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his excited visitor； said slowly；
〃Ye wan some blue masssuthin' to unload your liver。 I'll get it up
for ye。〃
〃But； Captain Dick； I'm an outcast； shamed； disgraced〃
〃Two on them pills taken now； and two in the morning；〃 continued the
captain； gravely； rolling a bolus in his fingers； 〃will bring yer head to the
wind again。 Yer fallin' to leeward all the time； and ye want to brace up。〃
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〃But； Captain；〃 continued the agonized man； again clutching the
sinewy arms of his host； and forcing his livid face and fixed eyes within a
few inches of Captain Dick's； 〃hear me！ You must and shall hear me。
I've been in jaildo you hear？in jail； like a common felon。 I've been
sent to the asylum； like a demented pauper。 I've〃
〃Two now； and two in the morning；〃 continued the captain； quietly
releasing one hand only to place two enormous pills in the mouth of the
excited Catron； 〃thar nowa drink o' whiskythar； that'll do just enough
to take the taste out of yer mouth； wash it down； and belay it； so to speak。
And how are the mills running； gin'rally； over at the Bar？〃
〃Captain Dick； hear meif you ARE my friend； for God's sake hear me！
An hour ago I should have been a dead man〃
〃They say that Sam Bolin hez sold out of the Excelsior〃
〃Captain Dick！ Listen； for God's sake； I have suffered〃
But Captain Dick was engaged in critically examining his man。 〃I
guess I'll ladle ye out some o' that soothin' mixture I bought down at
Simpson's t' other day；〃 he said； reflectively。 〃And I onderstand the boys
up on the Bar think the rains will set in airly。〃
But here Nature was omnipotent。 Worn by exhaustion； excitement；
and fever； and possibly a little affected by Captain Dick's later potion；
Roger Catron turned white； and lapsed against the wall。 In an instant
Captain Dick had caught him； as a child； lifted him in his stalwart arms；
wrapped a blanket around him； and deposited him in his bunk。 Yet； even
in his prostration； Catron made one more despairing appeal for mental
sympathy from his host。
〃I know I'm sickdying； perhaps；〃 he gasped； from under the blankets；
〃but promise me； whatever comes； tell my wifesay to〃
〃It has been lookin' consid'ble like rain； lately； hereabouts；〃 continued
the captain； coolly； in a kind of amphibious slang； characteristic of the
man； 〃but in these yer latitudes no man kin set up to be a weather sharp。〃
〃Captain！ will you hear me？〃
〃Yer goin' to sleep； now；〃 said the captain； potentially。
〃But； Captain； they are pursuing me！ If they should track me here？〃
〃Thar is a rifle over thar； and yer's my navy revolver。 When I've
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emptied them； and want you to bear a hand； I'll call ye。 Just now your
lay is to turn in。 It's my watch。〃
There was something so positive； strong； assuring； and a little
awesome in the captain's manner； that the trembling； nervously… prostrated
man beneath the blankets forbore to question further。 In a few moments
his breathing； albeit hurried and irregular； announced that he slept。 The
captain then arose； for a moment critically examined the sleeping man；
holding his head a little on one side； whistling softly； and stepping
backwards to get a good perspective； but always with contemplative good
humor； as if Catron were a work of art； which he （the captain） had created；
yet one that he was not yet entirely satisfied with。 Then he put a large
pea…jacket over his flannel blouse； dragged a Mexican serape from the
corner； and putting it over his shoulders； opened the cabin door； sat down
on the doorstep； and leaning back against the door… post； composed
himself to meditation。 The moon lifted herself slowly over the crest of
Deadwood Hill； and looked down； not unkindly； on his broad； white；
shaven face； round and smooth as her own disc； encircled with a thin
fringe of white hair and whiskers。 Indeed； he looked so like the prevailing
caricatures in a comic almanac of planets； with dimly outlined features；
that the moon would have been quite justified in flirting with him； as she
clearly did； insinuating a twinkle into his keen； gray eyes； making the
shadow of a dimple on his broad； fat chin； and otherwise idealizing him
after the fashion of her hero…worshiping sex。 Touched by these benign
influences； Captain Dick presently broke forth in melody。 His song was
various； but chiefly； I think； confined to the recital of the exploits of one
〃Lorenzo；〃 who； as related by himself；
〃Shipped on board of a Liner； 'Renzo； boys；
Renzo；〃
a fact that seemed to have deprived him at once of all metre；
grammar； or even the power of coherent narration。 At times a groan or a
half…articulate cry would come from the 〃bunk〃 whereon Roger Catron lay；
a circumstance that always seemed to excite Captain Dick to greater effort
and more rapid vocalization。 Toward morning； in the midst of a
prolonged howl from the captain； who was finishing the 〃Starboard Watch；
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ahoy！〃 in three different keys； Roger Catron's voice broke suddenly and
sharply from his en… wrappings：
〃Dry up； you dd old fool； will you？〃
Captain Dick stopped instantly。 Rising to his feet； and looking over
the landscape； he took all nature into his confidence in one inconceivably
arch and crafty wink。 〃He's coming up to the wind；〃 he said softly；
rubbing his hands。 〃The pills is fetchin' him。 Steady now； boys； steady。
Steady as she goes on her course；〃 and with another wink of ineffable
wisdom； he entered the cabin and locked the door。
Meanwhile； the best society of Sandy Bar was kind to the newly…
made widow。 Without being definitely