tted across Martin's face. "And
correct conclusions, I have no doubt. But before I confirm your
suspicions, by reading excerpts from John Winters's Log, I had better
tell you how this little book came into our possession.

"So then, let us jump from Bering Sea to Honolulu, and from August to
January. My narrative commences with the night I spent in Kim Chee's
Chamber of Horrors, while recovering from my semi-annual drunk.

"Oh, don't try to shield me--" as Ruth attempted to interpose--"Blake
may as well be made acquainted with my failing. He would find out
anyway."

Martin was taken aback by the violent interjection. A grim cloud
rested for a moment on the hunchback's sunny face, and the man looked
suddenly aged. Martin saw that Ruth's face was soft with sympathy.
But Little Billy's next words were enlightening.

"Perhaps I could justly pass the buck to my begettors," he said. "I
came into the world handicapped--a crooked back, and a camel's desire
and capacity for liquids--alcoholic liquids. I am a periodical
drunkard. Every six months, or so, I am constrained by the imp within
me to saturate myself with spirits and wallow in the gutter, like a pig
in a sty."

"Oh, don't believe him---it is not so bad as that!" cried Ruth.

"It is indeed," asserted Little Billy. "As witness this time, when I
fought the 'willies' in Kim Chee's rubbish room. It must be admitted,
though, that this particular spree had a fruitful ending, for it was in
Kim Chee's that I discovered the secret of Fire Mountain. It was this
way:

"When we came down from the Bering in September, we sold our furs to a
Jap syndicate in Hakodate. The captain has dealt regularly with that
Jap firm--they pay good prices, and ask few questions. Then we left
Hakodate on our Winter trip--captain had the idea that he might run
across something worth while in the neighborhood of Torres Straits.
But, let me mention in passing, before we sailed we shipped a cook. He
was a Jap named Ichi, an affable little man who couldn't speak very
good English, who seemed rather dull-witted for his race. More of him,
later on.

"Down South we had the accident, and the captain's eyes were injured.
We made a record passage to Honolulu, arrived there the first week in
January, and the captain went ashore to the hospital. The bosun and I
snugged down everything on board, and then I succumbed to my habit. I
went ashore and tried to place Honolulu in the dry column