azor； and that he it was who used it as a sinker when we strove to catch fish。
〃But back in Boston。 Yarns and yarns； when seemingly I was gone in drink； I told my apparent croniesmen whom I despised； stupid dolts of creatures that they were。 But the word spread； until one day； a young man； a reporter； tried to interview me about the treasure and the Wide Awake。 I was indignant； angry。Oh； softly； steward； softly； in my heart was great joy as I denied that young reporter； knowing that from my cronies he already had a sufficiency of the details。
〃And the morning paper gave two whole columns and headlines to the tale。 I began to have callers。 I studied them out well。 Many were for adventuring after the treasure who themselves had no money。 I baffled and avoided them； and waited on； eating even less as my little capital dwindled away。
〃And then he came； my gay young doctordoctor of philosophy he was； for he was very wealthy。 My heart sang when I saw him。 But twenty…eight dollars remained to meafter it was gone； the poor… house； or death。 I had already resolved upon death as my choice rather than go back to be of that dolorous company； the living dead of the poor…farm。 But I did not go back； nor did I die。 The gay young doctor's blood ran warm at thought of the South Seas； and in his nostrils I distilled all the scents of the flower… drenched air of that far…off land； and in his eyes I builded him the fairy visions of the tradewind clouds； the monsoon skies； the palm isles and the coral seas。
〃He was a gay； mad young dog； grandly careless of his largess； fearless as a lion's whelp； lithe and beautiful as a leopard； and mad； a trifle mad of the deviltries and whimsies that tickled in that fine brain of his。 Look you； steward。 Before we sailed in the Gloucester fishing…schooner； purchased by the doctor； and that was like a yacht and showed her heels to most yachts； he had me to his house to advise about personal equipment。 We were overhauling in a gear…room； when suddenly he spoke：
〃'I wonder how my lady will take my long absence。 What say you？ Shall she go along？'
〃And I had not known that he had any wife or lady。 And I looked my surprise and incredulity。
〃'Just that you do not believe I shall take her on the cruise；' he laughed； wickedly； madly； in my astonished face。 'Come； you shall meet her。'
〃Straight to his bedroom and his bed he led me； and； turning down the covers； showed there to me； asleep as she had slept for many a thousand years； the mummy of a slender Egyptian maid。
〃And she sailed with us on the long vain voyage to the South Seas and back again； and； steward； on my honour； I grew quite fond of the dear maid myself。
The Ancient Mariner gazed dreamily into his glass； and Dag Daughtry took advantage of the pause to ask：
〃But the young doctor？ How did he take the failure to find the treasure？〃
The Ancient Mariner's face lighted with joy。
〃He called me a delectable old fraud； with his arm on my shoulder while he did it。 Why； steward； I had come to love that young man like a splendid son。 And with his arm on my shoulder； and I know there was more than mere kindness in it； he told me we had barely reached the River Plate when he discovered me。 With laughter； and with more than one slap of his hand on my shoulder that was more caress than jollity； he pointed out the discrepancies in my tale （which I have since amended； steward； thanks to him； and amended well）； and told me that the voyage had been a grand success； making him eternally my debtor。
〃What could I do？ I told him the truth。 To him even did I tell my family name； and the shame I had saved it from by forswearing it。
〃He put his arm on my shoulder； I tell you； and 。 。 。 〃
The Ancient Mariner ceased talking because of a huskiness in his throat； and a moisture from his eyes trickled down both cheeks。
Dag Daughtry pledged him silently； and in the draught from his glass he recovered himself。
〃He told me that I should come and live with him； and； to his great lonely house he took me the very day we landed in Boston。 Also； he told me he would make arrangements with his lawyersthe idea tickled his fancy'I shall adopt you；' he said。 'I shall adopt you along with Isthar'Isthar was the little maid's name； the little mummy's name。
〃Here was I； back in life； steward； and legally to be adopted。 But life is a fond betrayer。 Eighteen hours afterward； in the morning； we found him dead in his bed； the little mummy maid beside him。 Heart…failure； the burst of some blood…vessel in the brainI never learned。
〃I prayed and pleaded with them for the pair to be buried together。 But they were a hard； cold； New England lot； his cousins and his aunts； and they presented Isthar to the museum； and me they gave a week to be quit of the house。 I left in an hour； and they searched my small baggage before they would let me depart。
〃I went to New York。 It was the same game there； only that I had more money and could play it properly。 It was the same in New Orleans； in Galveston。 I came to California。 This is my fifth voyage。 I had a hard time getting these three interested； and spent all my little store of money before they signed the agreement。 They were very mean。 Advance any money to me！ The very idea of it was preposterous。 Though I bided my time； ran up a comfortable hotel bill； and； at the very last； ordered my own generous assortment of liquors and cigars and charged the bill to the schooner。 Such a to…do！ All three of them raged and all but tore their hair 。 。 。 and mime。 They said it could not be。 I fell promptly sick。 I told them they got on my nerves and made me sick。 The more they raged； the sicker I got。 Then they gave in。 As promptly I grew better。 And here we are； out of water and heading soon most likely for the Marquesas to fill our barrels。 Then they will return and try for it again！〃
〃You think so； sir？〃
〃I shall remember even more important data； steward；〃 the Ancient Mariner smiled。 〃Without doubt they will return。 Oh； I know them well。 They are meagre； narrow； grasping fools。〃
〃Fools！ all fools！ a ship of fools！〃 Dag Daughtry exulted； repeating what he had expressed in the hold； as he bored the last barrel； listened to the good water gurgling away into the bilge； and chuckled over his discovery of the Ancient Mariner on the same lay as his own。
CHAPTER XIV
Early next morning； the morning watch of sailors； whose custom was to fetch the day's supply of water for the galley and cabin； discovered that the barrels were empty。 Mr。 Jackson was so alarmed that he immediately called Captain Doane； and not many minutes elapsed ere Captain Doane had routed out Grimshaw and Nishikanta to tell them the disaster。
Breakfast was an excitement shared in peculiarly by the Ancient Mariner and Dag Daughtry； while the trio of partners raged and bewailed。 Captain Doane particularly wailed。 Simon Nishikanta was fiendish in his descriptions of whatever miscreant had done the deed and of how he should be made to suffer for it； while Grimshaw clenched and repeatedly clenched his great hands as if throttling some throat。
〃I remember； it was in forty…sevennay； forty…sixyes； forty… six；〃 the Ancient Mariner chattered。 〃It was a similar and worse predicament。 It was in the longboat； sixteen of us。 We ran on Glister Reef。 So named it was after our pretty little craft discovered it one dark night and left her bones upon it。 The reef is on the Admiralty charts。 Captain Doane will verify me 。 。 。 〃
No one listened； save Dag Daughtry； serving hot cakes and admiring。 But Simon Nishikanta； becoming suddenly aware that the old man was babbling； bellowed out ferociously：
〃Oh； shut up！ Close your jaw！ You make me tired with your everlasting 'I remember。'〃
The Ancient Mariner was guilelessly surprised； as if he had slipped somewhere in his narrative。
〃No； I assure you；〃 he continued。 〃It must have been some error of my poor old tongue。 It was not the Wide Awake； but the brig Glister。 Did I say Wide Awake？ It was the Glister； a smart little brig； almost a toy brig in fact； copper…bottomed； lines like a dolphin； a sea…cutter and a wind…eater。 Handled like a top。 On my honour； gentlemen； it was lively work for both watches when she went about。 I was supercargo。 We sailed out of New York； ostensibly for the north…west coast； with sealed orders〃
〃In the name of God； peace； peace！ You drive me mad with your drivel！〃 So Nishikanta cried out in nervous pain that was real and quivering。 〃Old man； have a heart。 What do I care to know of your Glister and your sealed orders！〃
〃Ah； sealed orders；〃 the Ancient Mariner went on beamingly。 〃A magic phrase； sealed orders。〃 He rolled it off his tongue with unction。 〃Those were the days； gentlemen； when ships did sail with sealed orders。 And as supercargo； with my trifle invested in the adventure and my share in the gains； I commanded the captain。 Not in him； but in me were reposed the sealed orders。 I assure you I did not know myself what they were。 Not until we were around old Cape Stiff； fifty to fifty； and in fifty in the Pacific； did I break the seal and learn we were bound for Van Dieman's Land。 They called it Van Dieman's Land in those days 。 。 。 〃
It was a day of discoveries。 Captain Doane caught the mate stealing the ship's position from his desk with the duplicate key。 There was a scene； but no more； for the Finn was too huge a man to invite personal encounter； and Captain Dome could only stigmatize his conduct to a running reiteration of 〃Yes； sir；〃 and 〃No； sir；〃 and 〃Sorry； sir。〃
Perhaps the most important discovery； although he did not know it at the time； was that of Dag Daughtry。 It was after the course had been changed and all sail set； and after the Ancient Mariner had privily informed him that Taiohae； in the Marquesas； was their objective； that Daughtry gaily proceeded to shave。 But one trouble was on his mind。 He was not quite sure； in such an out… of…the…way place as Taiohae； that good beer could be procured。
As he prepared to make the first stroke of the razor； most of his face white with lather； he noticed a dark patch of skin on his forehead just between the eye…brows and above。 Wh