Black Dog Appears and Disappears

           Itwasnotverylongafterthisthatthereoccurredthefirstofthemysteriouseventsthatridusatlastofthecaptain,thoughnot,asyouwillsee,ofhisaffairs.Itwasabittercoldwinter,withlong,hardfrostsandheavygales;anditwasplainfromthefirstthatmypoorfatherwaslittlelikelytoseethespring.Hesankdaily,andmymotherandIhadalltheinnuponourhands,andwerekeptbusyenoughwithoutpayingmuchregardtoourunpleasantguest.

           ItwasoneJanuarymorning,veryearly—apinching,frostymorning—thecoveallgreywithhoar-frost,theripplelappingsoftlyonthestones,thesunstilllowandonlytouchingthehilltopsandshiningfartoseaward.Thecaptainhadrisenearlierthanusualandsetoutdownthebeach,hiscutlassswingingunderthebroadskirtsoftheoldbluecoat,hisbrasstelescopeunderhisarm,hishattiltedbackuponhishead.Irememberhisbreathhanginglikesmokeinhiswakeashestrodeoff,andthelastsoundIheardofhimasheturnedthebigrockwasaloudsnortofindignation,asthoughhismindwasstillrunninguponDr.Livesey.

           Well,motherwasupstairswithfatherandIwaslayingthebreakfast-tableagainstthecaptain’sreturnwhentheparlourdooropenedandamansteppedinonwhomIhadneversetmyeyesbefore.Hewasapale,tallowycreature,wantingtwofingersofthelefthand,andthoughheworeacutlass,hedidnotlookmuchlikeafighter.Ihadalwaysmyeyeopenforseafaringmen,withonelegortwo,andIrememberthisonepuzzledme.Hewasnotsailorly,andyethehadasmackoftheseaabouthimtoo.