The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-03-31


his promises and had already set apart
three ana Il half barrels Of spermacetl,
ten barrels Of oil and some twenty
pounds of hone rs tie schooncr's share
in the transaction. There was no dis
cussion over the matter, He called
their attention to the discharge of his
Obligations and hurried away to sum
mon his mon aboard and get the junk
under way again.
The beachcombcrs returned to their
junk, and Wilbur ana Moran set about
cutting the carcass of the whale adriit.
Thcy found it would be easier to cut
away the hide from around the hooks
ana loops Of the tackle than to unfas-
ten the tackle itself
"The knots are jammed hard as
STEEL declared Moran. Hand UP
that cutting-in spade; stand by with
the other and cut loose at the same
time as | DO, so we can ease of the
strain on these lines ut the same time.
Ready there, cutr' Moran set free the
hook in the loop of black skin in
couple Of strokes but Wilbur was
more clumsy; the skin resisted lie
struck al it sharply with the heavy
spade. The blade hit the iron hook,
Slanccd of ana opened large slit in
The carcass below the head. \ gush
Of cntrails started from the slit, and
Moran swore under breath.
"lgase away. quick there! You'll
have the mast out of her neXt-steady!
Hold your spade what's that"
Wilbur had nerved himself against
the dreadful stencil he expected would
Issue from the putrid monster, but he
was surprised to note pungcnt. sweet
and spicy odor that all at once made
thick the air about him. 1t was an
aromatic smell stronger than that of
the salt ocean. stronger even than the
reek of oil and bubhcr from the
schoouer's waist sweet IN incense.
penetrating as altar, delicious as 4
summer breeze,
1T smells pretty good, whatever It
H." he answered. Moran came up to
where he stood and looked ut the slit
he had made in the whales carcass.
out of it was bullying some kind Of
dun white matter marblod with gray,
II was a hard lump Of irregular shape
and about rs biz as q hogshcad,
Moran glanced over TO the junk. some
forty feet distant. The beachcomhers
were hosting the lug sail. Hoang was
al the steering oar.
Get that stuff aboard she com
handed quietly.
That" exclaimed Wilbur pointing
to the lump
Moran's blue eyes were beginning to
gleam.
Eyes. and do it before the Cinnamon
see You"
But but | don't understand
Moran stepped 10 tie quarter deck,
uuslung the hammock in which Wilbur
slept and tossed It 20 him.
"Reeye it up in that III pass you
line. ana wen laul it aboard. God
send those vcrmin yonder have got
smells enough of their own without mo-
ticing this Hurry, mate. III talk aft
erward"
Wilbur went over the side and stand
ing as best he could upon the slippery
carcass, dug out the lump and bound
Il mp in the hammock
"Hoh," exclaimed Moran, with sud
den exultation There's a LOT Of It.
That's the biggest lump yet, III be
bound. Is that all there Is, mate?
Look carefully" Her voice had drop
ped Ia 4 whisper.
"Ycs. yes; that's MI. Careful now
when you haul up. Hoang has got his
eye on you, and so have the rest Of
them What do you call it anyhow?
Why are you SO particular about 1t?
Is it worth anythmgE
Il don't know perhaps. Wen have
look at il anyway"
Moran hauled the stuff aboard and
Wilbur followed.
"Whcw" he exclaimed with half
closed eyes ITS ike the story of
Samson and the dead lion the sweet
corning forth from the strong"
The schooner seemed TO swim in q
bath of portumcd air. The membrane
Of tie nostllls fairly prinsled with the
sensation Moran uncashed the ham
mock and. going down upon enc knee,
examined the lump attentivcly
1T didn't seem possible" Wilbur
Heard her saying to herself. "but there
can't be any mistake It's the stun,
right enough I've heard OF such
things. but this but this She rose
to her feet, tossing back her hair
We'll" said Wilbur what do you
call IT."
1.-THE thirg to do now" returned Mo
ran. is to got clear of here us quietly
and as quickly as We can aud take this
stuff with us. | can't stop to explain
now but its big its biz. Mate, it's
big rs the Bank of England
These beacleoluhers ARE right on to
the game. I'm afraid" said Wilbur.
"Look. they're watching rs. This stuff
would smell across the ocean
RIOT the beachcombers. There's
bit " wind. thank heaven. and We can
do four knots te their one, just let US
get clear once"
M1gan dragged the hammock back
iaio The cabin and. returning 10 the
,l1.f. r.,f,.e,1 Kx-sl1,ur Z, ,.4,f a t,-.v tho