in exchange for certain commodities, by the aid of
which he was making the tribe he governed the most powerful upon the
Southern Continent.

"What is the name of this white chief, your Majesty?" I asked, deeply
interested.

"King Luck," answered Trinkitat; "but I thought you came from him."

"That is not so, O king," I replied. "These rubies are magic rubies
that are found only in a valley guarded by serpents. If they are
honestly acquired they bring great happiness to those who possess them,
but if they are stolen, or dishonestly come by, they bring a curse upon
the robbers, and upon the land in which they dwell and all the people
who inhabit it."

At this I thought the king appeared disappointed. I had reckoned on his
being superstitious, and indeed it is well known that certain jewels do
possess mysterious qualities that influence the lives of those who own
them, although I had no authority, beyond my own perspicacity, for
endowing my rubies with supernatural charm.

"How many of these jewels have you?" asked the king, holding one of the
rubies up to the light.

I mentioned the number as being thirty, that being half of all I
possessed.

"There is not enough money upon the island to pay a fair price for
these stones," declared Trinkitat, "and how should it benefit me if I
acquire them for less than their fair value if, in that case, they are
to bring upon me and my people a curse rather than a blessing?"

"Nay, O king," I answered, "I ask no money for these gems, but rather
your good offices in helping us repair our vessel, which, after much
storm and stress, has found in your harbour a haven of rest."

"That you shall have, and welcome," replied the king, and after some
further explanation as to what was required, and more bargaining, it
was finally agreed that I would allow the king to retain the six rubies
I had brought with me, and that the balance of the thirty, which I
offered, was to be paid over when our vessel had been new masted and
fresh rigged at the king's expense. Mahomet Achmet was given directions
to see that this work was promptly carried out, after which we bowed
ourselves from the king's presence, I being well satisfied with the
bargain I had made.

Next day the work of repairing the ship began. She was careened in the
shallows of a safe and convenient harbour, and such an army of workers
set to work upon her that in the course of a week the "Golden Seahorse"
was once more ready for se