THE FINAL OFFER. 21

last time," the merchants seemed suddenly startled into action.

" Eleven thousand I" cried out the capitan with the hoary tail.

"Twelve thousand I" said the energetic captain of the Chinese at Ponoroffo.

And tluis, step Ijy step, they raised their bids, initil no less a svun than fifteen thousand was finally offered.

" S;;tu kali, dua kali!" cried the auctioneer; words e(juivah'iit to our once, twice." " Ti ti he added, as he was about to prononnce the final thi'ici'"; wln-reujjon a fresh iHo\enient was observed nniongst the colleagnes of the old Madioen captain, as if tliev were urging him to keep u[) the conti'st he had conuiienced and carried on so well. Hut the cautious old man shook his head, siLnit \iiig tlmt it w;is all over for him; and the tiga kali being j)i'onounced, the licence was assiirned to him who ha<l bid the fifteen thousau'l.

�� �