n 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 the light of a
moonbeam that strayed in through one of the portholes, rise to his feet
with an expression of the most frantic terror upon his hideous
countenance, as he shrieked at the top of his voice,--

"I will--I swear I will--if you'll only let me alone!"

Then, throwing up his arms, he fell over, foaming, in a fit.

For some minutes the hut was a scene of wild confusion as its
bewildered inmates, so suddenly aroused from their sleep, stumbled
about in the darkness trying to find 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-Eye, there
was certainly no real cause for alarm. Thereupon, with many a growl at
him for disturbing their night's rest, most of them grumblingly went
back to sleep.

A few thought it worth while to see what was the matter with Evil-Eye,
and of these Ben took command. Little as he loved the ruffian, he
could not find it in his heart to let him die for lack of a little
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's struggles
grew less violent, the purple hue left his face, and his breathing
became more natural. Presently, with a great sigh, he fell into a
heavy sleep, from which he did not awake for many hours.

Although pestered with questions upon his return to consciousness as to
the cause of his strange behaviour, he refused to give any reason. But
there were two changes in him too noticeable not to excite the remark
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
hungering hatred, he now seemed to have a feeling of dread. He shrank
from being near him, avoiding him in every possible way; treating him,
in fact, much as a dog would a man who had been especially cruel to him.

Ben and Eric at once noted the change, and were well pleased at it.
Some time after, they learned the cause. It seemed that the evening
Evil-Eye had acted so strangely he had been awak