" I see ye know me," said the newcomer, leering at the captain in a manner intended to be friendly. " Yes, durn ye, I know ye, more's my sorrow," snarled the old man. " And I'll warrant ye came for no good purpose. What is it now ? Speak up." ' Aisy now, cap' n. There's lots o' time 'fore mornin'. So let's do the thing up bizness-like." " I ain't got no dealin's with you, Dave, and ye know it. So what are ye tryin' to git at ?" " Yes, but ye have, cap'n. Don't ye remember the night o' the first o' December, when yer schooner, Marietta, was layin' off Parlett Head? Some stuff went aboard that night as wasn't jest strictly accordin' to law. D' ye recall that ?" The captain winced and then scowled blackly at his visitor. " Well, seein's yer mem'ry's so good, maybe ye recall the day that the Marietta run into Boston on her first trip from Sydney. The passage was a good un and ye made fair profits an' was feelin' chipper. •So ye went aroun' to the Figure-Head to spend yer first night ashore., There was a game or two o' cards 'tween 'you an' some others, until ye caught one o' them cheatin' an', when the fight was over, they found Bill Dawe with your knife in him. Mebby you kin recall that, cap'n." " Yes, curse ye," shouted the old captain, " I remember. But why d'ye tell me all this ? What are ye after ?" " Softly, cap'n, softly," said Dave. " I don't want ye to wake the neighbors. It's this way, cap'n. I'm stranded, 'thout a copper, and seein's we were shipmates together fer so long, I natcherly came to ye fer help. I knowed if ye saw how good my mem'ry was, ye'd give me a lift." And he chuckled softly to himself. • " But I haven't anything to give ye, man. Why I'm poor as a barnacle," said the old captain, slowly. " Look 'ere, cap'n," said Dave, " I'm aware ye ain't no Cap'n Kidd, but I'd swear ye could give me a cool thousand an' never miss it. That's all I want. Give me that, and I'll go out o' yer life forever. I'll bet yer old chest is haf full o' coin." And Dave moved toward it as to investigate. In an instant the captain intercepted him, his eyes blazing and his whole body trembling. " No ye sha'n't," he cried, excitedly. " I'll give ye what ye
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