Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-11-29
CHAPTER TX.

Al IHe SiEHt VI ludl Duuu VI SHiHih6
water a spontaneous cheer arose from
every throat on board. Discord and
dissenslon fed discounted before the
advance of the visions of wealth that
our hopes saw nirrored in the CLASSY
surface Of the river.
We hauled our wind somewhat and
sailed to the mouth. Job Trehalinn
(grinnlng till his scar jagged up like
saw was sent with an eager boats
crew to sound, and before the first star
Of night had thrown its reflection in
the water round us we were anchored,
and the ripples that Tapped against our
wooden walls had not grain of salt In
them We had left the trackless ocean
to follow where the river should lead
us.
Nets OF mangrove roots formed an
impcnetrabIe thlclet on either bank,
though it was no easy task to tell
where the slug flowing water ended
and the liquid mud of the shore began.
Loathsome reptiles-which some OF us
took to be dragons, till the knowing
ones told us they were only crocodiles
lay half In and half out of the evil
smelling brown water, winking their
lazy eyes at us and taking charge In
slow. cumbrous way of every scrap
that was flung overheard. Tree toads
barked beasts Of prey howled In the
distant forests, foul night birds croak-
ed from the thickets of the shores, and
from the evil smelling stream there
arose n putrid yellow mist thick and
rank enough to choke one.
Its n fever trap we've got into"
growled Willie Trehalion. shifting his
tangled black wig from the pocket
where he had carried 1t during the heat
of the day to his head, "an If we've
no more'n half score O. men down by
mornings light wen be uncommon
lucky, say l."
Don't croak. you unsatIsfied old ra-
ven," said Alec lightly, but he looked
grave none the less.
"The pagan" put in Job, with his
usual grin, apologize in meaning this
time, says this Is only one o. the
mouths, an we s'll open into n great,
broad river soon, where you can't see
both banks at once. An there baln't
any o these yere mlsts on II, he says,
but lmmins on the trees an other fruits
enough to feast an army, an all for the
plucking Of them"
Go TO the forecastle and tell them
that, Job" cried Alec, land serve out
n good, stiff dram TO all hands and say
that they can kill the stencil by firing
n few grains of powder now and then.
Stay; I'll come with you and tell them
that he who keeps stout heart may
laugh at feyers. They only attack cow
ards"
lie went forward, and Willie Treha-
lion, the other two officers and | went
down TO the cabin for our meal, where
we were shortly Joined by Alec, who
reported that the crew were all as mer-
ry as ppers at the prospect OF making
another step toward our golden goal.
When the meal was over, the devil
came and whispered In my carat least
on no other view can explain my folly
In taking up the dice, satan's own
bones, they say-and proposing throw
apiece to sample our luck. sinister or
dexter
Alec, saying with n laugh that he did
not believe in such omcns, neverthe-
less humored our folly. lie ratified the
box first and flung on the table deuce
ace.
One Of the officers threw n pair of
dcuccs!
The other threw n pair OF aces!
Willie Trehalion threw deuce ace!
The heat had worn off, and the cabin
was ful! OF cold, clammy mist, but the
persplration streamed from my face as
though the sun were high above our
mastheads My hand tremblcd like n
palsied dotard's as | took up the fate
full leathern box, and for n full minute
| ratified the box without daring to
turn them down.
The others waited In breathless 81
lence and watched intcntly. At last |
took n deep breath. clappcd the mouth
of the box down on TO the table and
then slowly Withdrew t..
Aces again" cried Willie Trchallon
"rhe Lord have mercy on me. n sinful