eckerleg could
just discern the forms of the two captains. By their gestures they
seemed to be engaged in an acrimonious discussion. Narcissus, little
heeding, stolidly poked the bonfire with a charred stake.

"I will not!" said Captain Runacles.

"But I say that you shall!" said Captain Barker.

"The lad is yours, and yours only."

"He is yours also."

"By a cast of dice you won him."

"By law he was given back to you."

"You have brought him up."

"You found him again when I lost him."

"Yes, by means of an art which you taught him."

"Gentlemen, gentlemen," interposed the doctor, advancing, "what is
all this fuss?"

"Why," began Captain Barker, "I was proposing that, for the future,
we should take equal shares in the superintendence of Tristram's
education; and he won't listen to it."

"Certainly I won't," Captain Runacles assented stoutly.

The doctor looked from one to the other with a good-humoured smile.

"And why won't you?" he asked, addressing Captain Jemmy.

"Why won't I? Because, as you are aware--for you were present--we
once cast the dice over this boy, and Jack won."

"Did he?"

"You know he did. He flung two sixes. Bless my heart, doctor, you
_must_ remember that!"

"I do, perfectly. And you--what did you throw?"

"I--well, I--"

"You threw the dice, and the box with 'em, out of the window: that's
what you did."

"Very well, then. That settles it. I don't back out of my luck."

"Gentlemen," said Dr. Beckerleg, clearing his throat, "I have
something to tell you. It is a fact, and I don't pretend to explain
it. You know the proverb about doctors and their unbelief. Well, if
I had been inclined--and I am not--to deny a controlling wisdom in
this scheme of things, I should have been startled somewhat when
Captain Barker flung those two sixes. That apparent chance should
give an approval so decided to Captain Barker's adoption of this
orphan child was, to say the least, remarkable: for I thought then,
and now I am sure, that no better father could be found for the
babe."

"That's what I say," Captain Runacles put in.

"Do not interrupt me, please. I say no _better_ father could be
found. I did not say that none could be found as good. My dear
Runacles, you tossed the dice out of the window and flounced off in a
huff. As they had been borrowed, and without their owner's consent,
I thought fit to step across the street and pick them up. They were
lying not a ya