Pirates-Morgan Robertson

The Pirates by Morgan Robertson Prologue Two young men met in front of the post office of a small country town.

They were of the same age, eighteen.

Each was well-dressed, comely, and apparently of good family, and each had an expression of face that would commend him to strangers.

Save that one of them, the larger of the two, had what is called a bad eye.

That is, an eye showing just a little too much white above the iris.

In the other's eye, white predominated below the iris.

The former is usually the index of violent, though restrained temper.

The latter of an intuitive, psychic disposition with very little self-control.

The difference in character so indicated may lead one person to the presidency, another to the gallows.

And, though no such results are promised, with similar divergence of path, of pain and pleasure, of punishment and reward, is this story a concern? The two boys were schoolmates and friends, with never a quarrel since they had known each other.

They had graduated together from the high school, but neither had been valedictorian.

They later sought the competitive examination given by the congressman of the district for an appointment to the Naval Academy, and had won out overall, but so close together that the congressman had decreed another test.

They had taken it, and since then had waited for the letter that named the winner.

Hence the daily ending in this one, where the larger boy, about to go up the steps, met the smaller coming down with an open letter and smiling.

I've got it, Jack, said the smaller boy joyously.

Here it is.

I win.

But, of course, you're the alternate.

Read it.

He handed the letter to Jack, but it was declined.

What's the use? was the somewhat sulky response.

I've lost, sure enough.

All I've got to do is to forget it.

Then let me read it to you, said the winner eagerly.

I want you to feel glad about it, same as I would if you had passed first.