âWhen we got past the Bosphorus the men began to grumble; some oâ them, the Romanians, came and asked me to heave overboard a big box which had been put on board by a queer lookinâ old man just before we had started frae London. I had seen them speer at the fellow, and put out their twa fingers when they saw him, to guard against the evil eye. Man! but the supersteetion of foreigners is pairfectly rideeculous! I sent them aboot their business pretty quick; but as just after a fog closed in on us I felt a wee bit as they did anent something, though I wouldnât say it was agin the big box. Well, on we went, and as the fog didnât let up for five days I joost let the wind carry us; for if the Deil wanted to get somewheresâ âwell, he would fetch it up aâreet. Anâ if he didnât, well, weâd keep a sharp lookout anyhow. Sure eneuch, we had a fair way and deep water all the time; and two days ago, when the morninâ sun came through the fog, we found ourselves just in the river opposite Galatz. The Romanians were wild, and wanted me right or wrong to take out the box and fling it in the river.
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