I prolong a life more shameful than the gallows? Or why should

I have fallen to it? No pride, no capacity, no force. Not even a

bandit! and to be starving here with worse than banditti--with

this trivial hell-hound!' His rage against his comrade rose and

flooded him, and he shook a trembling fist at the sleeper.

A swift step was audible. The captain appeared upon the

threshold of the cell, panting and flushed, and with a foolish

face of happiness. In his arms he carried a loaf of bread and

bottles of beer; the pockets of his coat were bulging with

cigars.

He rolled his treasures on the floor, grasped Herrick by both

hands, and crowed with laughter.

'Broach the beer!' he shouted. 'Broach the beer, and glory

hallelujah!'

'Beer?' repeated Huish, struggling to his feet. 'Beer it is!'

cried Davis. 'Beer and plenty of it. Any number of persons can

use it (like Lyon's tooth-tablet) with perfect propriety and

neatness. Who's to officiate?'

'Leave me alone f6r that,' said the clerk. He knocked the

necks off with a lump of coral, and each drank in succession

from the shell.

'Have a weed,' said Davis. 'It's all in the bill.'

'What is up?' asked Herrick.

The captain fell suddenly grave. 'I'm coming to that,' said he.

'I want to speak with Herrick here. You, Hay--or Huish, or

whatever your name is--you take a weed and the other bottle,

and go and see how the wind is down by the purao. I'll call you

when you're wanted!'

'Hay? Secrets? That ain't the ticket,' said Huish.

'Look here, my son,' said the captain, 'this is business, and

don't you make any mistake about it. If you're going to make

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