The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-01-18
CHAPTER TX.

At the sight sOf that band OF SHINING
water spontaneous cheer arose from
every throat on board. Discord and
dissension fed discounted before the
advance Of the visions Of wealth that
our hopes saw mirrored in the CLASSY
surface of the river.
we hauled our wind somewhat and
sailed to the mouth. Job Trehalinn
stgrinning 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 it's reflection in
the water round us we were anchored,
and the ripples that Tapped against our
wooden walls had not a grain of salt in
them. We had left the trackless ocean
to follow where the river should lead
us.
Nets of mangroye roots formed an
impenetrable thicket 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 a
slow, cumbrous way of every scrap
that was flung overheard. Tree toads
barked, beasts Of prey hovled in the
distant forests, foul night .,.rds croak-
ed from the thickets Of the shores, and
from the evil smelling stream there
arose putrid yellow mist thick and
rank enough to choke one.
Its fever trap we've got into"
growled Willie Trehalion, shifting his
tangled black wig from the pocket
where he had carried it during the heat
of the day to his head, ian if We've
no more'n half score O. men down by
mornings light We'll be uncommon
lucky, say I. :"
"Don't croak, you unsatisfed old ra-
ven,' said Alec lightly. but he looked
grave none the less.
'1The pagan" put in Job, with his
usual grin, apologize in meaning this
time, "says this IS only one O the
mouths, an we s'N open into great,
broad river soon, where you can't see
both banks at once An there bain't
any O. these we're mists on it, he says,
Is but limmins on the trees an other fruits
@ enough to feast an army, an all for the
II plucking of them"
1sGo to the forecastle and tell them
! that, Job cried Alec, land serve out
n a good, stiff dram to all hands and say
that they can kill the stencil by firing
few grains of powder now and then.
Stay; Ill come with you and tell them
that he who keeps 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 as mer
ry as pipers at the prospect Of making
another step toward our golden goal.
When the meal was over, the devil
came and whispered in my carat leas,
on no other view can explain my foil,
in taking up the dice, satan's owl
bones, they say and proposing throw
apiece to sample our luck, sinister o.
dexter.
Alec, saying with laugh that be die
not believe in such omens, neverthe
less humored our folly. He ratified tn,
box first and flung on the table deuc,
ace.
One of the officers threw pair O
deuces!
The other threw pair of aces!
Willie Trehalion threw deuce ace!
The heat had worn off, and the cabil
was full Of cold, clammy mist, but TIN
perspiration streamed from my face a
though the sun were high above gu
mastheads. My hand trembled like
palsied dotard's as took up the fate
full leathern box, and for full minut
l ratified the box without daring t
turn them down.
The others waited in breathless 81
lence and watched intently. AT last
took a deep breath, clapped the mout
of the box down on to the table an
then slowly withdrew it.
3.Aces again. cried Willie Trehalior
..The Lord have mercy on me, a sinfu
marinerw
Willies cry was followed by an il
| terval of dead silence. We stood stal
y ing at one another as though spell
bound.
A shout of laughter from the fore
castle broke the charm, and in burs
of sudden frenzy Alec threw box an
dice together through portfolio int
the fog without and began to chaff U
for our superstitious fears.
i "Cheer up, Jack" lie cried, clappin
me hard on the shoulder. "The dev
hasn't got us yet"
shuddered and drew back withol
answering.
"Come, come" said Alec, with SON
show of anger. Don't let us hay
any more of this nonsense. was
4 fool to take any part in your child
game"
a 'sThe Roman admiral threw his ONE
giving chickens overheard" said
gloomily, land two-thirds of his fe'
was destroyed"
81 "A ~ L .N.l,- 81