alk being
carried on in English--his own tongue. For they who converse are Jack
Striker and Bill Davis.

And long before their dialogue comes to a close, he has not only
obtained intelligence of what has hitherto perplexed him, but gets a
glimpse of something beyond--that which sets his hair on end, almost
causing the blood to curdle in his veins.

CHAPTER FORTY NINE.

TWO "SYDNEY DUCKS."

Jack Striker and Bill Davis are "Sydney Ducks," who have seen service in
the chain-gangs of Australia. They have also served as sailors, this
being their original calling. But since a certain voyage to the Swan
River settlement--in which they were but passengers, sent out at the
expense of Her Britannic Majesty's Government--they have had aversion to
the sea, and only take to it intermittently--when under the necessity of
working passage from port to port for other purposes. Escaping from a
colonisation forced upon them, and quite uncongenial, they had thus made
their way into California; and, after a run up the Sacramento, and a
spell at gold-seeking, with but indifferent success, had returned to San
Francisco; in the Queen City of the Pacific--finding ways of life they
liked better than the hard labour of pick, pan, and cradle. Loitering
among its low sailor-haunts, they encountered a pleasant surprise, by
meeting a man who offered them five thousand dollars each to ship in a
merchant-vessel, for the "short trip" to Panama! A wage so
disproportioned to the service asked for, of course called for
explanation; which the princely contractor gave, after having secured
their confidence. It proved satisfactory to the Sydney Ducks, who,
without further questioning, entered into the contract. The result was
their getting conducted aboard the _Condor_--she being the vessel bound
for the port of Panama.

He who had given them this handsome engagement was not the owner of the
ship; no more was he her captain or supercargo; but a gentleman
representing himself authorised to accept their services, for a somewhat
different purpose than the mere working of her sails; and who promised
to pay them in a peculiar manner--under certain contingencies, even more
than the sum stipulated, notwithstanding its magnificence.

The conditions were partially made known to them before setting foot on
the ship; and though an honest sailor would scornfully have rejected
them--even in the face of such tempting reward--Jack Striker and Bill
Davis