Part 92 (1/2)
”Well,” said Clark, slowly--”I went to that inn--to watch the fellow
He was sitting by the fire, taking it very easy I tried to make out whether I had ever seen him before, but could not He sat by the fire, and wouldn't say a word I tried to trot hiood earnest, and if any h-shod over, I'm that individual He isn't a an in a playful way by taking a piece of charcoal and writing on the wall so topeople see; in fact, the Botany Bay hast
”Not only knew it, but, as I was saying, e And for fear they wouldn't be understood, he kindly explained to about a dozen people present the particularof each”
”The devil!” said John
”That's what I said he was,” rejoined Clark, dryly ”But that's nothing
I remember when I was a little boy,” he continued, pensively, ”hearing the parson read about sohtened Beelzebub hi on the wall used ood deal more than that other Still what folloorse”
Clark paused for a little while, and then, taking a long breath, went on
”He proceeded to give to the assembled company an account ofpart of it which I passed on my last visit to Botany Bay You know my escape”
He stopped for a while
”Did he know about that, too?” asked Potts, with soitation
”Johnnie,” said Clark, ”he knew a precious sight otten myself Why, that devil stood up there and slowly told the coht it all back He told how I looked at Stubbs, and how Stubbs looked atat each other, each in our own end of the boat”
Clark stopped again, and no one spoke for a long time
”I lost o back
I did so at last It was then al there He smiled at me in a way that fairly made my blood run cold
'Crocker,' said he, 'sit down'”
At this Potts and John looked at each other in horror
”He knows that too?” said John
”Every thing,” returned Clark, dejectedly
”Well, when he said that I looked a little surprised, as you ht you'd be back,' said he, 'for you want to seeto follow ot your pistols all ready, so, as I always like to oblige a friend, I'll give you a chance Coered
”'Coot all that et it from me Come'
”I swear to you I could not ot up and left the house I stood for sorew reckless 'If he's the devil himself,' says I, 'I'll have it out with him' I rushed out and followed in his pursuit After some time I overtook hi He heard'Ah, Crocker,' said he, quite merrily, 'so you've come, have you?'
”I tore my pistol froh He went on without turning his head I was now sure that it was the devil, but I fired h, turned his horse, and rode full at e church Every thing swaround I believe I lay there all night When I caht here”
As he ended Clark arose, and, going to the sideboard, poured out a large glass of brandy, which he drank raw