InmyearlydaysIwasaman，themostweddedtohisidolsofmygeneration。Iwasadwellerunderroofs：thegullofthatwhichwecallcivilisation；asuperstitiousvotaryoftheplasticarts；acit；andapropofrestaurants。Ihadacomradeinthosedays，somewhatofanoutsider，thoughhemovedinthecompanyofartists，andamanfamousinoursmallworldforgallantry，kneebreeches，anddryandpregnantsayings。He，lookingonthelongmealsandwaxingbelliesoftheFrench，whomIconfessIsomewhatimitated，brandedmeas“acultivatorofrestaurantfat。”AndIbelievehehadhisfingeronthedangerousspot；Ibelieve，ifthingshadgonesmoothwithme，Ishouldbenowswollenlikeaprize-oxinbody，andfalleninmindtoathingperhapsaslowasmanytypesofbourgeois——theimplicitorexclusiveartist。ThatwasahomewordofPinkerton’s，deservingtobewritinlettersofgoldontheporticoofeveryschoolofart：“WhatIcan’tseeiswhyyoushouldwanttodonothingelse。”Thedullmanismade，notbythenature，butbythedegreeofhisimmersioninasinglebusiness。
Andallthemoreifthatbesedentary，uneventful，andingloriouslysafe。Morethanonehalfofhimwillthenremainunexercisedandundeveloped；therestwillbedistendedanddeformedbyover-nutrition，over-cerebration，andtheheatofrooms。AndIhaveoftenmarvelledattheimpudenceofgentlemen，whodescribeandpassjudgmentonthelifeofman，inalmostperfectignoranceofallitsnecessaryelementsandnaturalcareers。Thosewhodwellinclubsandstudiosmaypaintexcellentpicturesorwriteenchantingnovels。Thereisonethingthattheyshouldnotdo：theyshouldpassnojudgmentonman’sdestiny，foritisathingwithwhichtheyareunacquainted。Theirownlifeisanexcrescenceofthemoment，doomed，inthevicissitudeofhistory，topassanddisappear：
theeternallifeofman，spentundersunandrainandinrudephysicaleffort，liesupononeside，scarcechangedsincethebeginning。
IwouldIcouldhavecarriedalongwithmetoMidwayIslandallthewritersandthepratingartistsofmytime。Dayafterdayofhopedeferred，ofheat，ofunremittingtoil；nightafternightofachinglimbs，bruisedhands，andamindobscuredwiththegratefulvacancyofphysicalfatigue：thescene，thenatureofmyemployment；theruggedspeechandfacesofmyfellow-
toilers，theglareofthedayondeck，thestinkingtwilightinthebilge，theshrillmyriadsoftheocean-fowl：aboveall，thesenseofourimmitigableisolationfromtheworldandfromthecurrentepoch；——keepinganothertime，someerasold；thenewdayheraldedbynodailypaper，onlybytherisingsun；andtheState，thechurches，thepeopledempires，war，andtherumoursofwar，andthevoicesofthearts，allgonesilentasinthedayseretheywereyetinvented。Suchweretheconditionsofmynewexperienceinlife，ofwhichifIhadbeenableIwouldhavehadallmyconfreresandcontemporariestopartake：
forgetting，forthatwhile，theorthodoxiesofthemoment，anddevotedtoasingleandmaterialpurposeundertheeyeofheaven。
Ofthenatureofourtask，Imustcontinuetogivesomesummaryidea。Theforecastlewaslumberedwithship’schandlery，theholdnighfullofrice，thelazarettecrowdedwiththeteasandsilks。Thesemustallbedugout；andthatmadebutafractionofourtask。Theholdwasceiledthroughout；apart，whereperhapssomedelicatecargowasoncestored，hadbeenlined，inaddition，withinchboards；andbetweeneverybeamtherewasamovablepanelintothebilge。Anyofthese，thebulkheadsofthecabins，theverytimbersofthehullitself，mightbetheplaceofhiding。Itwasthereforenecessarytodemolish，asweproceeded，agreatpartoftheship’sinnerskinandfittings，andtoauscultatewhatremained，likeadoctorsoundingforalungdisease。Uponthereturn，fromanybeamorbulkhead，ofaflatordoubtfulsound，wemustupaxeandhewintothetimber：aviolentand——fromtheamountofdryrotinthewreck——amortifyingexercise。EverynightsawadeeperinroadintothebonesoftheFlyingScud——morebeamstappedandhewninsplinters，moreplankingpeeledawayandtossedaside——andeverynightsawusasfaraseverfromtheendandobjectofourarduousdevastation。Inthisperpetualdisappointment，mycouragedidnotfailme，butmyspiritsdwindled；andNareshimselfgrewsilentandmorose。Atnight，whensupperwasdone，wepassedanhourinthecabin，mostlywithoutspeech：I，sometimesdozingoverabook；Nares，sullenlybutbusilydrillingsea-shellswiththeinstrumentcalledaYankeeFiddle。Astrangermighthavesupposedwewereestranged；asamatteroffact，inthissilentcomradeshipoflabour，ourintimacygrew。
Ihadbeenstruck，atthefirstbeginningofourenterpriseuponthewreck，tofindthemensoreadyatthecaptain’slightestword。Idarenotsaytheyliked，butIcanneverdenythattheyadmiredhimthoroughly。Amildwordfromhismouthwasmorevaluedthanflatteryandhalfadollarfrommyself；ifherelaxedatallfromhishabitualattitudeofcensure，smilingalacritysurroundedhim；andIwasledtothinkhistheoryofcaptainship，evenifpushedtoexcess，reposeduponsomegroundofreason。Buteventerrorandadmirationofthecaptainfailedusbeforetheend。Themenweariedofthehopeless，unremunerativequestandthelongstrainoflabour。Theybegantoshirkandgrumble。Retributionfellonthematonce，andretributionmultipliedthegrumblings。Witheverydayittookharderdrivingtokeepthemtothedailydrudge；andwe，inournarrowboundaries，werekeptconsciouseverymomentoftheill-willofourassistants。
Inspiteofthebestcare，theobjectofoursearchwasperfectlywellknowntoallonboard；andtherehadleakedoutbesidessomeknowledgeofthoseinconsistenciesthathadsogreatlyamazedthecaptainandmyself。IcouldoverhearthemendebatethecharacterofCaptainTrent，andsetforthcompetingtheoriesofwheretheopiumwasstowed；andastheyseemedtohavebeeneavesdroppingonourselves，IthoughtlittleshametoprickupmyearswhenIhadthereturnchanceofspyinguponthem，inthisway。IcoulddiagnosetheirtemperandjudgehowfartheywereinformeduponthemysteryoftheFlyingScud。Itwasafterhavingthusoverheardsomealmostmutinousspeechesthatafortunateideacrossedmymind。Atnight，Imatureditinmybed，andthefirstthingthenextmorning，broachedittothecaptain。
“SupposeIspiritupthehandsabit。”Iasked，“bytheofferofareward？”
“Ifyouthinkyou’regettingyourmonth’swagesoutofthemthewayitis，Idon’t。”washisreply。“However，theyareallthemenyou’vegot，andyou’rethesupercargo。”
This，fromapersonofthecaptain’scharacter，mightberegardedascompleteadhesion；andthecrewwereaccordinglycalledaft。Neverhadthecaptainwornafrontmoremenacing。
Itwassupposedbyallthatsomemisdeedhadbeendiscovered，andsomesurprisingpunishmentwastobeannounced。
“Seehere，you！”hethrewatthemoverhisshoulderashewalkedthedeck，“Mr。Doddhereisgoingtoofferarewardtothefirstmanwhostrikestheopiuminthatwreck。There’stwowaysofmakingadonkeygo；bothgood，Iguess：theone’skicksandtheother’scarrots。Mr。Dodd’sgoingtotrythecarrots。Well，mysons。”——andherehefacedthemenforthefirsttimewithhishandsbehindhim——“ifthatopium’snotfoundinfivedays，youcancometomeforthekicks。”
Henoddedtothepresentnarrator，whotookupthetale。“HereiswhatIpropose，men。”saidI：“Iputuponehundredandfiftydollars。Ifanymancanlayhandsonthestuffrightaway，andoffhisownclub，heshallhavethehundredandfiftydown。Ifanyonecanputusonthescentofwheretolook，heshallhaveahundredandtwenty-five，andthebalanceshallbefortheluckyonewhoactuallypicksitup。We’llcallitthePinkertonStakes，captain。”Iadded，withasmile。
“CallittheGrandCombinationSweep，then。”crieshe。“ForI
goyoubetter——Lookhere，men，Imakeupthisjack-pottotwohundredandfiftydollars，Americangoldcoin。”
“Thankyou，CaptainNares。”saidI；“thatwashandsomelydone。”
“Itwaskindlymeant。”hereturned。
Theofferwasnotmadeinvain；thehandshadscarceyetrealisedthemagnitudeofthereward，theyhadscarcebeguntobuzzaloudintheextremityofhopeandwonder，eretheChinesecooksteppedforwardwithgraciousgesturesandexplanatorysmiles。
“Captain。”hebegan，“Iserv-umtwoyearMelicannavy；
serv-umsixyearmail-boatsteward。Savvyplenty。”
“Oho！”criedNares，“yousavvyplenty，doyou？Beggar’sseenthistrickinthemail-boats，Iguess。Well，whyyounosavvyalittlesooner，sonny？”
“Ithinkbimebymake-umreward。”repliedthecook，withsmilingdignity。
“Well，youcan’tsayfairerthanthat。”thecaptainadmitted，“andnowthereward’soffered，you’lltalk？Speakup，then。Supposeyouspeaktrue，yougetreward。See？”
“Ithinklongtime。”repliedtheChinaman。“Seeplentylittymatlice；too-muchyplentylittymatlice；sixtyton，littymatlice。I
thinkall-e-time：perhapsplentyopiumplentylittymatlice。”
“Well，Mr。Dodd，howdoesthatstrikeyou？”askedthecaptain。
“Hemayberight，hemaybewrong。He’slikelytoberight：forifheisn’t，wherecanthestuffbe？Ontheotherhand，ifhe’swrong，wedestroyahundredandfiftytonsofgoodricefornothing。It’sapointtobeconsidered。”
“Idon’thesitate。”saidI。“Let’sgettothebottomofthething。
Thericeisnothing；thericewillneithermakenorbreakus。”
“That’showIexpectedyoutoseeit。”returnedNares。
Andwecalledtheboatawayandsetforthonournewquest。
Theholdwasnowalmostentirelyemptied；thematsofwhichtherewentfortytotheshorttonhadbeenstackedondeck，andnowcrowdedtheship’swaistandforecastle。Itwasourtasktodisembowelandexploresixthousandindividualmats，andincidentallytodestroyahundredandfiftytonsofvaluablefood。Norwerethecircumstancesoftheday’sbusinesslessstrangethanitsessentialnature。Eachmanofus，armedwithagreatknife，attackedthepilefromhisownquarter，slashedintothenearestmat，burrowedinitwithhishands，andshedforththericeuponthedeck，whereitheapedup，overflowed，andwastroddendown，pouredatlastintothescuppers，andoccasionallyspoutedfromthevents。Aboutthewreck，thustransformedintoanoverflowinggranary，thesea-fowlswarmedinmyriadsandwithsurprisinginsolence。Thesightofsomuchfoodconfoundedthem；theydeafeneduswiththeirshrilltongues，swoopedinourmidst，dashedinourfaces，andsnatchedthegrainfrombetweenourfingers。Themen——theirhandsbleedingfromtheseassaults——turnedsavagelyontheoffensive，drovetheirknivesintothebirds，drewthemoutcrimsoned，andturnedagaintodigamongtherice，unmindfulofthegawkingcreaturesthatstruggledanddiedamongtheirfeet。Wemadeasingularpicture：thehoveringanddivingbirds；thebodiesofthedeaddiscolouringthericewithblood；
thescuppersvomitingbreadstuff；themen，frenziedbythegoldhunt，toiling，slaying，andshoutingaloud：overall，theloftyintricacyofriggingandtheradiantheavenofthePacific。Everymantheretoiledintheimmediatehopeoffiftydollars；andI，offiftythousand。Smallwonderifwewadedcallouslyinbloodandfood。
Itwasperhapsabouttenintheforenoonwhenthescenewasinterrupted。Nares，whohadjustrippedopenafreshmat，drewforth，andslungathisfeet，amongtherice，apaperedtinbox。
“How’sthat？”heshouted。
Acrybrokefromallhands：thenextmoment，forgettingtheirowndisappointment，inthatcontagioussentimentofsuccess，theygavethreecheersthatscaredthesea-birds；andthenext，theyhadcrowdedroundthecaptain，andwerejostlingtogetherandgropingwithemuloushandsinthenew-openedmat。Boxafterboxrewardedthem，sixinall；wrapped，asIhavesaid，inapaperenvelope，andthepaperprintedon，inChinesecharacters。
Naresturnedtomeandshookmyhand。“Ibegantothinkweshouldneverseethisday。”saidhe。“Icongratulateyou，Mr。
Dodd，onhavingpulleditthrough。”
Thecaptain’stonesaffectedmeprofoundly；andwhenJohnsonandthemenpressedroundmeinturnwithcongratulations，thetearscameinmyeyes。
“Thesearefive-taelboxes，morethantwopounds。”saidNares，weighingoneinhishand。“Saytwohundredandfiftydollarstothemat。Layintoit，boys！We’llmakeMr。Doddamillionnairebeforedark。”
Itwasstrangetoseewithwhatafurywefellto。Themenhadnownothingtoexpect；themereideaofgreatsumsinspiredthemwithdisinterestedardour。Matswereslashedanddisembowelled，thericeflowedtoourkneesintheship’swaist，thesweatraninoureyesandblindedus，ourarmsachedtoagony；andyetourfireabatednot。Dinnercame；weweretoowearytoeat，toohoarseforconversation；andyetdinnerwasscarcedone，beforewewereafootagainanddelvingintherice。
Beforenightfallnotamatwasunexplored，andwewerefacetofacewiththeastonishingresult。
ForofalltheinexplicablethingsinthestoryoftheFlyingScud，herewasthemostinexplicable。Outofthesixthousandmats，onlytwentywerefoundtohavebeensugared；ineachwefoundthesameamount，abouttwelvepoundsofdrug；makingagrandtotaloftwohundredandfortypounds。BythelastSanFranciscoquotation，opiumwassellingforafractionovertwentydollarsapound；butithadbeenknownnotlongbeforetobringasmuchasfortyinHonolulu，whereitwascontraband。
Taking，then，thishighHonolulufigure，thevalueoftheopiumonboardtheFlyingScudfellconsiderablyshortoftenthousanddollars，whileattheSanFranciscorateitlackedatrifleoffivethousand。AndfiftythousandwasthepricethatJimandIhadpaidforit。AndBellairshadbeeneagertogohigher！ThereisnolanguagetoexpressthestuporwithwhichI
contemplatedthisresult。
Itmaybearguedwewerenotyetsure；theremightbeyetanothercache；andyoumaybecertaininthathourofmydistresstheargumentwasnotforgotten。Therewasneverashipmoreardentlyperquested；nostonewasleftunturned，andnoexpedientuntried；dayafterdayofgrowingdespair，wepunchedandduginthebrig’svitals，excitingthemenwithpromisesandpresents；eveningaftereveningNaresandIsatfacetofaceinthenarrowcabin，rackingourmindsforsomeneglectedpossibilityofsearch。Icouldstakemysalvationonthecertaintyoftheresult：inallthatshiptherewasnothingleftofvaluebutthetimberandthecoppernails。Sothatourcasewaslamentablyplain；wehadpaidfiftythousanddollars，bornethechargesoftheschooner，andpaidfancyinterestonmoney；