Shakily I turned toward the door, impelled by I know not what, and saw (or, at least, I thought I saw) a shadowy figure in the passage, that made a mocking, significant gesture in my direction, ere it moved on in the direction of the stairway.
With the ancient sword in my hand, I leaped into the passage, bringing a sharp challenge from a guard at the far end. The corridor was absolutely empty, except for that one guard, and he, sauntering up, assured me when questioned that no one else had passed.
None the less, I felt that I had surely seen a face that I had seen before (I never could forget those eyes!), and I had had a fleeting impression of a wide, drooping hat above it, and of a shadowy form draped in a long, weathered, sleeveless cloak. These I remembered, also!
I knew, then, that the rotten sword in my hand was the same one I had seen in my dream—the same that poor de Ruiz had seen in his dream. The sword of Jean Lafitte!
I cast it through an open porthole, and put out my other hand to steady myself, for my knees felt suddenly and strangely weak. It was then I discovered that I had all along held tight to the tequila bottle. It was a small bottle, and only half full; but tequila is a terribly potent liquid. I didn't care: I was glad of it.
I drained the bottle, almost at a gulp.
A Peculiar Little Story Is This
THE SWOOPING
WIND
THE gray little old man sitting so lonely on the rustic bench under the great oaks interested me. He seemed so out of place there, at first glance; yet as one drew close enough to note the details of his action there was a peculiar, indescribable something about him which one learns to recognize about such places; it is always found in certain types—a rather aimless air of gentle contentment. So I sat down beside him, for I knew he wanted to talk.
"A very pleasant day, sir," he began at once, politely.
"Yes, indeed," I responded. "Rather unusual at this time of year, is it not?"
"Not at all, sir. Not at all. I venture to say that the temperature today is about eighty-two degrees, not more than a degree from the normal at this time. And all the meteorological conditions, wind, sky, humidity, all are quite normal, abnormally normal, sir, if I may use the expression." His assertions, while quite dogmatic, were belied by the gentleness of his voice and expression as he spoke.
"You are well acquainted with the weather here, I see," I put in.
"Rather," he smiled. "I ought to
