The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1901-01-18
CHAPTER TX.

d%lsscusion fled discounted before the
advance Of the visions of wealth that
our hopes saw mlrrorcd In the CLASSY
surface of the river.
We hauled our wlnl somewhat and
sailed TO the mouth. Job Trehaii"r
(grinning TIL his scar Jagged up like n
saw was sent with an eager boats
crew 10 sound, and before the first star
of night had thrown Its reflection In
the water round us we were anchored,
and the rlppics that Tapped against our
wooden walls had not n grain OF salt In
them. We had left the trncklcss ocean
to follow where the river should lead
us.
Nets Of mangrovc roots formed nm
impenctrable thickct on either bank,
though 1t 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 c~rocodilcs
lay half In md half out of the evil
smelling brown water, winklng their
lazy eyes Mt MS and taking charge In a
slow. cumbrous way OF every scrap
that was flung overheard. Tree tonds
barked. beasts of prey howlcd In the
distant forests, foul night birds croak-
cd from the thickcts OF the shores. aud
from the evil smelling stream there
arose a 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, IAN II we've
no more'n half a score o. men down by
mornings light We'll be uncommon
lucky. say l."
Don't croak. o 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 n o the
mouths, IN we sill open into a great.
broad river soon. where you can't see
both banks at once. An there bain't
any O. these yere mists on 1t. he says,
but limmins on the trees an other fruits
enough to feast IN army, IN all for the
plucklng Of them"
go to the forecastle and tell them
that, job" cried Alec, land serve out
a good, stiff dram to all hands and say
that they can kill the stencil by firing
a few grains Of powder now and then.
Stay: I'll come with you aud tell them
that he who keeps a stout heart may
laugh at fevers. They only attack cow
ards"
He went forward, and Willie Treha-
lion. the other two officers and l went
down to the cabin for our meal, where
we were shortly joined by Alec, who
reported that the crew were all rs mer-
ry as pipers at the prospect Of making
another step toward u golden goal.
When the meal was over, the devil
came and whispered In my carat least
OF no other view can l explain my folly
In taking up the dice. satan's own
bones. they say-and proposing a throw
apiece to sample our luck, sinister or
dexter.
Alec. saying with a laugh that he did
not believe In such omens, neverthe-
less humored Il folly. He ratified the
box first and flung on the table deuce
ace.
One of the officers threw a pair OF
deuces!
The other threw a pair OF aces!
Willie Trehalion threw deuce ace,
The heat had worn or. and the cabin
was full OF cold. clammy mist. but the
perspiration streamed from my face as
though the sun were high above our
mastheads. My hand trembled like a
palsied dotard's as l took up the fate
full leathern box, and for a full minute
] ratified the box without daring to
turn them down.
The others waited In breathless 81
lence and watched intently, At last
took a deep breath. clapped the mouth
of the box down on To the table and
then slowly withdrew ii.
aces again. cried Willie Trehalion
"The Lord have mercy on me, a sinfu
mariner"
Willie's cry was followed by an In
terval Of dead silence. We stood star
ing at one another as though spell
bound.
A shout Of laughter from the fore
castle broke the charm, and In a burs
Of sudden frenzy Alec threw box an,
dice together through q portfolio int,
the fog without and began to chan u
for u superstitious fears.
"Cheer up, Jack" he cried. ciappinI
me hard on the shoulder. ''The dew
hasn't got us yet"
sbuddered and drew back withOu
answering.
"Come, come" said Alec, with SON
show of anger. Don't let us hav
any more of this nonsense. l was
fool TO take any part in your child
game"
The Roman admiral threw his ONE
giving chickens overheard" said
gloomily. land two.thirds Of his fee
was destroyed"
Alec turned to me sharply, and ther
was a haunting smile on his face.
Turned pedant, Jack? l didn't kno'
you were such a scholar. PerhaI
you'll favor US with an account OF til
circumstances. The foolish birds n