Evening star., 1924-10-20

in no case for inspection by such
dainty eyes as these. Nevertheless,
they continued to inspect him with
round-eyed, almost childlike wonder
and pity. Their owner put forth
hand to touch the scarlet sleeve OF her
companion, whereupon with an III
tempered grunt the man swung his
great bulk round so that he directly
confronted her.
Looking up into his face. she was
speaking to him earnestly, but the col
onel plainly gave her no more than the
half Of his attention: His little beady
eyes. closely thanking feshy. pendn-
louS nose, had passed from her ana
were fixed upon fair-haired. sturdy
young Pitt, who was standing beside
Blood
The governor had also come to a
halt. and for a moment now. that lit
tie group of three stood in converSa-
ton What the lady said Deter could
not hear at all, for she lowered her
voice; the coloners reached him in a
confused rumble, but the governor
was neither consideratr nor indis-
tinct; he had a high-pitched voice
which carried far. and believing him
self witty, he desired to be heard
by all
But my dear Col. Bishop. it is for
YOU to take first choice from this
dainty nosegay. and at Your own
price. After that we'll send the rest
to auction"
col. Bishop nodded his acknowl-
cdgment. He raised his voice in an
swering. Your cNcellency is very
good But, faith. they're a weedy lot,
not likely To be of much value in the
pIantation." His heady eyes scanned
them again, and his contempt of them
dcepcncd the malcvol.nc. of his face.
1t was as if he were annoyed with
them for being in no better condition.
Then ha beckoned forward Capt.
Gardner. the master of tho Jamaica
Merchant. and for some minutes stood
in talk with him over a list which the
latter produced at his request.
Presently he waved aside the list
and advanced alone toward the rob
elS-convict, his eyes considering them.
his lips pursed. Before the Young
Somersetshirc shipmaster he came to
a halt. and stood an instant ponder
ing him. Then he fingered the mus
cles of the young mans arm, and bade
him open his mouth that he might
sec his teeth. He purScd his coarse
lips again and nodded
He spoke to Gardner over his shout
der
"tiftcen pounds for this ono"
The captain made "a face of dismay.
"Fift"en pounds II isn't half what
meant to ask for him"
1T is double what | had meant to
give grunted the colonel
But he would be cheap at thirty
pounds, your honor.
\ II can get a negro for that. These
white swine don't live. They're not
fit for labor"
Gardner broke into protestations of
Pitts health, youth, and vigor. 1t was
not Il man he was discussing; it was
a beast of burden. ritt, a sensitive
lad, stood mute and unmoving. Only
the ebb and flow of color in his
cheeks showed the inward struggle
by which he maintained his self CON
troll.
Peter Blood was nauseated by the
loathsome haggle.
In the background, moving slowly
away down the line of prisoners. went
the lady in conversation with the
governor who smirked and preen ed
himself as he limbed beside her She
was unconscious of the loathlx bust
ness the colonel was transacting
Was she, wondered Blood, Indifferent
TO it"
Col. Bishop swung on his heel to
pass on.
'Ill go as far as twenty pounds.
Not penny more, and it's twice as
much as you are likely to get from
crabston.'
Capt. Gardner, recognizing the
finalty of the tone, sighed and yield
ed. Already Bishop was moving down
the line. For Mr. Blood, as for a
weedy youth on his left. the colonel
had no more than Il glance of con-
tempt. But the next man. a middle
aged colossus named Wolverstonc.
who had lost an eye at Sedgemoor.
drew his regard, and the haggIing
was recommended.
Peter Blood stood there in the bril-
liant sunshine and inhaled the fra
grant air, which was unlike any air
that he had ever breathed. 1t was
laden with n strange perfume, blend
of logWood flower, pfmento. and aro-
matte cedars. He lost himself in un-
profitable speculations born Of that
singular fragrance. He was in no
mood for conversation, nor was Pitt
who stood dumbly at his side, and
who was afflicted mainly at the mo-
ment by the thought that he was at
last about to be separated from this
man with whom he had stood shouI-
der to shoulder throughout all these
troub1ous months. and whom ne had
come 40 love and depend upon for
guidance and sustenance. A sense Of
loneliness and misery pervaded him
by contrast with which all that he
had endured seemed as nothing. To
Pitt, this separation was the poig-
nant climax of all his sufferinEs.
Other buyers came and stared at
them. and passed on. Blood did not
heed them. And then at the end Of the
line there was movement. Gardner
was speaking in a loud voice, max 6
ar announcement to the general pub
lie Of buyers that had waited until
col. Bishop had taken his choice of
that human merchandise. AS he fin
ished, Blood looking in his direction.
noticed that the girl was speaking to
Bishop. and pointing UP the line with
silver-hilted riding whip she car
ried. Bishop shaded his eyes with his
hand to look in the direction in which
she was pointing. Then slowly, with
his ponderous, rolling gait. he ap-
preached again. accompanied by Gard
ner, and followed by the lady and
governor.
On they came until the colonel was
abreast Of Blood. He would have
passed on, but that the lady tapped
his arm with her whip.
But this Is the man l meant, she
said
This one?' Contempt rang in the
voice. Peter Blood found himself
staring into a pair Of beady brown
eyes sunk into yellow, f1eshly face
like currants into dumpling He
felt the color creeping into his face
under the insult of that contemptuous
inspection. Bah. A bag of bones
What should I do with him?' ;.
He was turning away when Gard
ner interposed.
"He may be lean, but he's tough
tough and healthy. When half OF
them was sick and the other hall
sickening, this rogue kept his legs
1t 81