consolation--and think of the mouse who
gnawed the net years and years ago.

Well, you will, Paul Darcantel; but before you do, you will step into
that jeweler's shop and buy a trifle for old Clinker there, out at
Escondido. You want a ring, the finest gem that can be found on the
island of Jamaica. There it is--its equal not to be bought in the whole
West India Islands, or the East Indies either.

"I gave a military man an ounce for the setting alone, but the
sapphire-looking stone may be glass. He was going to sail the next
morning in a Spanish brigantine for St. Jago de Cuba, and wanted the
money to pay his bill at the lodging-house adjoining. The senor might
take it for any price he chose to put upon it."

What made that old dealer in precious stones and trinkets turn paler
than his old topaz face as he yelled frantically for his older Creole
wife? The senor had seized the ring as he broke his elbows through the
glass cases which contained the time-honored jewelry, and dashed a
yellow shower of heavy gold ounces over the floor of the little shop,
smashing the glass door of that too in his exit! And when the little
toddling fat woman appeared in the most indecent dress possible to
conceive of, with scarcely time to light her paper cigar, she
exclaimed,

"_Es lunatico, hombre! ay, demonio con oro!_ A crazy man--a demon with
gold!" And forthwith she picked up the pieces and looked at them
critically to be sure of their value. "_Son buenos, campeche!_ All
right, old deary; we'll have such a podrida to-day! Baked duck, with
garlic too! So shut the door. There's the ounce you gave the officer man
for the ring, and I'll guard the rest."

That old woman did, too; and that very night she won--in the most
skillful way--from her shaky old topaz, in his tin spectacle setting,
his last ounce, and locked all up in her own little brass-nailed trunk
for a rainy season for them both, together with their daughter's
pickaninnies.

Paul Darcantel whirled and spun round the corners and along the sandy
streets till he reached the landing, moving like a water-spout, and
clearing every thing from his track. There he sprang into the first boat
he saw, seized the sculls, despite the shrieks and gesticulations of the
old nigger whose property it was, and who jumped overboard with a howl
as if a lobster had caught him by the toe, and paddled into a
neighboring boat, where, with the assistance of another ancient crony,
they both let off