The captain quickly settled into a routine at the inn During most of the day he took long walks along the cove Many times he stood on the cliffs and peered out at sea with a brass telescope As evening crept in he returned to the inn and drank rum with a little water On some nights the captain grew restless and burst into fierce tales full of pirates deadly storms and walking the plank My father complained that such gruesome stories drove away guests but I saw no sign of that I suspect people enjoyed the adventure the captain brought into our quiet country lives Other times the captain launched into rowdy songs that he belted out at the top of his lungs If other customers dared complain of his stories or songs the captain stared them down until they slunk away in silence In all the time he stayed with us only one man stood up to the captain That man was Dr Livesey My father had long been ill Within a few months of the captain’s stay Father rarely left 7
his bed at all As he was too ill to travel Dr Livesey came often to see what might be done to ease his discomfort One day the doctor arrived later than usual and stayed for dinner after tending to my father I followed the doctor into the parlor and noted how his neat appearance brightly-powdered wig and pleasant manners contrasted with the rest of the people in the room especially with our own pirate The captain looked up blearily from his glass of rum and began singing Dr Livesey cast an annoyed look toward the old pirate then turned to continue a conversation with another of our guests The captain pounded on the table for silence as he often did whenever anyone dared speak during one of his songs or stories The doctor ignored him The captain glared at Dr Livesey and pounded his hand again The doctor ignored him Finally the old pirate took a deep 8
breath and bellowed Silence there between decks Were you addressing me sir the doctor asked The captain snarled that he was The doctor merely looked the captain over from head to feet and said I have only one thing to say to you sir If you keep drinking rum it will soon be the end of you The captain leaped to his feet and pulled out a sailor’s knife The doctor never flinched If you do not put that away I shall see that you hang the doctor said The young doctor and the old pirate stared at one another for the long moment but it was the pirate who dropped his eyes first 9
