66 



SPORT IN NOETH AMEEICA. 



" Help," repeated Minton. 



" A very lively one at any rate/' quoth the fellow, 

 " Come, cheer up, friend. How did this happen ? 

 Take a sip of brandy," he added, offering Minton 

 a gourd, " and then tell me all about it." 



Minton recounted to him his story, and the name 

 of his partner. 



" Junius Drake ! " cried the man. " Why, he's 

 the biggest scoundrel in New Jersey. I know him 

 well for a thief and a wretch. Jingo ! but you've 

 had a narrow escape; and if you take my advice, 

 you'll lose no time in lodging your deposition before 

 the nearest justice. Do you feel sti'ong enough to 

 get to Morristown ? " 



" Oh yes. Anything to have my revenge of that 

 wretch." 



Minton found his way to the house of the nearest 

 justice, who received his deposition and issued a 

 warrant against the partner. Drake was soon found 

 by the New York police, dead drunk in a bar-room, 

 and standing liquor to a dozen scoundrels of his 

 own kidney. He was thrown into prison, and bail 

 was refused, though offered to a large amount. As 

 soon as this romance of the pearl-fishery became 

 known there was a regular pearl fever throughout 

 the States. From Rhode Island to the Carolinas, 

 oysters became all the rage, and heaps of the ostracea 

 were opened and thrown aside, shells and fish 

 tosrether, to rot in the sun and infect the air with 



