hours after being
bitten, and I've killed a few of the varmint; but I've seen more of 'em
to-day than in all my life before."

"Then you cannot say whether it would be safe to risk an attempt to get
the kegs away?"

"Well, I don't know about that," said Griggs, who noted that Chris was
watching him intently. "You see, sir, I've been thinking pretty closely
about that matter. We must have those kegs somehow, even if the one who
gets 'em is bitten for his pains."

"Oh, but no such risk must be run," cried the doctor excitedly.

"It seems to me, sir, that it must. There's half-a-dozen of us, and one
has to take his chance so that the other five may live."

"Our position is not so bad as that, Griggs," said the doctor warmly.

"I don't want to contradict, sir, but I about think it is. It's the
sort of time like you read about at sea when they cast lots and one has
to swim ashore with a rope so as to get help. We must have that water,
and Mr Wilton here says he won't risk the job of fetching the kegs, so
it rests with five of us instead of six. Then you go a bit further and
one says, here's three men and two boys, and we who are men can't hold
back and let a boy go."

"Certainly not," said the doctor and Bourne, as if in one voice.

"Then we come down to three," continued Griggs, "and one of them is the
boss of the expedition--the captain. He can't go, of course. So you
see, Mr Bourne, it lies between us two."

"No, no," cried the doctor, "between us three."

"Us _two_, Mr Bourne," said the American, almost fiercely. "The
doctor's out of it. Now, sir, you're a deal better man than I am in
learning and proper living, and several other things that I've noticed
since we've been neighbours, all through your having been a minister, I
suppose?"

"I am but a man, Griggs, with the weaknesses of my nature."

"Exactly, sir," cried the American, totally misconstruing the speaker's
meaning. "That's what I was aiming at--weaknesses of your nature.
Consequently I'm a much better man than you are for this job. So we
want no casting lots, for I'm going to get those kegs out of that
serpent's nest, if I die for it."

"No, no," cried the doctor fiercely. "I will not consent to your going.
We must try some other plan."

"There aren't no other plan, doctor."

"I think there is," cried Chris excitedly.

"Be silent, boy!" said the doctor.

"Yes, you're out, squire," said Griggs good-humouredly. "You've had
you