ay down in the bottom of the boat and tried to
sleep; but as soon as I closed my eyes I felt cold all over, a creepy
sort of cold, and heard voices whispering. At first I told myself they
were not voices, 'twas a trick of my imagination, the wind, perhaps, or
the rustle of the grass about me; but then I heard Jim's voice. There
could be no mistaking his horrid, sneering laugh; it made me afraid, but
do what I would I could not help hearing it. I stopped my ears and
wrapped my head in my coat; but still, from time to time, I could hear
the voices whispering, and Jim's laugh, and at times I felt cold.

"'The next day I poled and paddled until late in the afternoon. I felt
very hot, and my head ached as though it would split. I had a pain in
the back of my neck and drank a great deal of water. I knew I had some
sort of a fever, but having no medicine I could do nothing but push on,
hoping to find my way to dry land.

"'All that day I continually heard Jim's voice laughing at me, and the
next I knew I found myself in an Indian camp, and was told that I had
been found in the boat sick. The gold was gone; the Indians claimed it
was not in the boat. One of them seemed to be a chief and wore a big
turban on his head with a silver band around it. They told me his name
was Tom Tiger.

"'And now, doctor, good-by. Jim is whispering to me again and telling me
it is time. In five minutes after I sign this I shall be dead. I shall
make no mistake. My knife is very sharp.

"'JOHN ALLEN.'"

THE ELIXIR OF LIFE.

"Behold," said Doctor Watson, "the Elixir of Life!"

Robinson looked up from his writing and assumed an expression of deep
interest.

"Wonderful! I have often heard of it. Is it the true _Elixir vitae_ of
the ancients, or a new and more subtle compound?"

"Listen, scoffer; if you will behave with a decorum consistent with the
gravity of the subject, I will explain how I became the possessor of
this wonderful powder. Perhaps in your life of seclusion and deep toil
you may not have noticed this advertisement which has appeared for the
last month regularly in the morning paper?" Watson took from his
pocket-book a newspaper clipping and read as follows:

"METHUSELAH CLUB.

"The object of this club is to enable its members to live to
be one hundred and fifty years old. All persons desiring to
become members should apply for particulars to Rengee Sing,
No. -- Twenty-seven