u n help Harry. One Of those
sWabs, was he? Was that you drink
ing with him, Morgan? Step up here"
The man whom he called Morgan
an old. gray-haired, mahogany-faced
sailor-came forward pretty sheepish-
ly, rolling his quid.
Now, Morgan said Long John,
very sternly; you never clapped your
eyes on tina Black-Black Dog before,
did you. now?"
Not I, sir" said Morgan, wita a sa-
lutte.
You didn't know his name, did
you?"
mo, sir"
by the powers, Tom Morgan, it's as
good for you!" exclaimed the landlord.
IF you had been mixed up with the
like OF that, you would never have put
another foot in my house, you may lay
to that. And what was he saying to
| your"
=. don't rightly know, sir" answered
Morgan.
DO you call that a head on your
shoulders, or a blessed dead-eye?"
cried Long John. Don't rightly know,
don't you? Perhaps you don't happen
to rightly know who you was speaking
to. perhaps? Come now what was he
jawing-v'yages, cap'ns, ships? Pipe
up? What was it?"
I'VE vas a-talkin' Of keel-hauling,"
answered Morgan.
"Keel -hauling, was you? and a mighty
suitable thing, too, you may lay 10
that. Get back to your place for a
lubber, Tom
And then. as Morgan rolled back to
his seat, Silver added to me in a conf
Dental whisper, that was very f1atter-
Ing, as l thought:
He's quite an honest man, Tom
Morgan, only stupid. And now" hi
ran on again. aloud, "let's setback
Dog? No, I don't know the name, not
]. Yet l kind Of think I've-yes, I've
seen the swab. He used to come here
with a blind beggar, he used
THAT he did, you may be sure said
I. Il knew that blind man, too His
name was Pew"
1T was!" cried Silver, now quite ex-
cited. Pew! That was his name for
certain. All, he looked a shark, he did.
If we u down this Black Dog, now,
there'll be news for Cap'n Trelawney!
Ben's a good runner; few seamen run