Wizards Of High Degree

Russian Fins, or "Roosian" Fins, as acky has it, were, and are yet, wizards f high degree, says Lieutenant J. D. errold Kelley in an article on "Superíitions of the Sea" in The Century. Hurricanes blew, calma beset, gales oared as they willed, and their incan;ations began to opérate by the simple ;icking of a knife in the mast. If they wished to drive the rats out of a vessel, ;hey shoved the point of a snicker snee nto the deck, and every rat ran for ie sharp blade and willy uilly perbrmed hará kiri. No one ever saw in ailor lore a penniless Russian Finn, 'or by slipping his hand into his pocket ie can always produce a gold doubloon - why a gold doubloon no one seems to snow, but it is always that coin. His rum bottle, often consulted silently and oue, is neverfull nor erupty - a gentle ilashing of the tide - half tide bringing 'at content, and woe be to the incautious mariner who bites the weather side of lis thumb at hiru, for harm will surely 'ollow.