"
"But you didn't dream about water, it was about fish, 'vivid'
fish."
"I did not chance to think of the water," acknowledged Allan, "but
there was the whale lying upon the h'edge of the h'ocean, h'all
the time."
The drawing, which was for a capital prize of fifteen thousand
dollars "silver," had drawn a larger crowd than usual, and when
the two reached Cathedral Square they found the lottery building
thronged to overflowing with the usual polyglot elements that make
up these Latin-American gatherings--negroes, Indians, Panamanians,
Spaniards, Americans--while in the Plaza itself other groups were
waiting to hear the report.
By dint of considerable effort Kirk succeeded in working his way
through the wide double doors, and, being much above the average
height, he was able to get a good view of the proceedings. Upon a
platform a group of ceremonious officials were gathered about a
revolving wire cage, so arranged that it could be whirled rapidly
upon its axis. Into it were put ten ivory spheres, resembling
billiard-balls in size and appearance. When this had been done,
the cage was closed, and a very badly frightened twelve-year-old
girl was selected at random from the audience, then lifted to the
stage, where it required the commands and entreaties of her
excited parents to prevent her from dissolving in tears.
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