The Advance of Science in the Last Half-Century

it? If I choose to take a notion to these two here, it's my own lookout, and it's not for a

e was driving at now, and one of

one wanting your boy, or

: seeing they're my property, I don't want any one to meddle w

with the boy when we leave here?" asked one. A

he doesn't get us into any trouble. You just leave that to me, and I'll wa

nd to consent to his remaining with them. Evil-Eye growled and grumbled a good deal, but could get nobody to heed him; and Ben, satisfied that he had carried his point, and that Eric and Prince were safe, took his seat again, and lit his pipe for a good smoke. He was perfectly sincere in promising that

ncongenial companions. They might take no notice of him if they chose-indeed, that was just what he would prefer-but

were two reasons why he hungered for the boy's life. It was against his principle of dead men telling no tales that he should be spared; and, aga

one eye was turned upon him, and of the hyena-like look with which it regarded him. Happy for him was it

ckers regarded Ben with a respect accorded no other member of the motley crew. This was in part due to his great size and stre

his fury burned hotly within his breast. In this fear of Ben, much more than in the decision of the other wreckers, lay

wines and liquors furnished an unstinted supply. No one drank more deeply than Evil-Eye. Day after day was passed in a state alternating between coarse hilarity and maudlin stupor; Ben, on the other hand, hardly touched the liquor,

ible. He preferred the buffeting of the wintry winds to the close atmos

m in a silence broken only by the heavy breathing and stertorous snoring of the sleepers, the whole hut was suddenly aroused by an appalling yell from Evil-Eye. Starting up, his companions saw him, by

will-if you'll o

s arms, he fell over

out what was the matter. But Ben, who was not easily frightened, soon restored order by striking a light, and showing that whatever may have been the matter with Evil

tle care. So, under his direction, the struggling man was lifted out upon the floor. His face was splashed with water, while his arms and legs were chafed by rough hands. In a little while the patient

rk of his associates-he was much more moderate in the use of wine, taking care not to drink to excess; and his attitude toward Eric became curiously different. Instead of regarding him with his former look of h

, they learned the cause. It seemed that the evening Evil-Eye had acted so strangel

away expression, as though they were looking through the startled sleeper. Fixing them steadfastly upon Evil-Eye, whose blood seemed to freeze in his veins, he held u

was his terror that it broke the spell which locked his lips, and he shrieked out the words already

ked upon Eric as being under the protection of some ghostly being that would for ev

lls the valleys with drifts; but these soon vanish. There is more rain and fog than snow, even in mid-winter; and the herds of wild, shaggy, sharp-boned p

or them and the rabbits, which were even more numerous, the

in after a fashion. They were kept near the hut, in a large corra

a lad in the county with a firmer seat in the saddle or a more masterful touch of the reins. The saddles and bridles at Sable Island were poor things compared with those he had been accustomed to; and the ponies themselves were about as wicked and vicious as animals of that size could be. But this only le

l to the task of bearing his huge frame. Then Eric's happiness was complete, for every day he was growing fo

for mile after mile, while Ben lumbered along more slowly, thoroughly enjoying the boy

ietly in the hollows, and guarded as usual by a touzle-maned stallion of mature years. Making a wide detour, and carefully concealing his approach by keeping the hillocks between himself and the p

o his saddle, and with wild shouts charge down upon the star

Eric followed hard after him, taking for granted the slope would be about the same on the other side. Instead of that, the hill fell away abruptly. Over plunged the hunted pony. Unable to check his own animal, full of the spirit of the chase, over plunged Eric too. For a moment both ponies kept their feet; but the treacherous

ctionate anxiety. His head ached sharply, and he felt somewhat sore after his tremendous tumble; but not a bone wa

d regretted he had not been there when ponie

to give a performance like that, my lad," said he, aft

me to repeat it for

ext. How would you like to have a try at a morse? The men tell me they saw a lot of them at the