“Then I am pray mos’ fearful hard to be ver’ good business man for thee one hour. Ver’ well. I look at thee gold. Do I know what he have mean? God is good! I do. Ver’ well. Thee gold is come out of the fire. What happen? Oh, ver’ well! It have be melt. What ver’ beeg fool is he! It have be melt. All? No! Thee gold steek together; thee gold melt in two; thee gold be in thee beeg lump; thee gold be damage’. What this fool theenk? Ah! Pooh! This fool theenk thee gold have be all spoil’. Good gold? No, spoil’ gold! No good no more. Ruin’? I am ver’ good business man. I see what he have mean. Ah, my heart! It jump, it swell, it choke me, it tumble into the belly, it stop; it hurt me mos’ awful. I am theenk I die. Thee good God have answer thee prayer. ‘O my God,’ I pray once more, ‘this man is ver’ beeg fool. Make Tanous Shiva good business man. It have be ver’, ver’ easy t’ing to do, O God!’ “‘Spoil’, Skip’ Jim?’ I say. “‘All spoil’, Tom Shiva,’ he say. ‘Thee gold no good.’ “‘Ver’ sad to be ruin’,’ I say. ‘Oh, Skip’ Jim, ver’ sad to be ruin’. I am ver’, ver’ sad to see you ruin’.’ “‘Tom Shiva,’ he say, ‘you ver’ good man.’ “‘Skip’ Jim,’ I say, ‘I have love you ver’ much.’ “‘Oh, Tom Shiva,’ thee beeg fool say, ‘I am thank you ver’ hard.’ “‘Oh yess, Skip’ Jim,’ I say, ‘I am love you ver’, ver’ much.’ “He shake my han’. “‘I am love you ver’ much, Skip’ Jim,’ I say, ’an’ I am ver’ good man.’ “My han’ it pinch me ver’ sore, Skip’ Jim shake it so hard with thee beeg, black han’ he have. Thee han’ of thee feesherman is ver’, ver’ beeg, ver’ strong. Thee ver’ hard work make it ver’ beeg an’ strong. “‘Skip’ Jim,’ I say, ‘I am poor man. But not ver’ poor. I am have leet-tle money. I am wish thee help to you. I am _buy_ thee spoil’ gold.’ “‘Buy thee gold?’ he say. ‘Oh, Tom Shiva. All spoil’. Look! All melt. Thee gold no good no more.’ “‘I am buy thee gold from you,’ I say, ‘Skip’ Jim, my friend.’ “‘Ver’ good friend, you, Tom Shiva,’ he say; ‘ver’ good friend to me.’ “I am look at him ver’ close. I am theenk what he will take. ‘I am geeve you,’ I say, ‘I am geeve you,’ Skip’ Jim,’ I say— “Then I stop. “‘What you geeve me for thee spoil’ gold?’ he say. “‘I am geeve you,’ I say, ‘for thee spoil’ gold an’ for thee half-bushel of spoil’ silver,’ I say, ‘I am geeve you seventy-five dollar.’ “Then _he_ get ver’ good business man in the eye. “‘Oh no!’ he say. ‘I am want one hundred dollar.’ “I shake my head. ‘Oh, Skip’ Jim!’ I say. ‘Shame to have treat thee friend so! I am great friend to you, Skip’ Jim,’ I say. ‘But,’ I say, ‘business is business. Skip’ Jim,’ I say, ‘let us have pray.’