Page 79 (1/1)

The beast was being swept along rapidly, now appearing tored was so glaringly proave a kick and whirled over, turning the white expanse directly toward us At the saainst the side of the boat, with a loud guffaw

"May the saints absolvefrom merriment, "if it's not the red-headedest hter, he hailed the swi off, as if frightened by our presence, and intent upon escape

"Hold there a moment, Master Red-Cap! If in truth you are not a fish, coh, for I distinguished aa peculiar sidestroke of the ar

"Hold your hands!" I roared in English, thinking, perhaps, he had not coue "Come in here, sirrah, or, the Lord help you, we 'll turn and run you down"

At sound of these words he ceased his efforts, and turned a peculiar wrinkled face, creased like long-folded parchment, and as yellow, directly toward us Even at that distance I iray eyes

"Thy words of greeting are as manna fallen fro in its volu man, for surely thou art not the spawn of the scarlet woman, but, verily, one of the chosen people of our own God"

"I fail to grasp your , friend," I retorted, nettled to be held at the oars so long in that current "We are honest voyagers, glad to be of aid to any one in such distress as you seem to be"

"Nay; I am not especially uncomfortable, unless my tobacco is soaked, and if such disaster hath overtakenidolaters who cast e is that of modern Israel, so I will join you in the boat 'Tis the more readily done as I have not tasted food since yesternoon, and possess a hollowness within my physical temple which de of the flesh"

"Catch hold upon the side," I ordered, as he drew near "We will have you ashore in a dozen strokes"

The stranger did as I bade hilowed in the sun as the drops of ht out the full, ornate color of it His face had a pinched look, with thousands of little wrinkles leading away frolinting gray eyes But there was a sly gleam of humor about the expression of it, which, taken in connection with that fiery headpiece, nearly caused hter I noticed, however, that Madahtly away from his side of the boat, as if close proxinant to her