English
ThethirdofOctoberhadbrokenauspiciouslywithabrightsunandacloudlesssky.
Therehadinthemorningbeenaslightbreeze,andafewlittlewhitewreathsofvapourdriftedhereandtherelikethescatteredfeathersofsomegiganticbird,but,asthedayworeon,suchwindastherewasfellcompletelyaway,andtheairbecamecloseandstagnant.
Thesunblazeddownwithadegreeofheatwhichwasremarkablesolateintheseason,andashimmeringhazelayupontheuplandmoorsandconcealedtheIrishmountainsontheothersideoftheChannel.
Theseaitselfroseandfellinalong,heavy,oilyroll,sweepingslowlylandward,andbreakingsullenlywithadull,monotonousboomingupontherock-girtshore.
Totheinexperiencedallseemedcalmandpeaceful,buttothosewhoareaccustomedtoreadNature’swarningstherewasadarkmenaceinairandskyandsea.
MysisterandIwalkedoutintheafternoon,saunteringslowlyalongthemarginofthegreat,sandyspitwhichshootsoutintotheIrishSea,flankingupononesidethemagnificentBayofLuce,andontheotherthemoreobscureinletofKirkmaiden,ontheshoresofwhichtheBranksomepropertyissituated.
Itwastoosultrytogofar,sowesoonseatedourselvesupononeofthesandyhillocks,overgrownwithfadedgrass-tufts,whichextendalongthecoast-line,andwhichformNature’sdykesagainsttheencroachmentsoftheocean.
Ourrestwassooninterruptedbythescrunchingofheavybootsupontheshingle,andJamieson,theoldman-o’-war’smanwhomIhavealreadyhadoccasiontomention,madehisappearance,withtheflat,circularnetuponhisbackwhichheusedforshrimp-catching.
Hecametowardsusuponseeingus,andsaidinhisrough,kindlywaythathehopedwewouldnottakeitamissifhesentusupadishofshrimpsforourteaatBranksome.
“Iayemakeagoodcatchbeforeastorm,”heremarked.
“Youthinkthereisgoingtobeastorm,then?”Iasked.
“Why,evenamarinecouldseethat,”heanswered,stickingagreatwedgeoftobaccointohischeek.
“ThemoorsovernearCloomberarejustwhitewi’gullsandkittiewakes.
Whatd’yethinktheycomeashoreforexcepttoescapehavingallthefeathersblownouto’them?
ImindadaylikethiswhenIwaswi’CharlieNapieroffCronstadt.
Itwell-nighblewusunderthegunsoftheforts,forallourenginesandpropellers.”
“Haveyoueverknownawreckintheseparts?”Iasked.
“Lordloveye,sir,it’safamousplaceforwrecks.
Why,inthatverybaydowntheretwoo’KingPhilip’sfirst-ratesfounderedwi’allhandsinthedayso’theSpanishwar.
Ifthatsheeto’waterandtheBayo’Luceroundthecornercouldtelltheiraintalethey’dhaveageylottospeakof.
WhentheJedgmentDaycomesroundthatwaterwillbejustbubblingwi’thenumbero’folksthatwillbecomingupfraethebottom.”
“Itrustthattherewillbenowreckswhilewearehere,”saidEstherearnestly.
Theoldmanshookhisgrizzledheadandlookeddistrustfullyatthehazyhorizon.
“Ifitblowsfromthewest,”hesaid,“someo’thesesailingshipsmayfinditnojoketobecaughtwithoutsea-roomintheNorthChannel.
There’sthatbarqueoutyonder—Idaresayhermaisterwouldbegladenoughtofindhimsel’safeintheClyde.”
“Sheseemstobeabsolutelymotionless,”Iremarked,lookingatthevesselinquestion,whoseblackhullandgleamingsailsroseandfellslowlywiththethrobbingofthegiantpulsebeneathher.
“Perhaps,Jamieson,wearewrong,andtherewillbenostormafterall.”
Theoldsailorchuckledtohimselfwithanairofsuperiorknowledge,andshuffledawaywithhisshrimp-net,whilemysisterandIwalkedslowlyhomewardsthroughthehotandstagnantair.
Iwentuptomyfather’sstudytoseeiftheoldgentlemanhadanyinstructionsastotheestate,forhehadbecomeengrossedinanewworkuponOrientalliterature,andthepracticalmanagementofthepropertyhadinconsequencedevolvedentirelyuponme.
Ifoundhimseatedathissquarelibrarytable,whichwassoheapedwithbooksandpapersthatnothingofhimwasvisiblefromthedoorexceptatuftofwhitehair.
“Mydearson,”hesaidtomeasIentered,“itisagreatgrieftomethatyouarenotmoreconversantwithSanscrit.
WhenIwasyourage,Icouldconversenotonlyinthatnoblelanguage,butalsointheTamulic,Lohitic,Gangelic,Taic,andMalaicdialects,whicharealloffshootsfromtheTuranianbranch.”
“Iregretextremely,sir,”Ianswered,“thatIhavenotinheritedyourwonderfultalentsasapolyglot.”
“Ihavesetmyselfatask,”heexplained,“which,ifitcouldonlybecontinuedfromgenerationtogenerationinourownfamilyuntilitwascompleted,wouldmakethenameofWestimmortal.
ThisisnothinglessthantopublishanEnglishtranslationoftheBuddhistDjarmas,withaprefacegivinganideaofthepositionofBrahminismbeforethecomingofSakyamuni.
WithdiligenceitispossiblethatImightbeablemyselftocompletepartoftheprefacebeforeIdie.”
“Andpray,sir,”Iasked,“howlongwouldthewholeworkbewhenitwasfinished?”
“TheabridgededitionintheImperialLibraryofPekin,”saidmyfather,rubbinghishandstogether,“consistsof325volumesofanaverageweightoffivepounds.
Thentilepreface,whichmustembracesomeaccountoftheRig-veda,theSama-veda,theYagur-veda,andtheAtharva-veda,withtheBrahmanas,couldhardlybecompletedinlessthantenvolumes.
Now,ifweapportiononevolumetoeachyear,thereiseveryprospectofthefamilycomingtoanendofitstaskaboutthedate2250,thetwelfthgenerationcompletingthework,whilethethirteenthmightoccupyitselfupontheindex.”
“Andhowareourdescendantstolive,sir,”Iasked,withasmile,“duringtheprogressofthisgreatundertaking:’”
“That’stheworstofyou,Jack,”myfathercriedpetulantly.“Thereisnothingpracticalaboutyou.
Insteadofconfiningyourattentiontotheworkingoutofmynoblescheme,youbeginraisingallsortsofabsurdobjections.
Itisamerematterofdetailhowourdescendantslive,solongastheysticktotheDjarmas.
Now,IwantyoutogouptothebothyofFergusMcDonaldandseeaboutthethatch,andWillieFullertonhaswrittentosaythathismilk-cowisbad.
Youmighttookinuponyourwayandaskafterit.”
Istartedoffuponmyerrands,butbeforedoingsoItookalookatthebarometeruponthewall.
Themercuryhadsunktothephenomenalpointoftwenty-eightinches.
ClearlytheoldsailorhadnotbeenwronginhisinterpretationofNature’ssigns.
AsIreturnedoverthemoorsintheevening,thewindwasblowinginshort,angrypuffs,andthewesternhorizonwasheapedwithsombrecloudswhichstretchedtheirlong,raggedtentaclesrightuptothezenith.
Againsttheirdarkbackgroundoneortwolivid,sulphur-colouredsplotchesshowedupmalignantandmenacing,whilethesurfaceoftheseahadchangedfromtheappearanceofburnishedquicksilvertothatofgroundglass.
Alow,moaningsoundroseupfromtheoceanasifitknewthattroublewasinstoreforit.
FaroutintheChannelIsawasinglepanting,eagersteamvesselmakingifswaytoBelfastLough,andthelargebarquewhichIhadobservedinthemorningstillbeatingaboutintheoffing,endeavouringtopasstothenorthward.
Atnineo’clockasharpbreezewasblowing,attenithadfreshenedintoagale,andbeforemidnightthemostfuriousstormwasragingwhichIcanrememberuponthatweather-beatencoast.
Isatforsometimeinoursmall,oak-paneledsitting-roomlisteningtothescreechingandhowlingoftheblastandtotherattleofthegravelandpebblesastheypatteredagainstthewindow.
Nature’sgrimorchestrawasplayingitsworld-oldpiecewithacompasswhichrangedfromthedeepdiapasonofthethunderingsurgetothethinshriekofthescatteredshingleandthekeenpipingoffrightenedseabirds.
OnceforaninstantIopenedthelatticewindow,butagustofwindandraincameblusteringthrough,bearingwithitagreatsheetofseaweed,whichflappeddownuponthetable.
ItwasallIcoulddotocloseitagainwithathrustofmyshoulderinthefaceoftheblast.
Mysisterandfatherhadretiredtotheirrooms,butmythoughtsweretooactiveforsleep,soIcontinuedtositandtosmokebythesmoulderingfire.
WhatwasgoingonintheHallnow,Iwondered?
WhatdidGabrielthinkofthestorm,andhowdiditaffecttheoldmanwhowanderedaboutinthenight?
DidhewelcomethesedreadforcesofNatureasbeingofthesameorderofthingsashisowntumultuousthoughts?
ItwasonlytwodaysnowfromthedatewhichIhadbeenassuredwastomarkacrisisinhisfortunes.
Wouldheregardthissuddentempestasbeinginanywayconnectedwiththemysteriousfatewhichthreatenedhim?
OverallthesethingsandmanymoreIponderedasIsatbytheglowingembersuntiltheydiedgraduallyout,andthechillnightairwarnedmethatitwastimetoretire.
ImayhavesleptacoupleofhourswhenIwasawakenedbysomeonetuggingfuriouslyatmyshoulder.
Sittingupinbed,Isawbythedimlightthatmyfatherwasstandinghalf-cladbymybedside,andthatitwashisgraspwhichIfeltonmynight-shirt.
“Getup,Jack,getup!”hewascryingexcitedly.“There’sagreatshipashoreinthebay,andthepoorfolkwillallbedrowned.Comedown,myboy,andletusseewhatwecando.”
Thegoodoldmanseemedtobenearlybesidehimselfwithexcitementandimpatience.
Isprangfrommybed,andwashuddlingonafewclothes,whenadull,boomingsoundmadeitselfheardabovethehowlingofthewindandthethunderofthebreakers.
“Thereitisagain!”criedmyfather.
“Itistheirsignalgun,poorcreatures!Jamiesonandthefishermenarebelow.
Putyouroil-skincoatonandtheGlengarryhat.
Come,come,everysecondmaymeanahumanlife!”
Wehurrieddowntogetherandmadeourwaytothebeach,accompaniedbyadozenorsooftheinhabitantsofBranksome.
Thegalehadincreasedratherthanmoderated,andthewindscreamedallrounduswithaninfernalclamour.
Sogreatwasitsforcethatwehadtoputourshouldersagainstit,andboreourwaythroughit,whilethesandandgraveltingledupagainstourfaces.
Therewasjustlightenoughtomakeoutthescuddingcloudsandthewhitegleamofthebreakers,butbeyondthatallwasabsolutedarkness.
Westoodankledeepintheshingleandseaweed,shadingoureyeswithourhandsandpeeringoutintotheinkyobscurity.
ItseemedtomeasIlistenedthatIcouldhearhumanvoicesloudinintreatyandterror,butamidthewildturmoilofNatureitwasdifficulttodistinguishonesoundfromanother.
Suddenly,however,alightglimmeredintheheartofthetempest,andnextinstantthebeachandseaandwide,tossingbaywerebrilliantlyilluminatedbythewildglareofasignallight.
Theshiplayonherbeam-endsrightinthecentreoftheterribleHanselreef,hurledovertosuchananglethatIcouldseealltheplankingofherdeck.
Irecognizedheratonceasbeingthesamethree-mastedbarquewhichIhadobservedintheChannelinthemorning,andtheUnionJackwhichwasnailedupsidedowntothejaggedslumpofhermizzenproclaimedhernationality.
Everysparandropeandwrithingpieceofcordageshoweduphardandclearunderthevividlightwhichsplutteredandflickeredfromthehighestportionoftheforecastle.
Beyondthedoomedship,outofthegreatdarknesscamethelong,rollinglinesofbigwaves,neverending,nevertiring,withapetulanttuftoffoamhereandthereupontheircrests.
Eachasitreachedthebroadcircleofunnaturallightappearedtogatherstrengthandvolumeandtohurryonmoreimpetuouslyuntilwitharoarandajarringcrashitspranguponitsvictim.
portraitofSirArthurConanDoyle
Clingingtotheweathershroudswecoulddistinctlyseetenoradozenfrightenedseamenwho,whenthelightrevealedourpresence,turnedtheirwhitefacestowardsusandwavedtheirhandsimploringly.
Thepoorwretcheshadevidentlytakenfreshhopefromourpresence,thoughitwasclearthattheirownboatshadeitherbeenwashedawayorsodamagedastorenderthemuseless.
Thesailorswhoclungtotheriggingwerenot,however,theonlyunfortunatesonboard.
Onthebreakingpooptherestoodthreemenwhoappearedtobebothofadifferentraceandnaturefromthecoweringwretcheswhoimploredourassistance.
Leaningupontheshatteredtaff-railtheyseemedtobeconversingtogetherasquietlyandunconcernedlyasthoughtheywereunconsciousofthedeadlyperilwhichsurroundedthem.
Asthesignallightflickeredoverthem,wecouldseefromtheshorethattheseimmutablestrangersworeredfezes,andthattheirfaceswereofaswarthy,large-featuredtype,whichproclaimedanEasternorigin.
Therewaslittletime,however,forustotakenoteofsuchdetails.Theshipwasbreakingrapidly,andsomeeffortmustbemadetosavethepoor,soddengroupofhumanitywhoimploredourassistance.
ThenearestlifeboatwasintheBayofLuce,tenlongmilesaway,butherewasourownbroad,roomycraftupontheshingle,andplentyofbravefisherladstoformacrew.
Sixofussprangtotheoars,theotherspushedusoff,andwefoughtourwaythroughtheswirling,ragingwaters,staggeringandrecoilingbeforethegreat,sweepingbillows,butstillsteadilydecreasingthedistancebetweenthebarqueandourselves.
Itseemed,however,thatoureffortswerefatedtobeinvain.
AswemounteduponasurgeIsawagiantwave,toppingalltheothers,andcomingafterthemlikeadriverfollowingaflock,sweepdownuponthevessel,curlingitsgreat,greenarchoverthebreakingdeck.
Witharending,rivingsoundtheshipsplitintwowheretheterrible,serratedbackoftheHanselreefwassawingintoherkeel.
Theafter-part,withthebrokenmizzenandthethreeOrientals,sankbackwardsintodeepwaterandvanished,whilethefore-halfoscillatedhelplesslyabout,retainingitsprecariousbalanceupontherocks.
Awailoffearwentupfromthewreckandwasechoedfromthebeach,butbytheblessingofProvidenceshekeptafloatuntilwemadeourwayunderherbowspritandrescuedeverymanofthecrew.
Wehadnotgothalf-wayuponourreturn,however,whenanothergreatwaveswepttheshatteredforecastleoffthereef,and,extinguishingthesignallight,hidthewilddenouementfromourview.
Ourfriendsupontheshorewereloudincongratulationandpraise,norweretheybackwardinwelcomingandcomfortingthecastaways.
Theywerethirteeninall,ascoldandcowedasetofmortalsaseverslippedthroughDeath’sfingers,save,indeed,theircaptain,whowasahardy,robustman,andwhomadelightoftheaffair.
Someweretakenofftothiscottageandsometothat,butthegreaterpartcamebacktoBranksomewithus,wherewegavethemsuchdryclothesaswecouldlayourhandson,andservedthemwithbeefandbeerbythekitchenfire.
Thecaptain,whosenamewasMeadows,compressedhisbulkyformintoasuitofmyown,andcamedowntotheparlour,wherehemixedhimselfsomegrogandgavemyfatherandmyselfanaccountofthedisaster.
“Ifithadn’tbeenforyou,sir,andyourbravefellows,”hesaid,smilingacrossatme,“weshouldbetenfathomsdeepbythistime.
AstotheBelinda,shewasaleakyoldtubandwellinsured,soneithertheownersnorIarelikelytobreakourheartsoverher.”
“Iamafraid,”saidmyfathersadly,“thatweshallneverseeyourthreepassengersagain.
Ihaveleftmenuponthebeachincasetheyshouldbewashedup,butIfearitishopeless.
Isawthemgodownwhenthevesselsplit,andnomancouldhavelivedforamomentamongthatterriblesurge.”
“Whowerethey?”Iasked.“Icouldnothavebelievedthatitwaspossibleformentoappearsounconcernedinthefaceofsuchimminentperil.”
“Astowhotheyareorwere,”thecaptainanswered,puffingthoughtfullyathispipe,“thatisbynomeanseasytosay.
OurlastportwasKurrachee,inthenorthofIndia,andtherewetookthemaboardaspassengersforGlasgow.
RamSinghwasthenameoftheyounger,anditisonlywithhimthatIhavecomeincontact,buttheyallappearedtobequiet,inoffensivegentlemen.
Ineverinquiredtheirbusiness,butIshouldjudgethattheywereParseemerchantsfromHyderabadwhosetradetookthemtoEurope.
Icouldneverseewhythecrewshouldfearthem,andthemate,too,heshouldhavehadmoresense.”
“FearthemI!”Iejaculatedinsurprise.
“Yes,theyhadsomepreposterousideathattheyweredangerousshipmates.
Ihavenodoubtifyouweretogodownintothekitchennowyouwouldfindthattheyareallagreedthatourpassengerswerethecauseofthewholedisaster.”
Asthecaptainwasspeakingtheparlourdooropenedandthemateofthebarque,atall,red-beardedsailor,steppedin.
Hehadobtainedacompleterig-outfromsomekind-heartedfisherman,andlookedinhiscomfortablejerseyandwell-greasedseabootsaveryfavourablespecimenofashipwreckedmariner.
Withafewwordsofgratefulacknowledgmentofourhospitality,hedrewachairuptothefireandwarmedhisgreat,brownhandsbeforetheblaze.
“Whatd’yethinknow,CaptainMeadows?”heaskedpresently,glancingupathissuperiorofficer.“Didn’tIwarnyouwhatwouldbetheupshotofhavingthoseniggersonboardtheBelinda?”
Thecaptainleantbackinhischairandlaughedheartily.
“Didn’tItellyou?”hecried,appealingtous.“Didn’tItellyou?”
“Itmighthavebeennolaughingmatterforus,”theotherremarkedpetulantly.“Ihavelostagoodsea-kitandnearlymylifeintothebargain.”
“DoIunderstandyoutosay,”saidI,“thatyouattributeyourmisfortunestoyourill-fatedpassengers?”
Themateopenedhiseyesattheadjective.
“Whyill-fated,sir?”heasked.
“Becausetheyaremostcertainlydrowned,”Ianswered.
Hesniffedincredulouslyandwentonwarminghishands.
“Menofthatkindareneverdrowned,”hesaid,afterapause.
“Theirfather,thedevil,looksafterthem.
Didyouseethemstandingonthepoopandrollingcigarettesatthetimewhenthemizzenwascarriedawayandthequarter-boatsstove?Thatwasenoughforme.
I’mnotsurprisedatyoulandsmennotbeingabletotakeitin,butthecaptainhere,who’sbeensailingsincehewastheheightofthebinnacle,oughttoknowbythistimethatacatandapriestaretheworstcargoyoucancarry.
IfaChristianpriestisbad,Iguessanidolatrouspaganoneisfiftytimesworse.
Istandbytheoldreligion,andbed—dtoit!”
MyfatherandIcouldnothelplaughingattheroughsailor’sveryunorthodoxwayofproclaiminghisorthodoxy.
Themate,however,wasevidentlyindeadlyearnest,andproceededtostatehiscase,markingoffthedifferentpointsupontherough,redfingersofhislefthand.
“ItwasatKurrachee,directlyaftertheycomethatIwarnedye,”hesaidreproachfullytothecaptain.
“TherewasthreeBuddhistLascarsinmywatch,andwhatdidtheydowhenthemchapscomeaboard?
Why,theydownontheirstomachsandrubbedtheirnosesonthedeck—that’swhattheydid.
Theywouldn’tha’doneasmuchforanadmiraloftheR’yalNavy.
Theyknowwho’swho—theseniggersdo;andIsmeltmischiefthemomentIsawthemontheirfaces.
Iaskedthemafterwardsinyourpresence,Captain,whytheyhaddoneit,andtheyansweredthatthepassengerswereholymen.Youheard‘emyourself.”
“Well,there’snoharminthat,Hawkins,”saidCaptainMeadows.
“Idon’tknowthat,”thematesaiddoubtfully.
“TheholiestChristianistheonethat’snearestGod,buttheholiestniggeris,inmyopinion,theonethat’snearestthedevil.
Thenyousawyourself,CaptainMeadows,howtheywentonduringthevoyage,readingbooksthatwaswritonwoodinsteado’paper,andsittinguprightthroughthenighttojabbertogetheronthequarter-deck.
Whatdidtheywanttohaveachartoftheirownforandtomarkthecourseofthevesseleveryday?”
“Theydidn’t,”saidthecaptain.
“Indeedtheydid,andifIdidnottellyousooneritwasbecauseyouwerealwaysreadytolaughatwhatIsaidaboutthem.
Theyhadinstrumentso’theirown—whentheyusedthemIcan’tsay—buteverydayatnoontheyworkedoutthelatitudeandlongitude,andmarkedoutthevessel’spositiononachartthatwaspinnedontheircabintable.
Isawthematit,andsodidthestewardfromhispantry.”
“Well,Idon’tseewhatyouprovefromthat,”thecaptainremarked,”thoughIconfessitisastrangething.”
“I’lltellyouanotherstrangething,”saidthemateimpressively.“Doyouknowthenameofthisbayinwhichwearecastaway?”
“IhavelearntfromourkindfriendsherethatweareupontheWigtownshirecoast,”thecaptainanswered,“butIhavenotheardthenameofthebay.”
Themateleantforwardwithagraveface.
“ItistheBayofKirkmaiden,”hesaid.
IfheexpectedtoastonishCaptainMeadowshecertainlysucceeded,forthatgentlemanwasfairlybereftofspeechforaminuteormore.
“Thisisreallymarvelous,”hesaid,afteratime,turningtous.
“Thesepassengersofourscross-questionedusearlyintilevoyageastotheexistenceofabayofthatname.
HawkinshereandIdeniedallknowledgeofone,foronthechartitisincludedintheBayofLuce.
Thatweshouldeventuallybeblownintoitanddestroyedisanextraordinarycoincidence.”
“Tooextraordinarytobeacoincidence,”growledthemate.
“Isawthemduringthecalmyesterdaymorning,pointingtothelandoverourstarboardquarter.
Theyknewwellenoughthatthatwastheporttheyweremakingfor.”
“Whatdoyoumakeofitall,then,Hawkins?”askedthecaptain,withatroubledface.“Whatisyourowntheoryonthematter?”
“Why,inmyopinion,”themateanswered,“themthreeswabshavenomoredifficultyinraisingagaleo’windthanIshouldhaveinswallowingthisheregrog.
Theyhadreasonso’theirownforcomingtothisGod-forsaken—savingyourpresence,sirs—thisGod-forsakenbay,andtheytookashortcuttoitbyarrangingtobeblownashorethere.
That’smyideao’thematter,thoughwhatthreeBuddhistpriestscouldfindtodointheBayofKirkmaideniscleanpastmycomprehension.”
Myfatherraisedhiseyebrowstoindicatethedoubtwhichhishospitalityforbadehimfromputtingintowords.
“Ithink,gentlemen,”hesaid,“thatyouarebothsorelyinneedofrestafteryourperilousadventures.IfyouwillfollowmeIshallleadyoutoyourrooms.”
Heconductedthemwithold-fashionedceremonytothelaird’sbestsparebedroom,andthen,returningtomeintheparlour,proposedthatweshouldgodowntogethertothebeachandlearnwhetheranythingfreshhadoccurred.
Thefirstpalelightofdawnwasjustappearingintheeastwhenwemadeourwayforthesecondtimetothesceneoftheshipwreck.
Thegalehadblownitselfout,buttheseawasstillveryhigh,andallinsidethebreakerswasaseething,gleaminglineoffoam,asthoughthefierceoldoceanweregnashingitswhitefangsatthevictimswhohadescapedfromitsclutches.
Allalongthebeachfishermenandcrofterswerehardatworkhaulingupsparsandbarrelsasfastastheyweretossedashore.
Noneofthemhadseenanybodies,however,andtheyexplainedtousthatonlysuchthingsascouldfloathadanychanceofcomingashore,fortheundercurrentwassostrongthatwhateverwasbeneaththesurfacemustinfalliblybesweptouttosea.
Astothepossibilityoftheunfortunatepassengershavingbeenabletoreachtheshore,thesepracticalmenwouldnothearofitforamoment,andshowedusconclusivelythatiftheyhadnotbeendrownedtheymusthavebeendashedtopiecesupontherocks.
“Wedidallthatcouldbedone,”myfathersaidsadly,aswereturnedhome.
“Iamafraidthatthepoormatehashadhisreasonaffectedbythesuddennessofthedisaster.
DidyouhearwhathesaidaboutBuddhistpriestsraisingagale?”
“Yes,Iheardhim,”saidI.“Itwasverypainfultolistentohim,”saidmyfather.
“Iwonderifhewouldobjecttomyputtingasmallmustardplasterundereachofhisears.
Itwouldrelieveanycongestionofthebrain.
Orperhapsitwouldbebesttowakehimupandgivehimtwoantibiliouspills.Whatdoyouthink,Jack?”
“Ithink,”saidI,withayawn,“thatyouhadbestlethimsleep,andgotosleepyourself.Youcanphysichiminthemorningifheneedsit.”
SosayingIstumbledofftomybedroom,andthrowingmyselfuponthecouchwassooninadreamlessslumber.
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