 and
do what I tell you, you'll have one sticking in yours."

"Speak a little more plainly," said the Jew. "Come into the parlor, I
don't want the police to see a light in the shop."

"We stole it," said the seaman, as he followed the other into the little
back parlor, "the four of us, from--"

"I don't want to know anything about that," interrupted the other
hastily.

The sailor grinned approvingly, and continued: "Then me an' Jack being
stronger than them, we took it from them two, but they got level with
poor Jack. I shipped before the mast on a barque, and they came over by
steamer an' waited for me."

"Well, you're not afraid of them?" said the Jew interrogatively.
"Besides, a word to the police--"

"Telling 'em all about the diamond," said the seaman. "Oh, yes. Well,
you can do that now if you feel so inclined. They know all about that,
bless you, and, if they were had, they'd blab about the diamond."

"Have they been dogging you?" inquired the pawnbroker.

"Dogging me!" said the seaman. "Dogging's no word for it. Wherever I've
been they've been my shadders. They want to hurt me, but they're careful
about being hurt themselves. That's where I have the pull of them. They
want the stone back first, and revenge afterwards, so I thought I'd put
you on your guard, for they pretty well guess who's got the thing now.
You'll know Wheeler by his nose, which is broken."

"I'm not afraid of them," said the Jew, "but thank you for telling me.
Did they follow you here?"

"They're outside, I've no doubt," said the other; "but they come along
like human cats--leastways, the Burmah chap does. You want eyes in the
back of your head for them almost. The Burmese is an old man and soft as
velvet, and Jack Ball just afore he died was going to tell me something
about him. I don't know what it was; but, pore Jack, he was a
superstitious sort o' chap, and I know it was something horrible. He was
as brave as a lion, was Jack, but he was afraid o' that little
shrivelled-up Burmese. They'll follow me to the ship to-night. If
they'll 