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
2 Black Dog A bitter winter settled in and the doctor warned us that my father was not likely to see the spring Helping my mother keep my father comfortable and the inn well tended took all of my time I paid little attention to the old captain and his rants and rambles Then one January morning while the captain was out on a walk the parlor door opened and a pale man walked in He looked around and I noticed he was missing three fingers on his left hand May I be of service I asked politely Rum he muttered then turned to me sharply Is this here table set for my mate Bill 10
This is the table of the captain who stays here I said Ah that’s probably Bill the thin man said with a smile I didn’t like Bill has a cut on one cheek He looked around again as if Bill might pop up by magic Where is my mate He’s out walking But he should soon return I said I began easing toward the door when the tall thin man snatched my arm Let’s not spoil the surprise when he returns he said He dragged me to one side where we couldn’t be seen when the parlor door opened There we waited The captain soon strode in with a slam of the door Bill the stranger said his voice a notch higher than when he’d spoken to me The captain gasped Black Dog I’ve come to talk square with an old shipmate Black Dog said He turned to me then You can fetch that glass of rum now 11
