A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 93: what you’re looking at

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% | A QUEER RACE. “Yes,” I said, looking at it. ‘‘ There are ten barrels in the magazine. ‘“We will buy it from you,” he returned, eagerly. ‘*Tndeed, I think we should be disposed to buy from you the whole cargo—possibly the ship itself.” «<They are not mine to sell,” I answered, rather taken aback by this suggestion. ‘‘ All the same, the ship is here without any possibility, so far as I can see, of get- ting away. Ihave aright to do the best I can for the owners and underwriters, and you may have anything the ship contains, or all she contains.” This was making a virtue of necessity; for if the picbald people thought fit to appropriate every article on board, it was evident that old T’om and I could do noth- ing to hinder them. ‘Whatever we take we shall give you full value for, either in gold or pearls,” said Mr. Field. _ This was satisfactory, so far as it went; and it was in- teresting to know that the piebalds possessed gold and pearls; but how! could turn them to account in that out- landish place, or how | should get back to Liverpool, did not seem quite clear. Nevertheless, I thanked Mr. | Field warmly for his obliging assurance, and added that I should leave the matter entirely in his hands (again making a virtue of necessity). “Tt is not. in my hands,” he observed, gravely; ‘‘I speak only as an individual member of she council; yet [ have no doubt that my colleegues and Queen Mab will gladly profit by the opportunity which you so kindly placed at their disposal. And now, my dear sir, if it be quite agreeable to you, we will get into the boat and shape our course for Fairhaven.” Desiring nothing better, I answered promptly in the affirmative. My appetite was whetted with what J had seen and neard, and I was eager to know more of the queer race to whose remote home I had drifted. CHAPTER XV. FAIR ISLAND. ‘Tom and I went down the side by a rope ladder, taking with us, at Mr. Field’s request, a rifle and a revolver: r Gomichbooks.co