ate, picking up one of the articles that had dropped from the
wallet, and holding it so that all might see.

Both Phil and Serge uttered exclamations of amazement, for the object
thus exhibited was nothing more nor less than the mysteriously carved
and almost forgotten fur-seal's tooth that had exerted so great an
influence upon their fortunes.

CHAPTER XXIV.

REAPPEARANCE OF THE FUR-SEAL'S TOOTH.

"What do you know about this thing?" asked the Judge of Jalap Coombs,
taking the fur-seal's tooth from him and examining it curiously.

"I know that there were an old Eskimo at St. Michaels what were shipped
by Goldollar to go with us to Nulato as dog-driver. He wore this bit of
ivory hung about his neck, and seemed to set a heap by it. One time when
he were looking at it I heerd Goldollar say that by rights it belonged
to him, seeing as he got it from some natyve, and it were afterwards
stole from him. He didn't say nothing to the Husky about it, but when we
got to Nulato he give him so much liquor that in the morning the old
chap couldn't be woke up. Goldollar fooled round him a while, and then
saying he'd have to give up the job of waking him, left him, and ordered
the teams to pull out. I afterwards seen Goldollar take that very
identical tooth outen his pocket several times and look at it like it
were a diamond or some sich, and heerd him tell Strengel that any man as
owned it would surely have luck. It didn't seem to bring him none,
though. Leastways no good luck, for he hain't had nothing but bad luck
sence."

"Was it your impression that you could win good luck by stealing this
tooth?" inquired the Judge of Strengel.

"I didn't steal it," answered the prisoner, sullenly.

"How did you get it, then?"

"Goldollar give it to me."

"Where did you leave Goldollar?"

"At Fort Yukon."

"Was he in good health when you last saw him?"

"I refuse to answer any more questions," replied the prisoner, realizing
how deeply he was committing himself.

"Very well," said the Judge. "I think you have already told enough to
give us a pretty fair idea of the particular kind of a scoundrel you
are. So, if you have nothing more to say, I declare this case closed and
in the hands of the jury. Gentlemen, the court awaits your verdict."

As there was no room to which the jury could retire they put their heads
together and consulted in whispers, during which time Phil told the
Judge what he knew about the fur-seal's tooth,