“It is true, chief, I would die and—­”

“Yes, yes, kill yourself.”

“I pray to God h’every day that some bad man will h’assault you in order that I may die for you.”  The Jamaican was growing excited, as usual when he dwelt upon this subject.  “I would h’enjoy to shed my blood for you, sar.  I would like to see it running—­running—­ running—­” He waved his arms wildly.

“Don’t bleed to death.”

“I wish to suffer and scream and groan, so that you will be knowing—­”

“Never mind.  I think I get the idea.  But I’m not going to allow it, and I’m not going to allow you to dream—­you sleep too much as it is.  Besides, your dreams are no good.  Look at that whale dream of yours, for instance.”

“Oh, sar, the ‘fish’ number did not win, to be sure, but ‘water’ did.”

“But you didn’t dream about water, it was about fish, ‘vivid’ fish.”

“I did not chance to think of the water,” acknowledged Allan, “but there was the whale lying upon the h’edge of the h’ocean, h’all the time.”

The drawing, which was for a capital prize of fifteen thousand dollars “silver,” had drawn a larger crowd than usual, and when the two reached Cathedral Square they found the lottery building thronged to overflowing with the usual polyglot elements that make up these Latin-American gatherings—­negroes, Indians, Panamanians, Spaniards, Americans—­while in the Plaza itself other groups were waiting to hear the report.

By dint of considerable effort Kirk succeeded in working his way through the wide double doors, and, being much above the average height, he was able to get a good view of the proceedings.  Upon a platform a group of ceremonious officials were gathered about a revolving wire cage, so arranged that it could be whirled rapidly upon its axis.  Into it were put ten ivory spheres, resembling billiard-balls in size and appearance.  When this had been done, the cage was closed, and a very badly frightened twelve-year-old girl was selected at random from the audience, then lifted to the stage, where it required the commands and entreaties of her excited parents to prevent her from dissolving in tears.  At a word from the master of ceremonies the cage was spun until the ivory balls inside leaped and capered like captive squirrels.  Then at another signal it was stopped.  The door was opened and the little girl reached in a trembling hand and selected a sphere.  It proved to be hollow, with two halves screwed together, and in full sight of the assembly it was opened, displaying a bit of paper inside.

“Ocho!” cried the announcer, and a card bearing the numeral “8” was raised.  The paper was replaced inside the ivory ball, the ball itself was dropped into the wire cage, the door was closed, and once more the cage was spun.

Kirk was much interested in the scene, not from any faintest hope that he would draw a prize, but purely from the novel atmosphere and color of the thing.  While his eyes were busiest, and just as the child prepared to draw another ball, he felt a clutch upon his arm, and, glancing down, beheld the glowing black eyes of Senor Ramon Alfarez fixed upon him.