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who had been willing to equip the Mary Turner with two chronometers； but not with three； the Jew who had ratified the agreement of a sufficient supply to permit Daughtry his daily six quarts。 Once again the steward counted the cases to make sure。 There were three。 And since each case contained two dozen quarts； and since his whack each day was half a dozen quarts； it was patent that； the supply that stared him in the face would last him only twelve days。 And twelve days were none too long to sail from this unidentifiable naked sea…stretch to the nearest possible port where beer could be purchased。
The steward； once his mind was made up； wasted no time。 The clock marked a quarter before twelve when he climbed up out of the lazarette； replaced the trapdoor； and hurried to set the table。 He served the company through the noon meal； although it was all he could do to refrain from capsizing the big tureen of split…pea soup over the head of Simon Nishikanta。 What did effectually withstrain him was the knowledge of the act which in the lazarette he had already determined to perform that afternoon down in the main hold where the water…casks were stored。
At three o'clock； while the Ancient Mariner supposedly drowned in his room； and while Captain Doane； Grimshaw； and half the watch on deck clustered at the mast…heads to try to raise the Lion's Head from out the sapphire sea； Dag Daughtry dropped down the ladder of the open hatchway into the main hold。 Here； in long tiers； with alleyways between； the water…casks were chocked safely on their sides。
From inside his shirt the steward drew a brace； and to it fitted a half…inch bit from his hip…pocket。 On his knees； he bored through the head of the first cask until the water rushed out upon the deck and flowed down into the bilge。 He worked quickly； boring cask after cask down the alleyway that led to deeper twilight。 When he had reached the end of the first row of casks he paused a moment to listen to the gurglings of the many half…inch streams running to waste。 His quick ears caught a similar gurgling from the right in the direction of the next alleyway。 Listening closely； he could have sworn he heard the sounds of a bit biting into hard wood。
A minute later； his own brace and bit carefully secreted； his hand was descending on the shoulder of a man he could not recognize in the gloom； but who； on his knees and wheezing； was steadily boring into the head of a cask。 The culprit made no effort to escape； and when Daughtry struck a match he gazed down into the upturned face of the Ancient Mariner。
〃My word！〃 the steward muttered his amazement softly。 〃What in hell are you running water out for？〃
He could feel the old man's form trembling with violent nervousness； and his own heart smote him for gentleness。
〃It's all right；〃 he whispered。 〃Don't mind me。 How many have you bored？〃
〃All in this tier；〃 came the whispered answer。 〃You will not inform on me to the 。 。 。 the others？〃
〃Inform？〃 Daughtry laughed softly。 〃I don't mind telling you that we're playing the same game； though I don't know why you should play it。 I've just finished boring all of the starboard row。 Now I tell you； sir； you skin out right now； quietly； while the goin' is good。 Everybody's aloft； and you won't be noticed。 I'll go ahead and finish this job 。 。 。 all but enough water to last us say a dozen days。〃
〃I should like to talk with you 。 。 。 to explain matters；〃 the Ancient Mariner whispered。
〃Sure； sir； an' I don't mind sayin'； sir； that I'm just plain mad curious to hear。 I'll join you down in the cabin； say in ten minutes； and we can have a real gam。 But anyway； whatever your game is； I'm with you。 Because it happens to be my game to get quick into port； and because； sir； I have a great liking and respect for you。 Now shoot along。 I'll be with you inside ten minutes。〃
〃I like you； steward； very much；〃 the old man quavered。
〃And I like you； sirand a damn sight more than them money…sharks aft。 But we'll just postpone this。 You beat it out of here； while I finish scuppering the rest of the water。〃
A quarter of an hour later； with the three money…sharks still at the mast…heads； Charles Stough Green…leaf was seated in the cabin and sipping a highball； and Dag Daughtry was standing across the table from him； drinking directly from a quart bottle of beer。
〃Maybe you haven't guessed it；〃 the Ancient Mariner said； 〃but this is my fourth voyage after this treasure。〃
〃You mean 。 。 。 ？〃 Daughtry asked。
〃Just that。 There isn't any treasure。 There never was oneany more than the Lion's Head； the longboat； or the bearings unnamable。〃'
Daughtry rumpled his grizzled thatch of hair in his perplexity； as he admitted：
〃Well； you got me； sir。 You sure got me to believin' in that treasure。〃
〃And I acknowledge； steward； that I am pleased to hear it。 It shows that I have not lost my cunning when I can deceive a man like you。 It is easy to deceive men whose souls know only money。 But you are different。 You don't live and breathe for money。 I've watched you with your dog。 I've watched you with your nigger boy。 I've watched you with your beer。 And just because your heart isn't set on a great buried treasure of gold； you are harder to deceive。 Those whose hearts are set； are most astonishingly easy to fool。 They are of cheap kidney。 Offer them a proposition of one hundred dollars for one； and they are like hungry pike snapping at the bait。 Offer a thousand dollars for one； or ten thousand for one； and they become sheer lunatic。 I am an old man； a very old man。 I like to live until I dieI mean； to live decently； comfortably； respectably。〃
〃And you like the voyages long？ I begin to see； sir。 Just as they're getting near to where the treasure ain't； a little accident like the loss of their water…supply sends them into port and out again to start hunting all over。〃
The Ancient Mariner nodded； and his sun…washed eyes twinkled。
〃There was the Emma Louisa。 I kept her on the long voyage over eighteen months with water accidents and similar accidents。 And； besides； they kept me in one of the best hotels in New Orleans for over four months before the voyage began； and advanced to me handsomely； yes； bravely； handsomely。〃
〃But tell me more； sir； I am most interested；〃 Dag Daughtry concluded his simple matter of the beer。 〃It's a good game。 I might learn it for my old age； though I give you my word； sir； I won't butt in on your game。 I wouldn't tackle it until you are gone； sir； good game that it is。〃
〃First of all； you must pick out men with moneywith plenty of money； so that any loss will not hurt them。 Also； they are easier to interest〃
〃Because they are more hoggish；〃 the steward interrupted。 〃The more money they've got the more they want。〃
〃Precisely；〃 the Ancient Mariner continued。 〃And； at least； they are repaid。 Such sea…voyages are excellent for their health。 After all； I do them neither hurt nor harm； but only good； and add to their health。〃
〃But them scarsthat gouge out of your faceall them fingers missing on your hand？ You never got them in the fight in the longboat when the bo's'n carved you up。 Then where in Sam Hill did you get the them？ Wait a minute； sir。 Let me fill your glass first。〃 And with a fresh…brimmed glass； Charles Stough Greanleaf narrated the history of his scars。
〃First； you must know； steward； that I amwell； a gentleman。 My name has its place in the pages of the history of the United States； even back before the time when they were the United States。 I graduated second in my class in a university that it is not necessary to name。 For that matter； the name I am known by is not my name。 I carefully compounded it out of names of other families。 I have had misfortunes。 I trod the quarter…deck when I was a young man； though never the deck of the Wide Awake； which is the ship of my fancyand of my livelihood in these latter days。
〃The scars you asked about； and the missing fingers？ Thus it chanced。 It was the morning； at late getting…up times in a Pullman； when the accident happened。 The car being crowded； I had been forced to accept an upper berth。 It was only the other day。 A few years