Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-10-05
PART I
The Old Buccaneer

l ran to fetch it, but 1 was quite
unsteadied by all that had fallen out
and 1 broke one glass and fouled the
tap, and while 1 was still getting
in my own way, l heard loud rail-
in the parlor, and, running in, beheld
the captain lying full length upon
the floor. At the same instant my
mother, alarmed by the cries ana
lighting, came running downstairs 10
helm me. Between us we raised his
head. He was breathing very loud
and hard, but his eyes were closed
and his face was a horrible color
Dear, deary mel" cried my moth
er, what a 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 death-hurt in the scuffle 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 were as strong as
iron. 1t was a happy relief for us
when the door opened and Doctor
Livesey came in, on his visit to my
father.
"Oh, DOCTOR" we cried, what shall
we do? Where is he wOunded?"
wounded? A fiddle-stick's end"
said the doctor. mo more wounded
than you or 1. The man has had a
stroke, as 1 warned him. Now, Mrs.
Hawkins, just run upstairs to your
husband and tell him, if possible,
nothing about it. For my part, Il
must do my best to save this fellows
trebly worthless life; and Jim here
will get me a basin"
When 1 got back with the basin
the doctor had already ripped up the
captains sleeve and exposed his
great sinewy arm. 1t was tatooed
in 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 sketch
of a gallows and man hanging from
it-done, as 1 thought, with great
spirit.
prophetic" said the doctor touch
ing this picture with his finger.
VSnd, now, Master Billy Bones, if
that be your name, we'll have look
at the color of your blood. JIM"
he said, "are you afraid of blood?"
mo, SIR" said 1.
"Well, then" said he, ''you hold
the basin," and with that he took
his lancet and opened a vein.
A great deal of blood was taken
before the captain opened his eyes
and looked mistily about him. First
he recognized the doctor with an UNI
mistakable frown; then his glance
fell upon me, and he looked relieved.
But suddenly his color changed, and
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 own back. You have been
drinking rum; you have had a stroke
precisely as l told you; and l have
just, very much against my own will,
dragged you headforemost out of the
grave. Now, Mr.. Bones"
"That's not my name," he inter-
rupted.
much 1 care" returned the doc
tor. cts the name of buccaneer of
my acquaintance, and I call you by
it for the sake of shortness, and what
l have to say to you is this: One
glass of rum won't kill you, but if
you take one you'll take another and
another, and 1 stake my wig if you
don't break off short, you'll die; do
you understand that? Die, and go to
your own place, like the man in the
Bible. Come, now, make an effort.
I'll help you to your bed for once"
Between us, with much trouble,
we managed to hoist him upstairs,
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
81 clear my conscience-the name of
rum for you is DEATH" l.
And with that he went off to see
my father, taking me with him by
the arm.
"This is nothing" he said, as soon d
as he had closed the door. 81 have
drawn blood enough to keep him Z
quiet for awhile; he should lie for )
a week where he is-that is the best :
thing for him and you, but another L
stroke would settle him"
CHAPTER III
The BLACK Spot