"Ain't you afraid of acquiring it?"

Oh, no," said the captain, tranquilly, "no danger of that, I reckon."

The artists presently took their leave. Then Barrow put his hands on

Tracy's shoulders and said:

"Look me in the eye, my boy. Steady, steady. There--it's just as I

thought--hoped, anyway; you're all right, thank goodness. Nothing the

matter with your mind. But don't do that again--even for fun. It isn't

wise. They wouldn't have believed you if you'd been an earl's son.

Why, they couldn't--don't you know that? What ever possessed you to take

such a freak? But never mind about that; let's not talk of it. It was a

mistake; you see that yourself."

"Yes--it was a mistake."

"Well, just drop it out of your mind; it's no harm; we all make them.

Pull your courage together, and don't brood, and don't give up. I'm at

your back, and we'll pull through, don't you be afraid."

When he was gone, Barrow walked the floor a good while, uneasy in his

mind. He said to himself, "I'm troubled about him. He never would have

made a break like that if he hadn't been a little off his balance.

But I know what being out of work and no prospect ahead can do for a man.

First it knocks the pluck out of him and drags his pride in the dirt;

179

The American Claimant