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cumulated by two years of crucifixion。 Think of it！ A sum that in the days ere the silver spoon had melted； I staked in careless moods of an instant on a turn of the cards。 But as you say； a burglar； I came back to break into life； and I came to Boston。 You have a fine turn for a figure of speech； steward； and I salute you。〃
Again bottle and glass tinkled together； and both men drank eyes to eyes and each was aware that the eyes he gazed into were honest and understanding。
〃But it was a thin crow…bar； steward。 I dared not put my weight on it for a proper pry。 I took a room in a small but respectable hotel； European plan。 It was in Boston； I think I said。 Oh； how careful I was of my crowbar！ I scarcely ate enough to keep my frame inhabited。 But I bought drinks for others； most carefully selectedbought drinks with an air of prosperity that was as a credential to my story； and in my cups （my apparent cups； steward）； spun an old man's yarn of the Wide Awake； the longboat； the bearings unnamable； and the treasure under the sand。A fathom under the sand； that was literary； it was psychological； it smacked of the salt sea； and daring rovers； and the loot of the Spanish Main。
〃You have noticed this nugget I wear on my watch…chain； steward？ I could not afford it at that time； but I talked golden instead； California gold； nuggets and nuggets； oodles and oodles； from the diggings of forty…nine and fifty。 That was literary。 That was colour。 Later； after my first voyage out of Boston I was financially able to buy a nugget。 It was so much bait to which men rose like fishes。 And like fishes they nibbled。 These rings； alsobait。 You never see such rings now。 After I got in funds； I purchased them； too。 Take this nugget： I am talking。 I toy with it absently as I am telling of the great gold treasure we buried under the sand。 Suddenly the nugget flashes fresh recollection into my mind。 I speak of the longboat； of our thirst and hunger； and of the third officer； the fair lad with cheeks virgin of the razor； 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 expre