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diff --git a/26977-h/26977-h.htm b/26977-h/26977-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a13e6e0 --- /dev/null +++ b/26977-h/26977-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10380 @@ + <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Old Tobacco Shop, by William Bowen. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2,h3,h4 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + hr {text-align: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + hr.major {width:65%; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr.minor {width:30%; margin-top:0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + img {border: 1px solid black; padding: 6px;} + img.plain {border: none; padding: 0;} + .caption {font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .trnote {background-color: #EEE; color: inherit; margin: 2em 15% 1em 15%; font-size: 80%; padding: 0.5em 1em 0.5em 1em; border: dotted 1px gray;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right; } + .center {text-align: center;} + .ralign {text-align: right;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .blockquot {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .initquot {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%;} + ol.TOC {position: relative; width: 90%;} + span.ralign {float: right; position: absolute; right: 0; top: auto;} + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i0 {margin-left: 0em;} + .poem span.i2 {margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {margin-left: 4em;} + .poem span.i8 {margin-left: 8em;} + .poem span.i14 {margin-left: 14em;} + +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Old Tobacco Shop, by William Bowen + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Old Tobacco Shop + A True Account of What Befell a Little Boy in Search of Adventure + +Author: William Bowen + +Release Date: October 20, 2008 [EBook #26977] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OLD TOBACCO SHOP *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Katie Ward and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div style="text-align: center; margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em;"> +<div style="height: 0"> + <a id="fcover"></a> +</div> +<div class="figcenter"> + <img class="plain" src="images/fcover.jpg" alt="Front Cover" title="The Old Tobacco Shop By William Bowen" /> +</div> + +<hr class="minor" /> + +<p class="center" style="font-size: smaller"> +By<br /> +WILLIAM BOWEN<br /> +The Enchanted Forest<br /> +The Old Tobacco Shop<br /> +</p> + +<hr class="minor" /> + +<div style="height: 0"> + <a id="Frontispiece"></a> +</div> +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/frontis.png" alt=""Lord bless us!" cried the hunch back. "Look at that!"" /> + <p class="caption">"Lord bless us!" cried the hunch back. "Look at that!"</p> +</div> + +<h1><i>The Old Tobacco Shop</i></h1> +<br /> + + <span style="font-size: smaller"> +<i>A True Account of What Befell<br /> +a Little Boy in Search<br /> +of Adventure</i> + </span> + +<br /><br /> + +<h3>By</h3> + +<h2>WILLIAM BOWEN</h2> + +<br /> + +<div class="initquot"> +<p><i>Though you believe it not, I care not much: but an honest man, +and of good judgment, believeth still what is told him, and that +which he finds written.</i>—<span class="smcap">Rabelais</span>.</p></div> + +<p class="center"> + <br /><br /> +New York<br /> +THE MACMILLAN COMPANY<br /> +1921<br /> +<span style="font-size: smaller"><i>All rights reserved</i></span> + <br /><br /> + + PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1921<br /> +BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY</p> + +<p class="center">Set up and Electrotyped. Published October, 1921</p> + +<p class="center">FERRIS PRINTING COMPANY<br /> +NEW YORK</p> + +<hr class="minor" /> + +<p class="center">To<br /> +<span style="font-size: larger">BILLY AND JOHN</span><br /> +TWO LITTLE BOYS<br /> +</p> + +<hr class="minor" /> +</div> + +<h3><a name="PRINCIPAL_PERSONS" id="PRINCIPAL_PERSONS"></a>PRINCIPAL PERSONS</h3> + +<div style="margin-left: 30%;"> +<p> +Freddie<br /> +Mr. Toby<br /> +Aunt Amanda<br /> +Mr. Punch<br /> +The Churchwarden<br /> +Mr. Hanlon<br /> +The Sly Old Fox<br /> +The Old Codger with the Wooden Leg<br /> +Mr. Lemuel Mizzen<br /> +The Cabin-Boy<br /> +Marmaduke<br /> +Captain Lingo<br /> +Ketch the Practitioner<br /> +The Third Vice-President<br /> +Mr. Matthew Speak<br /> +Shiraz the Rug-Merchant<br /> +The King and Queen<br /> +Robert, Jenny, and James<br /> +Mr. Punch's Father<br /> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<h3><a name="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS" id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS"></a>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> +<ol class="TOC"> + <li><span>"Lord bless us!" cried the hunch back. "Look at that!"</span> + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Frontispiece">Frontispiece</a></span> + </li> + <li>"I'm Lemuel Mizzen, A.B., that's me!" + <span class="ralign"><a href="#image01">50</a></span> + </li> + <li>"L-l-Lem!" shrieked the parrot. "Who's your f-f-f-friends?" + <span class="ralign"><a href="#image02">86</a></span> + </li> + <li>Mr. Hanlon was standing on his feet by the log on which his head had been cut off + <span class="ralign"><a href="#image03">134</a></span> + </li> + <li>Shiraz the Rug-Merchant looked at his visitor with little beady black eyes + <span class="ralign"><a href="#image04">188</a></span> + </li> + <li>"Ah, yes," said Aunt Amanda, "there's no place like the Old Tobacco Shop after all" + <span class="ralign"><a href="#image05">235</a></span> + </li> +</ol> +<div style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em;"> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<h3><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h3> +<ol class="TOC" style="list-style-type: upper-roman;" > + <li>Mr. Punch and the Clock-Tower + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></span> + </li> + <li>Aunt Amanda and the Two Old Codgers + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></span> + </li> + <li>Introducing the Churchwarden + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_22">22</a></span> + </li> + <li> In which Mr. Hanlon makes a Great Impression + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_31">31</a></span> + </li> + <li>The Chinaman's Head + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_39">39</a></span> + </li> + <li>Lemuel Mizzen, A.B. + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></span> + </li> + <li>The Hands of the Clock come Together + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_54">54</a></span> + </li> + <li>Celluloid Cuffs and a Silk Hat + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_60">60</a></span> + </li> + <li>The Odour of Sanctity + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></span> + </li> + <li>Captain Higginson and the Spanish Main + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_69">69</a></span> + </li> + <li>A Mixed Company in search of Adventure + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_74">74</a></span> + </li> + <li>The Voyage of the Sieve + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></span> + </li> + <li>The Cabin-Boy's Revenge + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></span> + </li> + <li>The Cruise of the Mattresses + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_107">107</a></span> + </li> + <li>A Fall in the Dark + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_111">111</a></span> + </li> + <li>Captain Lingo and a Fine Piece of Head-Work + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_122">122</a></span> + </li> + <li>High Dudgeon and Low Dudgeon + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_139">139</a></span> + </li> + <li>The Society for Piratical Research + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_146">146</a></span> + </li> + <li>A Knock at the Door + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_160">160</a></span> + </li> + <li>The City of Towers + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_171">171</a></span> + </li> + <li>Shiraz the Rug-Merchant + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_178">178</a></span> + </li> + <li>Six Enchanted Souls + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_187">187</a></span> + </li> + <li>From the Fire Back to the Frying-Pan + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_196">196</a></span> + </li> + <li>Disenchantment Complete + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_200">200</a></span> + </li> + <li>The Old Man of the Mountain + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_209">209</a></span> + </li> + <li>The King's Tower + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_216">216</a></span> + </li> + <li>The Sorcerer's Den + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_222">222</a></span> + </li> + <li>The Old Tobacco Shop + <span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_231">231</a></span> + </li> +</ol> +</div> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<p><!-- Page 1 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="THE_OLD_TOBACCO_SHOP" id="THE_OLD_TOBACCO_SHOP"></a>THE OLD TOBACCO SHOP</h2> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>MR. PUNCH AND THE CLOCK-TOWER</h3> + +<p>When the Little Boy first went to the Old +Tobacco Shop, he stood a long while before +going in, to look at the wooden figure which +stood beside the door.</p> + +<p>His father was sitting at home in his carpet-slippers, +waiting for tobacco for his pipe, but when the +Little Boy saw the wooden figure he forgot all about +hurrying,—"Now don't be long," his mother had said, +and his father had said "Hurry back,"—but he forgot +all about hurrying, and stood and looked at the wooden +figure a long time: a little hunchbacked man, not so +very much taller than himself, on a low wooden box, +holding out in one hand a packet of black wooden +cigars. His back was terribly humped up between his +shoulders, his face was square and bony, if wood can +be said to be bony, he was bareheaded and bald-headed, +he had a wide mouth, and his high nose curved down +over it and his pointed chin curved up under it; and +his breast stuck out in front almost as much as his +shoulders stuck out behind.</p> + +<p>The Little Boy's name was Freddie; his mother +called him that, and his father usually called him Fred;<!-- Page 2 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +but sometimes his father called him Frederick, in fact +whenever he didn't come back after he had been told +to hurry, and then his father looked at him—you +know that look—and said "Frederick!" just like that. +But his mother never called him anything but Freddie, +even when he was late.</p> + +<p>He grasped his money tight in his hand, as he had +been told to do, and stood and looked at the little +hunchbacked wooden man holding out his packet of +black wooden cigars. "I wonder," thought Freddie, +"what makes him so crooked?" He walked around +him and looked at his back. He walked around in +front of him again and wondered if the black cigars in +his hand would smoke; he decided he would ask about +it. The little man wore blue knee breeches and black +stockings and buckled shoes, and his coat was cut away +in front over his stomach and had two tails behind, +down to his knees. It was easy to see that he wasn't +a boy, though, even if he did wear knee breeches; you +only had to look at his face, for he had the kind of +hard boniness in his face that grown-ups have. Freddie +made up his mind that he liked him, anyway; and it +must have been hard to have to stand out there all day +without moving, rain or shine, and offer that bunch of +cigars to all the people who went by, and never get +a single soul to take them. Freddie put out his other +hand (not the one with the money in it) towards the +cigars, but he quickly drew it back, for he looked at +the little man's face at the same time, and there was +something about his eyes—anyhow, he stood back a +little.</p> + +<p>"Better be careful o' Mr. Punch, young feller," said +a deep voice from the shop door.</p> + +<p>Freddie looked, and in the doorway, leaning against +the doorpost, with his hands in his trousers' pockets,<!-- Page 3 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +and one foot crossed over the other, stood a little man, +not so very much taller than himself, and certainly no +taller than the figure on the stand, who stared at Freddie +as if he knew all about human boys and did not +trust them out of his sight. Freddie looked at him +and then at the wooden figure beside the door; they +might have been brothers. The little man had a hump +on his back, and his breast stuck out in front; his +head was big and square, and he had high cheek-bones; +his face was bony and his mouth wide, and his big +nose curved down and his chin curved up; but he +did not wear knee breeches; his trousers were the +trousers of grown-ups, and his coat was a square coat, +buttoned tight over his chest from top to bottom. He +was bareheaded, and he had plenty of hair, brushed +from the top of his head down towards his forehead. +He looked as if he belonged to the tobacco shop; or +perhaps the tobacco shop belonged to him.</p> + +<p>He stared at Freddie without blinking, and there was +something in his eyes—anyway, Freddie stepped back, +and held his money tighter in his hand behind him.</p> + +<p>"You'd <i>better</i> stand away from Mr. Punch," said the +hunchbacked man, without moving.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Did you say 'why'? Because you know I'm terrible +deef, and can't never hear boys when they talk +down in their stomicks. I'll <i>tell</i> you why, as long as +you ast me. Do you see that clock on the church-tower +over there?" He nodded his big wooden head +up the street, without taking his hands from his pockets. +Freddie looked, and there the clock was, plain enough. +"Well," said the hunchbacked man, "I'll tell you, seeing +as you insist upon it, and won't take no for an answer: +but you mustn't never tell it to no one. Do you +promise me that? Cross your heart?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie.<!-- Page 4 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Done," said the hunchback. "Mr. Punch's father +lives up there behind that clock. And sometimes, just +exactly when the two hands of that clock come together, +one on top of the other, mind you, like you lay one stick +along another, Mr. Punch's father comes out and stands +on that there sill under the clock; he's a little old man +with a long white beard; and he stands there and puts +his hand to his mouth and calls down here to Mr. +Punch, and Mr. Punch climbs down off his little perch +and goes over to that church, and climbs up the inside +of that tower to the very top and meets his father! +And I've heard tell that they have regular high jinks +up there all by theirselves, and vittles! more vittles and +drink than you ever seen at one time; yes, sir; a regular +feast, as sure as you're born; and they don't only +eat vittles; no, sir; if they can only get hold of a +nice plump little boy or two, with plenty o' meat to +him, that's what they like best; and if it happens to be +night-time, there's a lot of queer ones with 'em up +there, and all sorts of queer noises—you ask the sextant +over there about it—<i>he's</i> heard 'em; and if you +should just happen to be around when Mr. Punch +climbs down off of this here perch, you'd better look +out; for he's just as likely as not to snatch you up +and carry you off with him up there into that church-tower +to his father, and if he does <i>that</i>, that's the last +of you; and your ma and your pa could cry their +eyes out, and it wouldn't be no use; you'd be <i>gone</i>! +And never come back no more. They say there's many +a boy been took up into that tower by Mr. Punch here +when his father comes out and calls him. But he +don't <i>always</i> come out when the hands of the clock +come together; nobody ever knows when he's going +to do it, no sirree; Mr. Punch himself never knows +when his father's going to call him. Lord bless us!" +cried the little hunchback, looking up again in alarm at<!-- Page 5 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +the clock in the church-tower. "Lord bless us, look +at that!"</p> + +<p>Freddie stared at the clock. It was twenty-five minutes +past five. He knew how to tell twelve o'clock +and ten minutes to ten, but he had never got as far +as twenty-five minutes past five; he could easily see, +however, that the big hand was almost on top of the +little hand. He edged away further from the wooden +figure on the box; he was almost sure that the hand +which held the cigars moved a little.</p> + +<p>The hunchbacked man in the doorway stood up +straight on his two feet and took his hands out of +his pockets.</p> + +<p>"Look alive, young feller!" he said. "It's pretty +near time! In another minute! I can't help it if Mr. +Punch's father comes out and—Quick, boy! Come +here to me, before it's too late! I'll see if I can +save you!"</p> + +<p>Freddie gave another look at the clock; the hands +were surely almost together, and quick as a flash he +darted to the hunchback and hid behind him and held +on to his coat, peeping around him through the doorway. +The little man put his arm about Freddie and +held him close; it was a strong muscular arm, and +Freddie felt quite safe. The little man could not have +been laughing, for his face was as solemn and wooden-looking +as ever; but Freddie could feel his body shaking +all over, he couldn't tell why.</p> + +<p>"You'd better come in and see Aunt Amanda," he +said, "before it's too late. You'll be safe in there."</p> + +<p>He took Freddie by the hand and drew him into the +shop.</p> + +<p>The Old Tobacco Shop stands at the corner of two +streets, as you surely must know if you have ever +been in the city that lies on the river called Patapsco, +which runs along ever so far out of a great bay where +ships sail from all over the world, called Chesapeake<!-- Page 6 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +Bay. It is an old brick house, and you go into the +shop by the door that opens in the side just round the +corner, not in the front, for there isn't any door at +the front, but only a window with pipes and cigars +and tobacco in it, and the stuffed head of a bull-dog +with a pipe in his mouth. The house is only one story +and a half high, and has a steep gabled roof, with +two dormer windows in the slope of the roof above the +side of the house, and one dormer window in the +slope of the roof above the shop-window in front, +where the bull-dog is. All the other houses fronting +in the row are good high two-story houses; why this +corner house never grew up like the others, no one +knows.</p> + +<p>When Freddie was standing at the corner of the +street, before he had seen the wooden figure offering +his bundle of wooden cigars there beside the door, he +looked down the street that runs along the side of the +shop, across the street that crosses it, and saw the +masts of tall ships in the harbor beside the wharves; +some with their sails up, some with their sails hanging +most untidily, and some with their sails neatly +rolled up and tied; and he would certainly have gone +down there, only his father had told him to hurry.</p> + +<p>Freddie lived in a fine two-story brick house in +a row like this one, a long, long way off; three squares +off (they say "squares" in that city when they mean +a straight line between two streets and not a square at +all) down the same street on which the Old Tobacco +Shop fronts; and it really takes a good while to go all +that way, for there is a boy half-way down, a big boy, +who belongs to a Gang, and likes to bully little boys, +and you have to watch your chance to get out of his +way, and there is a place with a knot-hole in the fence +where you can see all kinds of rusty springs and bed-rails +and birdcages and barrel hoops piled up inside<!-- Page 7 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +the yard, and a tin-can factory where you can pick up +little round pieces of tin just as good as dollars, and +a church (where the clock is) with a fat old man +sitting on the pavement in a chair tilted back against +the church wall smoking a long pipe, who doesn't +mind being stared at from the curbstone, and a street-car +track where you have to look out for the horse-car, +which is very dangerous when the horse begins to trot, +and—but Freddie hadn't lived long in his fine two-story +house in that street, and these things were new +to him and took time. But the newest and biggest +thing he had yet found (not that it was really big, you +know) was the wooden hunchback outside the door of +the Old Tobacco Shop; and you have seen how much +time <i>that</i> took.</p> + +<p>Freddie found himself inside the shop, and his hand +grasped tight by the big strong hand of the hunchback, +so tight that he wriggled a little to get loose; +but the hunchback only held him tighter. "Come +along," he said, "you'd better come in here and see +my Aunt Amanda, or Mr. Punch may step out and +get you; and <i>then</i> where would you be?"</p> + +<p>Freddie looked back out of doors over his shoulder, +but it did not seem as if Mr. Punch meant to step +out that time. He breathed easier. The shop was +a very little shop, with shelves on the wall behind +the counter, and a window in front where he saw the +back of the bull-dog's head. The two show-cases on +the counter were full of pipes of all kinds, and cigars +and tobacco and cigarettes, and piled on the shelves +were boxes of cigars and jars and tins of tobacco, and +on the wooden top of the counter between the two show-cases +stood a tobacco-cutter and a little pair of scales +with a scoop lying beside it and little iron weights in +a box. The counter ran from the front window +lengthwise to the back of the shop, and at the back,<!-- Page 8 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +on your left as you went in, was a closed door. A +wooden chair with arms stood beside the front window. +You could get behind the counter only by a swinging +gate at the back end. There was a delightful warm +odour about the place, very much the same odour +Freddie liked to smell when his father opened his old +tobacco-box on the mantel-piece in the sitting-room +upstairs and filled his pipe, when he came home in the +evening and put on his carpet-slippers and spread out +that everlasting newspaper that had no pictures in it. +He never could understand why his mother opened all +the windows the next morning.</p> + +<p>"All right, young feller," said the hunchback, "we'll +get on the other side of that door, and then we'll be +safe. Here we are."</p> + +<p>They reached the door at the back of the shop, and +the hunchback opened it and pulled Freddie into the +back room and closed the door behind them. Freddie +hung back a little, but his hand was gripped tight, and +he couldn't have got away if he had tugged with all +his might. He was not so much afraid now of Mr. +Punch and his father, but he didn't know what this +little man was going to do with him; and besides, his +father had told him to hurry.</p> + +<p>In this back room, near a window which looked out +on the street, sat a lady. The hunchback marched +Freddie up to her and stopped there before her, and +wagged his head sidewise towards the Little Boy. The +hunchback and the Little Boy stood hand in hand, and +the lady looked at them steadily.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 9 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9" />[Pg 9]</p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>AUNT AMANDA AND THE TWO OLD CODGERS</h3> + +<p>"Here's Aunt Amanda," said the hunchback, +standing before the lady who was sitting near +the window, and letting go of Freddie's hand, +"and here's a boy that Mr. Punch pretty near got hold +of, if I hadn't come along just in time and hustled him +in here. Just look out of that window, Aunt Amanda, +and see if Mr. Punch has moved yet."</p> + +<p>The lady did not look out of the window, but stared +at Freddie with her mouth shut tight. She had very +thin lips and she pressed them tight together; and without +opening them more than a wee mite she said to +the hunchback, sternly:</p> + +<p>"Obelilackyoomuptwonyerix."</p> + +<p>Freddie could not understand this at all. He looked +at her closely. She was very thin, and had a high +beaked nose and reddish hair and a reddish skin, and +on the left side of her chin was a mole, with three little +reddish hairs sticking out of it; she wore a rusty black +dress, very tight above the waist and very wide below, +and in the bosom of this dress were sticking dozens, +maybe hundreds, for all Freddie could tell, of pins and +needles. She must have been very tall when she stood +up. A cane leaned against the back of her chair; she +was a little lame; not very lame, but enough to make +her limp when she walked, and to make her cane useful +in getting about. If she had had a stiff starched ruff +about her neck and a lace thing on her head pointed +in front, she would have done very well for Queen<!-- Page 10 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +Elizabeth, the one you see the picture of in that history-book. +There was a thimble on the second finger of her +right hand, and a pair of scissors hung by a tape at her +waist; and around her neck she wore a measuring tape. +On the floor at her feet lay a pile of goods, and some +of it was in her lap; the kind of goods that Mother +has around her when she is turning and making over +that old blue serge, and gathers up out of Father's way +when she hears him coming in towards the sitting-room.</p> + +<p>At Aunt Amanda's elbow stood an oval marble-topped +table, and besides a work-basket there were several +fascinating things on it. In the center was a +glass dome, and under the glass dome was the most +beautiful basket of wax flowers—calla lilies mostly, +with a wonderful yellow spike like a finger sticking up +out of each one. On one side of the wax flowers was +a thick book with blue plush covers, and the word +"Album" across it in slanting gold letters. On the +other side was a kind of a—well, it had a handle under +a piece of wood to hold it up by, and a frame at one +end to stick up a picture in, and two pieces of thick +glass in a frame at the other end to look through at +the picture and make the picture look all—<i>you</i> know!—as +if the people in the back of it were a long way +behind, and the people in front right close up in front, +and all that; Freddie's father had one.</p> + +<p>The chairs in the room had thin curved legs and those +slippery horse-hair seats which Freddie hated to sit +on. On the walls were portraits in oval frames of men +with chin-whiskers and no mustaches, and ladies in +shawls and bonnets; but there was one square frame, +and it had no picture under its glass, but a sheaf of +real wheat, standing up as natural as life, with some +kind of curly writing over it; it was simply beautiful. +There was a clock on the marble mantel-piece, tall and +square-cornered, with a clear circle in the glass below +where you could see the round weight of the pendulum<!-- Page 11 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +go back and forth, and a picture of the sun on the +face, very red, with a big nose and eyes, and stiff red +hair floating off from it.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda stuck a pin in the goods in her lap and +folded her hands. Freddie, after glancing around the +room, looked at her again and wondered who she was; +plain sewing she was, that was sure, also an aunt; and +besides that, although Freddie did not know it, she was +an old—I hate to say it, though it wasn't anything +really against her, if you come to that,—an old—well, +you know what you call them behind their backs, or +shout after them as they go down the street and then +whip around the corner when they turn, just simply +because they haven't ever been married, like Mother,—well, +then, an Old Maid.</p> + +<p>Being an Old Maid, she of course wore no wedding +ring; but on her wedding-finger, the third finger of her +left hand, there was a mark at the place where a wedding +ring would have been; a kind of birth-mark, ruby +red, in shape and size like the ruby stone of a ring. +Freddie looked at it often afterwards.</p> + +<p>"Now you look here, Aunt Amanda," said her +nephew, taking hold of Freddie's hand again, "you +know well enough I can't understand you with all them +pins—"</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda put a hand to her lips and drew out +of her mouth a pin and stuck it in the bosom of her +dress. She put her hand to her lips again and drew +forth another pin and stuck it in the bosom of her +dress. She drew forth another and another, and stuck +each one in her dress. Freddie's eyes opened wide; +did this lady eat pins? Her mouth seemed to be full +of them; didn't they hurt? It didn't seem possible +she could eat them, and yet there they were. No wonder +she couldn't talk plainly. There seemed to be no<!-- Page 12 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +end to the pins, but there was, and at last her mouth +was clear of them so that she could talk.</p> + +<p>"Toby Littleback," said she, "you're up to one o' +your tricks again. Ain't you ashamed of yourself?" +That was what she had meant by saying, "Obelilackyoomuptwonyerix," +with her mouth full of pins.</p> + +<p>Toby was quite crestfallen. "Well," he said, "I +guess it ain't no hangin' matter. All I done was to +bring the boy in to see you. 'N' this is what I get +fer it every time. I ain't a-going to bring 'em in any +more, that's flat."</p> + +<p>"Let go o' the child," said Aunt Amanda, sharply. +"Can't you see you're hurting his hand? Come here, +boy."</p> + +<p>Mr. Littleback dropped Freddie's hand and walked +over to the table beside his aunt. Freddie came forward +timidly and stood at Aunt Amanda's knee. She examined +him carefully.</p> + +<p>"It's the best one yet," she said. "Boy, do you know +you're as pretty as a—Well, anyway, what is your +name?"</p> + +<p>If there was one thing Freddie loathed, it was to be +called pretty; he had heard it before, in the parlor at +home, when he had been trotted out to be inspected by +female visitors, and he had tried many a time to scrub +off the rosy redness from his cheeks, but he had found +it only made it worse. He hung his head a little, and +could not find his voice. Aunt Amanda took his chin +in her hand and gently held up his head.</p> + +<p>"It's all right, my dear," said she. "What is your +name, now?"</p> + +<p>"Fweddie," said the Little Boy.</p> + +<p>"It ain't neither!" cried Mr. Littleback. "There +ain't no such name. It's Freddie! Come on, now, +say Freddie!"</p> + +<p>"Fweddie," said the Little Boy.<!-- Page 13 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, no!" cried Toby. "Try it again, now. Say +Freddie!"</p> + +<p>"Toby," said Aunt Amanda, "shut up. Freddie, I +haven't any little boy, and I don't get out very much, +and I'd like you to come and see me sometimes. Would +you like to do that?"</p> + +<p>Freddie stared at her, and said, "Yes'm."</p> + +<p>"I hope you will, often. Be sure you do. I suppose +you don't like gingerbread? Toby."</p> + +<p>The little hunchback went out briskly through a back +door and returned with a slice of gingerbread. "Baked +today," said his aunt. "But what time is it? Quarter +to six. Too near suppertime. You mustn't eat it now, +Freddie. Toby, wrap it up."</p> + +<p>Toby went into the shop and returned with a paper +sack, and putting the gingerbread into it gave it to +Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Aunt Amanda, "take it home with you +and eat it after supper. Will you come to see me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes'm," said Freddie as if he meant it. You couldn't +get gingerbread at home between meals every day in +the week.</p> + +<p>"That's a good boy. Now run away home."</p> + +<p>"Please, sir," said Freddie, holding out the money in +his hand, "my farver wants half a pound of Cage-Roach +Mitchner."</p> + +<p>"What? Oh!" said Toby. "I see. Half a pound +of Stage-Coach Mixture. All right, young feller, come +along into the shop."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Freddie, and don't break the gingerbread +before you get home," said Aunt Amanda, taking +into her mouth a palmful of pins with a back toss of +her head. Had she swallowed them? Freddie stared +at her in alarm.</p> + +<p>"Ain't you never comin' for the tobacco?" said<!-- Page 14 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +Toby. "I can't keep all them customers in the shop +waiting all day."</p> + +<p>Freddie followed him into the shop.</p> + +<p>"You'll have to wait your turn, young feller," said +Toby. "I can't keep these customers waiting no longer. +What'll you have, Mr. Applejohn?"</p> + +<p>Freddie looked around for Mr. Applejohn, but so +far as he could see there was no one in the shop but +himself and Mr. Littleback. The hunchback went +through the swinging gate and stood behind the +counter, and looked over it (his head and shoulders +just came over the top) at Mr. Applejohn.</p> + +<p>"No," said Toby, "we're just out of it. Very sorry. +But I have something just as good. No? Well, then, +come around tomorrow; yes, sir; between ten and +eleven. Now, then, Tom, it's your turn. You want +what? No, sir, I won't sell no cigarettes to no boy, so +you can clear out. You ought to be ashamed o' yourself, +smoking cigarettes at your age. No use arguin', +I won't do it. You can get right out o' here." The +big wooden-looking head winked an eye at Freddie. +"That's the way I treat 'em. Did you see how he +skipped off in a hurry? You saw him go, didn't you?"</p> + +<p>Freddie looked at the door. He hadn't seen anybody, +but after all that talk there must have been +somebody there; he couldn't be sure; probably he had +been mistaken about it; grown-up people ought to know +what they were talking about; perhaps he <i>had</i> seen +somebody. He hesitated.</p> + +<p>"I—I think so; I believe so; yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Don't you fool yourself, young man. You can't +smoke cigarettes if you ever want to grow up. Look at +me. Do you see this?" He turned his back and +reached over his shoulder to his hump. "Cigarettes. +That's what done it. Cigarettes. I smoked 'em along +with my bottle of milk, regular, when I was a kid, and +look at me now, not much bigger than Mr. Punch out<!-- Page 15 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +there. Cigarettes. Maybe you might think it was the +bottle o' milk done it, instead of the cigarettes, being +as they was at the same time; but don't you never +believe it. Cigarettes! You keep off of 'em. Now +pipe-tobacco! That's a different thing. If I'd only +stuck to a pipe, along with that bottle o' milk, look +how high I'd 'a' been now! What kind o' tobacco did +you say your farver wanted? Housewife's Favorite?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said Freddie. "My farver he wants half +a pound of Cage-Roach Mitchner."</p> + +<p>"That's it," said Toby. "I don't see how I come to +forget that name. Your father's a man o' good common +sense. Nothing like Cage-Roach. Here it is." +He turned to the shelf behind him and mounted a +little ladder and took down a large tin. While he was +scooping out the tobacco at the counter and weighing +it on the scales and doing it up, he was singing to +himself, and Freddie stared at him with rapt attention.</p> + +<p>"Some day," said Mr. Littleback, without pausing +in his work or looking at Freddie, "them eyes of yourn +will pop right out of your head, if you ain't careful. +Did you ever hear that song?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Would you like to hear it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"It's about two old codgers—friends of mine; they +come in here regular. One of 'em's a good customer +and pays spot cash; the other one never buys nothing; +and I can't say which one of 'em I like worse. Anyway, +here's how it goes:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh-h-h! There was an old codger, and he had a wooden leg,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And he never bought tobacco when tobacco he could beg."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Don't you never let yourself get into that habit, +young man. Always buy your tobacco fair and square.<!-- Page 16 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +I've known 'em—this feller and many another one—never +have a grain o' tobacco left in their pouch—just +used up the very last bit two minutes before, and always +a-beggin' a pipeful, and right here in my own shop too, +where I <i>sell</i> tobacco, mind you—I'd like 'em better if +they sneaked in and <i>stole</i> it, I would, any day. But the +other one! I don't know that I'd want to be him +neither, if I had to choose between 'em,—however—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Another old codger, as sly as a fox!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And he always had tobacco in his old tobacco box.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Count on him for that! <i>He</i> never begs no tobacco, +nor gives away none either. However, he ain't such +a general nuisance as the other one, and he pays spot +cash. I'll have to say that much for him. But in +spite o' everything and all, I can't seem to make myself +care for him, much. Anyway—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Said the one old codger, Won't ye gimme a chew?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Said the other old codger, I'll be hanged if I do!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"They're a fine pair now, ain't they? One of 'em a +nuisance and the other one a grouch. You'll see 'em +here both in my shop one o' these days, when you're +a-visitin' Aunt Amanda, and one of them times—you +see the way I bounced that boy that wanted cigarettes, +didn't you? Well, that's what I'm goin' to do to +them two old codgers one of these days, you watch +and see if I don't; yes, sir; both of 'em, as sure as I've +got a hump on my back. But it's pretty good advice, +after all, what the song says,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"So save up your pennies and put away your rocks,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And you'll always have tobacco in your old tobacco box!<br /></span> +<!-- Page 17 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></div></div> + +<p>"Here's your Cage-Roach. Gimme your money. +There's your change; five, ten, fifteen, seventeen. Now +run along. Come back again; what did you say your +name was?"</p> + +<p>"Fweddie."</p> + +<p>"You mean Freddie, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you say what you mean? Well, Freddie, +there's plenty of tobacco left in this shop, so you +can come in whenever the old tobacco box at home +runs out. And don't forget to come in to see Aunt +Amanda. Plenty of goods left in the shop whenever—you +see all that?" He pointed up towards the shelves. +"I'll tell you something I ain't told to but mighty few +people before. There's a jar of smoking tobacco up +there that's just plain magic. Magic! You know +what that means?"</p> + +<p>Freddie started, and looked up at the shelves in +alarm. He nodded.</p> + +<p>"It's that one, on the middle shelf; the Chinaman's +head. Do you see it?"</p> + +<p>He pointed to a white porcelain jar, shaped like a +human head. Freddie could see that it was the head +of some foreign kind of man, with a little round blue +cap on top, which was probably the lid.</p> + +<p>"That tobacco in that Chinaman's head is magic, +as sure as you're alive. I wouldn't smoke it if you'd +give me all the plum puddings in this city next Christmas; +no, sir; and I wouldn't allow nobody else to smoke +it, neither: I just naturally wouldn't dare to. Do you +know where that tobacco come from? A sailor off +of one them ships down there in the harbor, that come +all the way from China—yes, sir, <i>China!</i>—give it to +me once for a quid of plug-cut; what you might call +broke, he was, and it wasn't any use to him because +he didn't smoke, but he did chew; and he told me all<!-- Page 18 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +about it; he stole it from an old sorcerer in China, +where he'd just come from. Don't you never touch it! +I wouldn't want to be in your boots if you ever smoked +that tobacco in that there Chinaman's head! You can +steal anything else in this shop, and it wouldn't do +much harm to anybody; but you keep your hands off +of that Chinaman's tobacco, mind what I'm telling +you!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie. He had never thought +about smoking before, in connection with himself, but +now for the first time he began to wish that he knew +how to smoke. It would be worth risking something +to take a whiff or two of the magic tobacco in that +Chinaman's head, just to see what would happen.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you'd better go home now?" said +Mr. Littleback.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie. "My farver told me to +hurry."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he did! Indeed!"</p> + +<p>The hunchback followed Freddie to the door, and +they looked up together at the clock in the church-tower.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Toby. "You're safe. Just six o'clock. +Mr. Punch's father can't come out for about half an +hour yet."</p> + +<p>Freddie looked back as he crossed the street, and +saw the live hunchback leaning against the wooden +hunchback, with one foot crossed over the other; he +could hardly tell which was which, except for the +coat and breeches. He went on up the street with +his package of tobacco in one hand and his package +of gingerbread in the other. As he passed the church, +he lingered a moment to stare at the great fat man +with spectacles, who was sitting on the pavement in +a chair tilted back against the church-wall, smoking +a long pipe and reading a newspaper; could this be the +"sextant" of the church, whom Mr. Toby had mentioned,<!-- Page 19 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +and who had heard the queer noises from the +top of the tower when Mr. Punch and his father were +up there having their high jinks? He tried to get up +his courage to ask the fat man about it, but he could +not get the words out. He stared so long that the +fat man finally put down his paper and took the pipe +from his mouth and looked over his spectacles and +said:</p> + +<p>"If you're considerin' making a bid for the property, +young man, I'll see what the senior Churchwarden has +to say about it. How much do you offer?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said Freddie, blushing in confusion, and +went on up the street. He understood nothing of +what the fat man had said, but he caught the word +"churchwarden," and remembered it.</p> + +<p>He did not walk very fast, for he had a good deal +to think about; so many things had never happened +to him in one day before. He dwelt especially, in his +mind, on the two old codgers who were friends of +Mr. Toby, and he supposed that his own father never +saved up his pennies, otherwise his old tobacco box +would not be empty every now and then. However, he +was glad that his father was a spendthrift, because +it would give him a chance to go to the Old Tobacco +Shop sometimes for more tobacco for the box; and +apart from Aunt Amanda and her gingerbread, he +was very anxious to look again at the Chinaman's +head in which lay the magic tobacco which he must +not touch. One thing was sure; he would never go +without looking carefully first at the hands of the +clock. He wished he knew how to smoke; only not +cigarettes; he shivered when he thought of the terrible +consequences.</p> + +<p>When he came to the street-car track, the horse-car +was going past; at least, it was coming down the +street, and he did not want to be run over by that +horse; he had better wait, for the horse was trotting;<!-- Page 20 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +his mother had warned him about it; he sat down on +the curb. He had quite a moment or two to wait, and +there would be time to give a hasty glance at the +gingerbread. He laid the tobacco-sack beside him on +the curb, and opened the other package; the car-horse +had dropped into a walk and his bell was hardly jingling; +there was no hurry after all; it would never +do to cross in front of that horse even though he was +walking. He looked at the gingerbread; it was fresh +and soft, and its smell, when held close to the nose, +was nothing less than heavenly; it was a pity it had to +be hidden away again in the sack, but the horse was +going by and the danger would soon be past. He held +the gingerbread under his nose, merely to smell it; the +edge of it touched his upper lip by chance, and there +was something peculiar about the feel of it, he couldn't +tell exactly what; it was very interesting; he touched it +with the tip of his tongue, to see if it felt the same +to his tongue as to his lip; it was just the same; perhaps +teeth would be different; his teeth sank into it, just for +a trial. The horse was going by now, and the driver +was looking at him. He forgot what he was about, +in watching the horse and his driver, as they went on +past him; the gingerbread completely slipped his mind, +and when he turned his head back from the horse-car +and came to himself he found, to his amazement, that +his mouth was full of gingerbread. He wondered at +first how it got there, but there was no use in wondering; +there it was, and it had to be swallowed; his +mother would never approve of his spitting it out; and +so, to please his mother, he swallowed it. The horse-car +was nearly a square away; he could cross the track +at any time now; there was no hurry.</p> + +<p>When he came into the fine two-story brick house +where he lived, with only one package in his hand, +his mother threw up her hands and said:<!-- Page 21 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, Freddie! Where on earth have you been? +Did you get lost? Are you hungry?"</p> + +<p>"No'm. Yes'm," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Frederick," said his father, looking at him with +that look, "where have you been? Didn't I tell you +to hurry?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, to Mr. Punch's, and I didn't see his +farver at all, but the hands come'd right over on top +of each other and he didn't get down off of his perch, +he didn't, so Mr. Toby took me in to see Aunt Namanda +and she eats pins, and it's cigarettes that gives +you that hump on the back, only tobacco's all right +'cause you smoke it in a pipe and it doesn't do you any +harm at all, and that's what Mr. Toby says and he +ought to know 'cause he's got one on his back his own +self, but you mustn't touch that tobacco in the head +'cause it's magic and the sailor said so, and here's the +Cage-Roach Mitchner, and that's all."</p> + +<p>You will notice that he said nothing about the +gingerbread.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 22 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>INTRODUCING THE CHURCHWARDEN</h3> + +<p>Every time Freddie visited the Old Tobacco +Shop after that—and it was pretty often, +whether the tobacco box at home needed tobacco +or not, for there were a good many things that drew +him there, and he hardly knew which was the most +fascinating: there was always a chance of gingerbread, +and you could usually depend on seeing Aunt +Amanda eat pins, and you could look through the two +pieces of glass at the double picture and make it all +one picture with the people in it standing out as if they +were real, and Mr. Toby would often sing about his +friends the two old Codgers and talk about their mean +ways, and Mr. Punch was always waiting for his father +outside the door, so that you had to keep your eyes on +the time, or at least the clock (which is different), and +sometimes Mr. Toby would let you in behind the +counter and let you scoop tobacco into a paper sack, +and when his back was turned you could stand under +the Chinaman's head with the magic tobacco in it, and +look up at it and wonder what would happen if you +took just one or two little teeny whiffs—But I forget +what I started to tell you. Oh, yes. Every time Freddie +visited the Old Tobacco Shop, Mr. Toby would +ask him his name, in order to see if he was grown up +yet.</p> + +<p>"What's your name today?" Mr. Toby would say.</p> + +<p>"Fweddie," would be the Little Boy's answer.</p> + +<p>"Not yet," Mr. Toby would say, shaking his head +sadly. "You ain't grown up yet. I'm very sorry to<!-- Page 23 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +have to tell you, son, but you've got to wait a while +before you're grown up. I'll tell you what; I'll give +you six months more," said Mr. Toby on one occasion. +"If you ain't grown up by that time, there's no hope +for you; I hate to have to say it, but you might as well +know it one time as another." And the very next time +the Little Boy came he said his name was "Fweddie," +and Mr. Toby said, "Well, never mind, you've got five +months and twenty-eight days left, and there's hope yet. +I suppose you wouldn't want to be a Little Boy <i>all</i> the +time, and never grow up at all, would you?" Freddie +looked up at him in alarm and said, "No, sir." "Then," +said Mr. Toby, "you'd better mind your P's and Q's."</p> + +<p>Freddie wanted to ask about these P's and Q's, but +you may have noticed that he was shy, and he could not +make up his mind to do so. He knew all about P's +and Q's in the Alphabet Book at home, but he did not +know how to mind them; he knew how to mind his +mother,—sometimes, but how could you mind letters in +a book, that couldn't ever say "Don't do that," like +mother? He was very anxious on this point, for he +knew that his time was growing short, and the idea +of never growing up was simply terrifying; he might +as well smoke cigarettes and be done with it. In point +of fact, he now had only about a week left, and he +wasn't grown up yet.</p> + +<p>But one morning, when the hands of the church clock +were wide apart, and all was safe, he passed by Mr. +Punch and opened the shop door. Mr. Toby was +standing behind the counter, tying up a parcel. He +went on tying it up, and said:</p> + +<p>"All right, young feller, it's your turn next. This +here package is for the Sly Old Codger, and he'll be +back for it pretty soon, and if it ain't ready,—whew! +won't we get blown up, though? Now then, what'll +you have? Pound o' Maiden's Prayer?"<!-- Page 24 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, sir," said the Little Boy. "I don't want anything. +I just came."</p> + +<p>"Oh; you just came. By the way, young man, what +is your name today?"</p> + +<p>"Freddie!" said the Little Boy.</p> + +<p>Mr. Toby dropped his package and leaned across +the counter in amazement.</p> + +<p>"What's that you say?"</p> + +<p>"Freddie!" cried the Little Boy, bursting with pride.</p> + +<p>"Well! Bless my soul! If I ever in my life! As +sure as the world! Strike me dead if he didn't say it +as plain as—! Young man," said Mr. Toby, solemnly, +and he walked to the end of the counter, opened the +swinging gate, came through, stood in front of Freddie, +and shook him by the hand. "Young man, I congratulate +you. It's all right now. But you had an almighty +close shave, I can tell you that. Allow me to congratulate +you, and accept the best wishes of your kind +friend, Toby Littleback."</p> + +<p>"Please, sir," said Freddie, opening his eyes wide, +"am I grown up now?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Toby stared without speaking, and then threw +out both his arms, and for a moment it looked as if +he were going to hug the Little Boy, but he evidently +thought better of it.</p> + +<p>"Are you—? Why, of course you are! Ain't I +been telling you? But don't you go and presume on +it too much, young feller! You don't think you can +go and smoke cigarettes now, just because you're grown +up, do you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh no, sir," said Freddie, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"I should hope not. And that there Chinaman's +head up there—you don't think you can go and smoke +that magic tobacco now, do you? Because if you do!"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said Freddie; but he said this a little +doubtfully, and he looked at the Chinaman's head with +more interest than ever. What was the use of being<!-- Page 25 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +grown up if you couldn't take a little risk now and then?</p> + +<p>"All right, then!" cried Mr. Toby. "We've got to +have a little celebration over this here event, and we'd +better go in and see Aunt Amanda about it, right +now!"</p> + +<p>He grasped Freddie's hand again, and pulled him +to the back door, and through into the back room +where Aunt Amanda was sitting by the table with the +wax flowers, sewing.</p> + +<p>"Quick! quick! Tell Aunt Amanda your name now, +quick! What's your name?" cried Mr. Toby.</p> + +<p>"Freddie!" said the Little Boy, very distinctly, but +looking down at the carpet, for fear he should seem +proud.</p> + +<p>"We're grown up today," cried Mr. Toby, "and +we've got to celebrate!"</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda raised her eyebrows in astonishment, +and said:</p> + +<p>"Esheeraybysart!"</p> + +<p>She put her hand to her mouth and somehow got +out into her hand a good mouthful of pins. She laid +them down on the table at her elbow, and said:</p> + +<p>"Bless the dear baby's heart! And are you grown +up now?"</p> + +<p>"Yes'm," said Freddie, looking up and then down +again, for he did not wish to seem too proud.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda looked at him for a moment, and +took out her handkerchief and blew her nose very +loud.</p> + +<p>"Toby," she said, "what did you mean by a celebration?"</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow's Saturday," said he.</p> + +<p>"Well, what of it?"</p> + +<p>Freddie could not understand very well what they +were saying after that, except that he was concerned +in it somehow, until he heard Aunt Amanda say:</p> + +<p>"You'd better ask his mother, then."<!-- Page 26 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Young man," said Mr. Toby, "if I write a letter +to your ma, will you give it to her?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie, whereupon Mr. Toby sat +down at the other side of the table, with pen and +paper and ink, and commenced to write.</p> + +<p>"First," said Aunt Amanda, "there's some of that +fruit-cake from last Christmas still in the—"</p> + +<p>"Right you are!" cried Toby, jumping up and going +out into the kitchen.</p> + +<p>Freddie ate the fruit-cake, sitting on a hassock at +Aunt Amanda's feet, while Toby went on with his letter, +but in the midst of it Toby went out again, and +finally came back with a tall glass of ice-cold lemonade.</p> + +<p>"Don't you go and spill it on the carpet," said he, +as he sat down to his writing.</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda looked at him, as he sat so seriously +on his hassock at her feet, munching his fruit-cake +and sipping his lemonade; and she pulled out her +pocket-handkerchief and blew her nose again, very +loud. She appeared to have a cold. Toby paid no +attention to her; his head was lying sidewise on his left +arm on the table, and he was squinting at the sheet +of paper, and every time his pen came down he closed +his mouth tight, and every time his pen went up he +opened his mouth wide. Freddie and Aunt Amanda +had plenty of time to talk. Under the softening influence +of fruit-cake and lemonade Freddie found his +tongue.</p> + +<p>"What's a Churchwarden?" he said suddenly into +the lemonade-glass, which was just under his nose.</p> + +<p>"Bless the baby!" said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"It's a long clay pipe, young man," said Toby, chewing +the end of his pen-holder, "like you've seen in the +case out there in the shop."</p> + +<p>"That ain't what he means," said Aunt Amanda. +"You mean a man, don't you, Freddie?"<!-- Page 27 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes'm," said Freddie, looking at the cake just +going into his mouth.</p> + +<p>"It's a man," said Aunt Amanda, "it's a man that +belongs to a church, and he stands guard over the +church property, and sees to the repairs, and beats +little boys with a cane when they make a noise during +service, and takes care nobody don't run away with +the collection money, and——"</p> + +<p>"How do you spell 'respectfully'?" said Toby, +scratching his head with the pen. "Yours respectfully."</p> + +<p>"R-e—" began Aunt Amanda, "s-p-e-c-k—no, that +ain't right,—r-e-s—"</p> + +<p>"There's one over at that church," said Freddie, +pointing towards the window, "and he smokes one, +too."</p> + +<p>"One what, Freddie?" said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"A Churchwarden. There's a Churchwarden sits out +on the pavement and he smokes a Churchwarden, he +does." Freddie was rather proud that he had mastered +that difficult word, and he liked to hear himself say it.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Toby, "I reckon he means the sextant +over there. Well, 'Yours respectfully.' I don't give a—hum!—how +you spell it. There she goes. Done. +'Yours respectfully, Toby Littleback.' It's blotted up +some, by crackey, that's a fact; but I ain't a-goin' to +write all that over again, not by a jugful." And he +took out his handkerchief and wiped the perspiration +from his forehead.</p> + +<p>"He's a Churchwarden," insisted Freddie, swallowing +the last of the lemonade after the last of the cake.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Toby, "have it your own way. +But a sextant's as good as a Churchwarden, in <i>my</i> +opinion, any day of the week,—except Sunday, of +course."</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda inspected the letter, and declared herself +horrified by the blots; but Toby positively refused +to go through that exhausting labor again, so she passed<!-- Page 28 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +it grudgingly, and handed it to Freddie in an envelope, +and told him to give it to his mother as soon as he got +home.</p> + +<p>"Do you want some more cake and lemonade?" +said she.</p> + +<p>"Yes'm," said he.</p> + +<p>"Well, you won't get it, so trot along home."</p> + +<p>In the shop Mr. Toby showed him the churchwarden +pipes in the show-case. Freddie wondered how it +would taste to smoke some of that magic tobacco in the +Chinaman's head in a churchwarden pipe.</p> + +<p>As he passed the church on his way home, he looked +for the fat old man who usually sat in his chair tilted +back against the wall, but he was not there. Freddie +wished to ask him about those noises up in the tower +when Mr. Punch and his father were having their +high jinks; he had never been able to screw up his +courage to the point of asking about this, but now that +he was grown up he thought he might be able.</p> + +<p>He gave the letter to his mother, and she read it; +but she said nothing to him about it. When his father +came home in the evening, she showed the letter to +him, and they talked about it, and Freddie could not +understand very well what they were saying. Finally +his father said:</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't think there would be any harm in it."</p> + +<p>"I suppose not," said his mother. "I'll see them +in the morning. He had better wear his Sunday suit +and his new shoes."</p> + +<p>This was bad, because it sounded like Sunday-school, +and the shoes squeaked. Freddie thought he had better +change the subject, so he said:</p> + +<p>"I'm grown up. I can say Freddie. Mr. Toby +says so."</p> + +<p>His father laughed, but his mother took him up in +her arms and hugged him close to her breast.</p> + +<p>The next day was in fact Saturday, and after lunch<!-- Page 29 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +Freddie's mother helped him, or rather forced him, +into his Sunday suit and his new shoes, after a really +outrageous piece of washing, which went not only behind +the ears but actually into them. She put his cap +on his head—he always had to move it a trifle afterwards,—looked +at his finger-nails again, pulled down +his jacket in front and buttoned every button, straightened +out each of the four wings of his bow tie, took +off his cap to see if his hair was mussed and put it on +again, pulled down his jacket in front, straightened +his tie, altered the position of his cap, put both her +arms around him and kissed him, and told him it was +nearly two o'clock and he had better hurry. As soon +as she had gone in, after watching him go off down the +street, he unbuttoned every button of his jacket, put +his cap on the back of his head, and in crossing the +street-car track deliberately walked his shiny squeaking +shoes into a pile of street-sweepings; he then felt +better, and went on towards the Old Tobacco Shop.</p> + +<p>As he came to the church, he stopped to look at the +hands of the clock; he was in luck; the hands would +not be together for ever so long, for it was ten minutes +to two. The Churchwarden was sitting in his chair +tilted back against the wall, keeping guard over his +church; and he was smoking his churchwarden pipe. +Freddie walked by very slowly, and his shoes squeaked +aloud on the brick pavement. The fat old man gazed +at him solemnly, and Freddie looked at the fat old +man. The Churchwarden's chair came down on the +pavement with a thump.</p> + +<p>"Look here!" he said. "This ain't Sunday! What's +the meaning of all this? It's against the rules to wear +them squeaking shoes of a Saturday! The Dean and +Chapter has made that rule, by and with the advice +and consent of the City Council, don't you know that? +And all that big red necktie, too! Did you think it +was Sunday?"<!-- Page 30 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, sir," said Freddie, for he was always honest, +even in the face of danger. "I couldn't help it. I +didn't want to, but mother made me——"</p> + +<p>"Ah! that's it. I thought maybe you'd made a mistake +in the day; then it wouldn't 'a' been so bad. Look +here; it's my duty to report this here violation of the +Sunday law, but as long as—you're sure you ain't +<i>particeps criminis</i>?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said the Little Boy earnestly. "My +name's Freddie."</p> + +<p>"Well, that makes it different. I though you was +another party; young party-ceps; but if you ain't, why—Here; +you'll need something to show, in case you +should meet the Archdeacon, and he'd want to know +why I hadn't reported you—Show him this, and he'll +know it's all right."</p> + +<p>The fat Churchwarden fished in his vest pocket and +drew out, between a fat thumb and a fat forefinger, +a round shining piece of metal, and put it in Freddie's +hand. Freddie saw that it was a bright new five-cent +piece, commonly called a nickel. He felt better.</p> + +<p>"If you don't meet the Archdeacon between here +and Littleback's Tobacco Shop," went on the Churchwarden, +"you don't need to keep it any longer; I don't +care what you do with it then; only not pickles, mind +you!"</p> + +<p>"No sir," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>This was his chance to inquire about Mr. Punch's +father and the noises in the tower, but it was out of +his power to stay longer; he was too glad to escape +without being reported; and he accordingly went off +down the street, squeaking worse than ever, and positively +hurrying.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 31 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH MR. HANLON MAKES A GREAT IMPRESSION</h3> + +<p>Freddie found no one in the Tobacco Shop, so +he knocked on the door of the back room, and +it was instantly opened by Mr. Littleback himself; +but a Mr. Littleback so resplendent that Freddie +hardly knew him.</p> + +<p>The suit of clothes which Mr. Littleback wore was +beyond any doubt a brand new suit. The ground color +of it was a rich mauve, if you know what that is; not +exactly purple, nor violet, but somewhere in between; +and up and down and across were stripes of brown, +making good-sized squares all over him; it was extremely +beautiful. His collar was a high white collar, +very stiff, and it held up his chin in front like a whitewashed +fence. His necktie was of a pale-blue satin, +with little pink roses painted on it, yes sir, painted! +mind you, by hand! It was not one of those troublesome +things that come in a single long piece and take +you hours before the glass to twist and turn over and +under before you can get them to look like a necktie; +no indeed; it was far better than that; it was tied +already, by somebody who could do it better than you +ever could, and when you bought it, all you had to +do was to put it on; fasten those two rubber bands +behind with a hook, and there you were; perfect. As +to hair, the hand of the barber was yet upon him; his +hair, parted on one side, was of a slickness which his +own soap never could have accomplished; on the wide +side, it lay flat down over his forehead, and there gave +a sudden curl backward, like the curve of a hairpin,<!-- Page 32 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +but much more graceful; it is only the most studious +barbers who ever learn to do it just right. There +were creases down the arms of Mr. Toby's coat and +down the front of his trouser-legs. A yellow silk handkerchief +showed itself, not boldly, but quietly, from his +breast pocket.</p> + +<p>As he let Freddie in, and in doing so turned his back +to Aunt Amanda, she screamed and cried out:</p> + +<p>"Toby! Look behind you! Merciful heavens!"</p> + +<p>Freddie, in the midst of his admiration of the magnificent +creature, saw him whirl about and look behind +himself in alarm. His aunt pointed at his coat and +said sternly, "Come here."</p> + +<p>Freddie saw on the back of Mr. Toby's coat, near +the bottom, as he whirled about, a little square white +tag.</p> + +<p>Mr. Toby backed up to his aunt, and stood before +her, trying to look at his back over his shoulder, while +she took her scissors and clipped the threads by which +the white tag was sewed to the back of his coat. She +held up the tag; it had numbers printed and written +on it.</p> + +<p>"Now ain't that just like you, Toby Littleback," she +said, "going out with your tag on your back, with your +size on it and your height and age, too, for all I know, +for anybody to see that you've got on a splittin' brand +new suit right out o' the shop. If you'd 'a' gone out +with that on your back, I'd 'a' died with shame right +here in this chair. Ain't you even able to dress yourself?"</p> + +<p>"By crickets, that <i>would</i> 'a' been bad," said Toby, +considerably upset. "However, you caught it in time, +so there ain't no use cryin' over it. Good-bye, Aunt; +come along, Freddie, or we'll be late."</p> + +<p>"Ain't you goin' to wear a hat?" said Aunt Amanda. +"I declare the man's so excited he don't know what he's +doing."<!-- Page 33 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Blamed if I didn't come near going without a hat," +said Toby. "Here she is."</p> + +<p>He produced his hat from a cupboard in the room, +and put it on. It would have been a pity indeed for +him to have gone without it. It was a white derby; +yes, a <i>white</i> derby. It was the kind of a hat which +was known in that city as a "pinochle"; pronounced +"pea-knuckle" by all well-informed boys. With the +mauve suit and the hand-painted necktie and the whitewashed +fence, the white derby set him off to perfection, +especially as he wore it a little towards the back +of his head, so as to show the loveliest part of the +plastered curl of his hair on the forehead. Aunt +Amanda could not restrain her admiration.</p> + +<p>"You'll do now," she said. "I don't know that I +ever seen you look so genteel before."</p> + +<p>Toby, in the embarrassment of being considered genteel, +put his hands in his trousers pockets.</p> + +<p>"Take them hands out of your pockets," said Aunt +Amanda sharply, and he took them out in a hurry.</p> + +<p>"Now, Freddie," she said, "come here a minute, and +I'll set you to rights."</p> + +<p>Freddie stood before her knee, not very willingly, +and she buttoned his jacket from top to bottom, and +put his cap squarely on his head.</p> + +<p>"Now you'd better be off," she said.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Aunt, and I wish you were going too," +said Toby, his hand on the door-knob.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Freddie," said she.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye what?" said she.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Amanda," said he.</p> + +<p>When they were out in the street, and she heard +Toby lock the shop door behind him, she took out +her handkerchief and blew her nose; her cold was +evidently worse, because she blew her nose several +times; and then, tucking her handkerchief away in her<!-- Page 34 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +dress, she put her head down on her arm on the table, +and cried.</p> + +<p>The first thing Freddie did, as they went up the +street, was to put his cap back again on the back of +his head, and the next thing he did was to unbutton +every button of his jacket, from top to bottom.</p> + +<p>The little hunchback was in a great hurry, and he +dragged the Little Boy along by the hand so fast that +he could hardly keep up. As they hurried along, several +naughty boys, observing Mr. Toby's white derby +hat, called after him, very rudely, "Pea-knuckle! pea-knuckle!" +But Mr. Toby paid no attention, and +dragged Freddie along faster than ever.</p> + +<p>"We don't want to miss any of it," said Mr. Toby. +"Hurry up, boy."</p> + +<p>They did not have far to go; only four or five +"squares." They stopped before a great grimy brick +building with a great wide entrance-way.</p> + +<p>"Here we are," said Toby.</p> + +<p>"What does that say up there?" said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Gaunt Street Theatre," said Toby. "Hurry up."</p> + +<p>Freddie hung back before a signboard on which +was a picture of a slender man dressed up in white +clothing, very tight, with red and black squares on it; +he was leaning against a table; his head and face were +a dead white, except for red eyebrows, and a red spot +in each cheek, and he had no hair, but a smooth dead-white +skin from his forehead to the back of his neck. +The peculiar thing was, that his head was on the table +beside him, and not on his neck. Freddie pointed to +the writing underneath the picture, and said:</p> + +<p>"What does that say?"</p> + +<p>"Hanlon's Superba," said Toby, pulling him along. +"Hurry up! We'll be late."</p> + +<p>Mr. Littleback went to a little window in the wall, +inside the entrance-way, and spoke to a man in there, +and evidently asked permission to go in, and evidently<!-- Page 35 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +got it; and they did go in, up a flight of stairs, and +found themselves suddenly among thousands and thousands +of people, as it seemed, all sitting in chairs facing +the same way, in a vast house lit up by gas light so +that it was almost as bright as day; and Toby and +Freddie sat down in the very front row of these people, +and looked down over a railing in front of them on +the heads of thousands and thousands, as it seemed, +of other people, all sitting in chairs facing the same +way. Everybody was facing towards a straight wall +at the other side of the house, which had pictures +painted on it. At the foot of this wall, in a kind of +trench, there was a man at a piano, and there were +other men with fiddles big and little, and still others +with brass things, and they were all playing a tremendous +tune together, but just after Toby and Freddie +had sat down, they stopped playing and Toby +nudged Freddie with his elbow, and said:</p> + +<p>"Now, then, young feller, what do you think of this, +eh? Just you wait! Keep your eye on that curtain!"</p> + +<p>He had no sooner said this than somewhere in the +house somebody gave a piercing whistle between his +fingers, and in a minute there was such a racket that it +was impossible to talk. There must have been people +above them, and they must certainly have all been +boys; for from up there Freddie heard a clapping of +hands and a stamping of feet, all in a regular time, +which spread to the whole house, and in the midst of +it the boys up there began to shout and call and +whistle, and in a few minutes there was such a hubbub +as only boys could make, with whistling between the +fingers leading the riot. Toby nudged Freddie again +with his elbow, and to Freddie's surprise began to +clap his hands and stamp his feet with the rest; and as +Freddie thought he ought to be polite, he clapped his +hands, too, though he did not know very well what it +was all about.<!-- Page 36 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + +<p>Suddenly the men in the trench at the foot of the +painted wall struck up again, and that quieted the +other noise for a moment; but only for a moment; +someone whistled through his fingers, and in an instant +those fiddlers might as well have been sawing +away at their fiddles out at the Park, for all you could +hear them; and right in the midst of it all, while Freddie +was trying to shout the word "Peanuts" into Toby's +ear, suddenly the lights went out and you could have +heard a pin drop.</p> + +<p>"Now then! now then!" whispered Mr. Toby, in +great excitement. "Now you'll see! Watch the curtain! +It's going up!"</p> + +<p>From down there in that dark trench came the sound +of a soft twittery kind of music, and at the same time +the painted wall that Freddie had been looking at was +rising! going up! And it went on up and up out of +sight into the ceiling, and there behind it, in a dim +light, there behind it, mysterious and fearsome and +delicious,—Well, there behind it was Fairyland. Just +Fairyland.</p> + +<p>I can't describe it to you. Freddie never forgot it. +If you haven't seen Hanlon's Superba, in some old +Gaunt Street Theatre or other, on a Saturday afternoon, +with the galleries wild with boys, you have not +lived. When Freddie tried to tell his mother and his +father about it that night, it was such a whirling mass +of wonders and glories that they could not make +head nor tail of it. It is useless to speak of the Fairy +Queen in her glittering white, coming to the rescue +in the nick of time with her diamond sceptre, or of the +horrible demons, or the trouble and excitement they +made for everybody, or of the beautiful young lady +who—and such leapings and twistings and climbings +and tumblings as no mere human beings with bones +in them could ever have performed—it is no use; it is +best not to try to describe it. But there was one part<!-- Page 37 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +which, although it may seem to you the most unlikely +thing in the world, really had a good deal to do with +Freddie afterwards. There was the same man whose +picture he had seen outside on the signboard; and he +could climb straight walls and leap through high windows +and tumble across floors in a way which passed +belief; but there was one thing he could not do; he +could not talk; he never spoke a word from beginning +to end. Once, after having escaped from a parcel of +wicked red imps, he sat down, tired out and starved +to death, before a table loaded with food, and he +commenced to make a hearty meal; but just as he was +about to sample each plate it disappeared, vanished, +completely out of sight, right under his nose. His distress +was pitiable, and Freddie thought it cruel of +everybody to laugh, as everybody did. On his plate +were sausages, and he nearly got them; but just as he +thought he had them, they actually jumped off the table +and ran along the floor and up the wall; and the poor +man had to climb the wall after them, which he did like +a cat, and even then he never came up with them; he +was terribly disappointed; and to finish off his miseries, +at last a wicked creature with a sword came up behind +him, as he was leaning his head down on the table in +despair, and cut off his head before your very eyes; +really and truly cut it off; there was no doubt about +it; the head was on the table and the poor man was in +the chair; Freddie was terrified, and clutched Mr. +Toby's arm. But when the wicked murderer had gone +away, back popped the head onto the dead man's neck, +his eyes opened, he grinned from ear to ear, and there +he was on his feet, skipping and tumbling, as lively +as ever; and at that Freddie and all the others in the +house roared and shouted and clapped their hands.</p> + +<p>"Is that Mr. Hanlon?" whispered Freddie into Mr. +Toby's ear.<!-- Page 38 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Reckon it is," said Toby, too excited himself to +pay much attention to Freddie.</p> + +<p>But it could not last forever. Even the peanuts, +which Toby bought for Freddie between the first and +second acts, were all gone, and the curtain was down +for the last time, and the crowd crushed through the +doors, and Mr. Toby put on his white derby hat.</p> + +<p>They were in the street, and the speechless Mr. +Hanlon was a thing of the past. Freddie did not +believe that he would ever see that dumb and loose-headed +man again; but in that he was mistaken, as you +shall see.</p> + +<p>Toby left him at the corner near his father's house.</p> + +<p>"What I say is," said Toby, "three cheers for our +growing-up party!"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Freddie, "and three cheers for Mr. +Hanlon!"</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 39 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>THE CHINAMAN'S HEAD</h3> + +<p>For a long time afterwards, Freddie dreamed at +night of a hunchbacked man whose head came +off and popped on again, and wicked red demons +who chased a poor man with a white face who tried +to cry for help and could not speak a word, and of a +Chinaman's head without a body, smoking a long clay +pipe. In the daytime, he thought a good deal about +the people he was now acquainted with: Mr. Toby +with his white derby hat, Aunt Amanda swallowing +pins, the sailorman from China, Mr. Punch and his +father, Mr. Hanlon with his head on the table, the +Churchwarden smoking his churchwarden pipe, and the +two old Codgers, one so sly and the other so beggarly; +but that which occupied his mind more than anything +else was the Chinaman's head on Mr. Toby's shelf.</p> + +<p>Freddie was older now, and as time went on it +might be thought that he would have grown accustomed +to all these strange things; but he had not; far from +it; he thought about them more and more, and most +of all about the Chinaman's head and the magic tobacco. +He really could not get that Chinaman's head +out of his mind. Here was magic just within reach of +your hand, and you were told that you mustn't touch +it. You might as well have Aladdin's lamp in your +bureau drawer, and be told to keep away from the +bureau; even parents ought to know better than to +expect such a thing. Anyway, what harm could just +one or two little whiffs do? You needn't smoke a whole +pipeful, if you didn't want to. However, Mr. Toby<!-- Page 40 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +would not be pleased, and Freddie did not intend to do +anything to displease Mr. Toby. Still, it did seem a +pity, with such a chance right over your head—Oh, +well, he would think no more about it; he fixed his mind +on other things; he thought especially about a hymn +they sang nearly every Sunday in Sunday-school; it was +a great help; he knew it by heart, and it went like this:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Yield not to temptation,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For yielding is sin,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Each vict'ry will help you<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Some other to win."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>He resolved he would never think about the magic +tobacco again; he went to sleep saying over to himself, +"Yield not to temptation," and dreamed all night +about the Chinaman's head, and thought about it all +the next day.</p> + +<p>In order to get it out of his mind, he called on Aunt +Amanda. It was late in the afternoon; he sat on his +hassock and watched Aunt Amanda sewing. Mr. Toby +was in the shop, waiting on customers. Freddie watched +for a long time, and then said:</p> + +<p>"What are you doing?"</p> + +<p>"Basting," said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"I thought that was what you did to a turkey," said +Freddie.</p> + +<p>"So it is," said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"That isn't a turkey," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"No," said Aunt Amanda, "you baste a turkey with +gravy."</p> + +<p>"That isn't gravy," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"It's different," said Aunt Amanda. "You see, I +have to sew this up with needle and thread, and——"</p> + +<p>"You sew up a turkey with needle and thread, too," +said Freddie.<!-- Page 41 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But that's different," said Aunt Amanda. "You +couldn't baste a turkey with needle and thread, and +you couldn't baste dress-goods with gravy——"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Aunt Amanda, "well, you see, they +don't do it that way; it's <i>different</i>; it ain't the same +thing at all; it's like this; when you baste a turkey——"</p> + +<p>"Have you ever had any children?" said Freddie.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda put her hand to her heart suddenly, +as if she had received a shot there, and caught her +breath; then she looked out of the window, and then +round at the wax flowers on the table, and then at the +door, and she really seemed to be thinking of running +away. But she was too lame to do that, and she at +last clasped her fingers together tight in her lap, and +looked hard at Freddie. He was gazing at her calmly, +waiting for information.</p> + +<p>"No," said Aunt Amanda, "I have never—had—any—children."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"I have—never—been married," said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>Freddie thought about this for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Didn't anybody ever want you?" said he.</p> + +<p>"No," said she, "nobody—ever—wanted—me."</p> + +<p>Freddie was puzzled.</p> + +<p>"But you're nice," said he.</p> + +<p>"That ain't enough," said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"What else do you have to be?"</p> + +<p>"You have to be pretty."</p> + +<p>"Weren't you ever pretty?"</p> + +<p>"I thought—so—once, but—but—I must have been +mistaken. I guess I never was."</p> + +<p>Freddie thought it over, and announced his decision +seriously.</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> would want you, anyway."<!-- Page 42 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda stretched out a trembling hand to +him and ran her fingers through his hair; then she +threw both her arms around him and pressed him +against her knee. He was much annoyed. He was +afraid she might be going to kiss him; but she did not; +instead, she pulled out her handkerchief and blew her +nose.</p> + +<p>"How many children were there that you didn't +have?" said Freddie, to change the subject. Aunt +Amanda did not understand this at first, but she finally +saw what he meant. What <i>did</i> he mean? you may say. +What he meant was—well, it is perfectly clear, but it +is hard to explain. Anyway, Aunt Amanda understood +him. "Three," said she. "Bobby was the oldest, +and Jenny next, and James was the littlest one."</p> + +<p>"Did they all go to school?"</p> + +<p>"Oh dear no. Only Bobby. And once he played +hookey, and was gone all day, and didn't come home +until after dark, all muddy. I was terribly worried. +He was a very mischievous boy, but he was his—mother's—own——"</p> + +<p>"Did he play marbles for keeps?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but he went to Sunday-school just as regular, +and liked it, and——"</p> + +<p>"He <i>liked</i> it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course, and he always took good care of +Jenny——. She had little yellow curls. They went +to Sunday-school together hand in hand, and he didn't +even mind her carrying her dolly with her; she wouldn't +go without it. He was so careful of her at street-crossings. +She loved her dollies. She used to pretend +that James was one of them."</p> + +<p>"Did James like that?"</p> + +<p>"Not very well, but he put up with it for quite a +few minutes at a time. He couldn't be still very long.<!-- Page 43 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +But he was pretty lonesome when Jenny had the +measles."</p> + +<p>"I've had the chicken-pox. Did Bobby know how +to mind his P's and Q's?"</p> + +<p>"He didn't mind anybody very well. Once I had a +note from his teacher, and it said——"</p> + +<p>But Freddie never learned what sin Bobby had committed +in school; for at that moment the shop door +opened, and Mr. Toby thrust in his head and said:</p> + +<p>"Just got to get around to the barber-shop right +away this minute; can't put it off no longer. Won't +be gone twenty minutes. Freddie!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie, standing up.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you could look after the shop for +twenty minutes, while I'm gone?"</p> + +<p>Now Freddie did not know it, but this was in fact +the most important question that had ever been put +to him in his life. Everything depended on his answer; +if he said no, we might as well stop this story right +here; if he said yes——</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"All right. If anybody comes in, just tell 'em to +wait."</p> + +<p>Freddie left Aunt Amanda, sitting very still, and +gazing out of the window, with her hands folded in +her lap, and followed Mr. Toby into the shop.</p> + +<p>"All right, sonny," said Mr. Toby, "make yourself +comfortable. I'll be back in a jiffy. If anybody comes +in, you tell 'em to wait." And with that he went out +of the door and up the street. Freddie was left alone +in the shop.</p> + +<p>Everything was very quiet now, for it was beginning +to be twilight, and all the people seemed to be indoors. +He knew he ought to be going home, but he had promised +to mind the shop, and it would never do to leave +before Mr. Toby came back. The street door and the +door to Aunt Amanda's room were both closed. He<!-- Page 44 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +sat down on the chair by the front window and looked +out across the bull-dog's head. He thought of Bobby +and his little sister in Sunday-school, and that led him +to think of the hymn that did him so much good:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Yield not to temptation,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For yielding is sin."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>He sang that tune to himself for a while, and he +found himself singing other tunes, and finally one which +began:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"There was an old codger, and he had a wooden leg,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And he never bought tobacco when tobacco he could beg."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Tobacco! There was a world of tobacco on those +shelves. Smoking tobacco, and churchwarden pipes. +He strolled around behind the counter, and let down +the back of the show-case. There were the churchwarden +pipes; he selected one and took it out. It +tasted cold and clammy when he put it in his mouth, +and he wondered what it would taste like with tobacco +in it. He brought the little ladder and got up on it, +facing the shelves, and to his surprise he found himself +looking directly into the slanting eyes of the porcelain +Chinaman's head. He stood there gazing thoughtfully +into those eyes, and singing to himself the verse +which was always such a help to him:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Yield not to temptation,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For yielding is sin,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Each vict'ry will help you<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Some other to win."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It was growing a little darker now, and he could +not examine the Chinaman's head very well without +bringing it closer. He took the head in his hands, +lifted it from the shelf, got down off the ladder, and +sat down on the floor with his back against the counter;<!-- Page 45 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +and while he was doing this he hummed to himself the +next part of his tune:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Fight manfully onward,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Dark passions subdue."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>He put the head on his knees, and took off the Chinaman's +little round cap, which proved to be in fact a +lid. He put his hand inside and drew out a good +fistful of absolutely black tobacco, fine and powdery +like coal-dust; he held it to his nose, and it smelt very +sweet, in fact much like brown sugar. He wondered +if it would taste like brown sugar through the pipe-stem; +and humming quietly to himself, "Each vict'ry +will help you," he poured the tobacco into the bowl of +the pipe. He was disappointed, on sucking in through +the pipe-stem, to find that there was no brown-sugar +taste at all. Of course, the only way to give tobacco +any taste was to light it; he reached up and got a match +off the counter behind him, and sitting down again +struck the match on the floor. It made a very pretty +glow in the twilight, and he watched it as it burned +away in his fingers; it would be burnt out in another +second, so, humming to himself those ever-helpful +words, "Yield not to temptation," he put the pipe in +his mouth and touched the lighted match to the tobacco.</p> + +<p>It is painful to have to tell these things, but it can't +be helped; for the consequences were so strange, and +so important to Freddie and his friends, that——</p> + +<p>Anyway, he lit the pipe and drew in a long breath +through the stem. He nearly choked to death. Smoke +got into his nose and his eyes and his throat, and he +coughed and coughed; but he remembered the words, +"Fight manfully onward," and he determined that he +would not give up so soon. He stopped coughing and +pulled again at the pipe; this time he did not swallow +the smoke, but blew it out of his mouth as he had seen it +done a thousand times. He gave another pull, and<!-- Page 46 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +blew the smoke out again; it did indeed taste like +brown sugar; it was extremely pleasant; he puffed +again and again. He was astonished that he could +have produced so much smoke in a few whiffs; there +was quite a cloud over his head. He gave another +puff, and when he blew out the smoke the white cloud +above him was so thick that he could not see through +it. It began to settle down on him. He put the Chinaman's +head on the floor, and looked up into this cloud.</p> + +<p>It was growing thicker and thicker, and it was beginning +to churn about as if in a whirlwind; it turned +all sorts of colours, mostly yellow and green, and parts +of it looked like barber's poles revolving at a terrific +speed. He became dizzy as he gazed at it; his head +began to swim; the cloud was coming down closer and +closer upon him, and whirling about more and more +wildly; he crouched down lower, and became dizzier +and dizzier. The counter and the shelves began to go +round and round, so that he had to put his hand on the +floor to steady himself; in another moment the shop +disappeared altogether, and there was nothing under +him but a little square of floor, and nothing over him +but the wild, churning cloud, now sparkling with jets of +fire. He felt himself falling, falling, and as he came +to the bottom with a crash, he heard the shop door +open and close, and found himself sitting on the floor +with his back to the counter as before, with no smoke +anywhere to be seen; and he was aware that a hoarse +voice was speaking on the other side of the counter, +and it was saying these words, very loud and brisk:</p> + +<p>"Avast, there! Belay that piping! All snug, sir, +hatches battened down, makin' way under skysails and +royals, hands piped to quarters, and here's your humble +servant ready for orders! Shiver my timbers, where's +the skipper? Piped me up with a 'baccy pipe, he did, +and where's he gone? Skipper ahoy! Come for<!-- Page 47 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +orders, I be, and ever yours to command, Lemuel +Mizzen! That's me!"</p> + +<p>Freddie put the pipe down on the floor, rose to his +feet, and looked over the counter.</p> + +<p>Leaning on his elbow on the other side of the counter +was a Sailorman, with a wide blue collar open at the +throat, a flat blue cap with a black ribbon on the back +of his head, and a green patch over his right eye.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 48 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>LEMUEL MIZZEN, A.B.</h3> + +<p>Freddie looked at the Sailorman, and the Sailorman +straightened up and touched his cap. His +face was brown as weathered oak, and creased +like bark; his one eye was black and glittering; the +hand which he raised to his cap was of the shape and +nearly the size of a ham; and the chest and throat +which emerged from his wide-open shirt-collar was as +brown as his face, and big with muscles. There was +a delicious odour of tar about him; you positively could +not look at him without hearing wind whistling through +ropes. He hitched up his trousers with his other hand +and said:</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, skipper! Here I be as big as life, all ready +fer orders!"</p> + +<p>As Freddie gazed at him, the Little Boy slowly collected +his wits, and a light began to dawn upon him.</p> + +<p>"Have you been to China?" said he.</p> + +<p>"Right-o!" cried the Sailorman. "To China I have +been——" in a queer sing-song, as if he might have +been marching in time to it round a capstan, hauling +in an anchor: "To China I have been, and a many +ports I've seen, near and far; I can sail before the +mast or behind it just as fast, I'm a tar, I'm a tar, +I'm a tar!"</p> + +<p>Freddie continued to stare at him with increasing +astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Are you a sailor, sir?" said he.<!-- Page 49 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Wot, me? I'm Lemuel Mizzen, A.B., that's me, +and I sail the deep blue sea from Maine to Afrikee, +and round again on an even keel to Cochin China for +cochineal, and back to Chili for Chili sauce, and home +again to Banbury Cross—that's me! Lemuel Mizzen, +able seaman! Fed on hard tack or soft tack, or a starboard +tack or a port tack, it's all the same to me! Now +then, skipper, you piped me up, wot's the orders?"</p> + +<p>"Please, sir," said Freddie, "would you mind telling +me what it is you would like to have?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Me?</i> Douse my binnacle light, wot I want is a +chew o' terbacker; but the question before the chart-house +is, wot do <i>you</i> want, skipper?"</p> + +<p>"I don't want anything," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Wot? You piped me up, didn't you? Piped me +up with a pipe?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Sorry to entertain a different opinion from the +skipper! Didn't you smoke the Chinaman's 'baccy, +<i>in</i> a pipe?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie, hanging his head.</p> + +<p>"Then you did pipe me up with a pipe, and I hope +I knows better than to come aft without bein' piped. +Didn't you know I've got to come when you smoke the +pipe with the Chinaman's 'baccy in it?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>The Able Seaman fixed his black eye on Freddie in +amazement.</p> + +<p>"Well, bust my locker if this ain't the—Beggin' your +pardon, skipper, and no offense meant! Called me off +from the China Sea, and don't want me after all! +Didn't go fer to do it, not him! And me off in the +China Sea amongst the Boxers, a-v'yaging hither and +thither to pick up a cargo o' boxes to box compasses +with! Ye've brought me a fair long journey fer +nothin', skipper!"</p> + +<div style="height: 0"> + <a id="image01"></a> +</div> +<div class="figcenter"> + <!-- Page 50 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> + <img src="images/i001.png" alt=""I'm Lemuel Mizzen, A.B., that's me!"" /> + <p class="caption">"I'm Lemuel Mizzen, A.B., that's me!"</p> +</div> +<p><!-- Page 51 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm very sorry, sir," said Freddie, "I didn't know +you had to come when the Chinaman's tobacco was +smoked. Are you the one that brought that tobacco +here?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay! That's me! Lemuel Mizzen, A.B.! +And a fine long trip from the China Sea, to come to a +lad in Amerikee when I hears in my ears the skipper's +call, and all fer nothin' at all, at all! Ain't you got +nothin' to offer in extenuation?"</p> + +<p>Freddie did not know what "extenuation" meant, +but he could see by the Sailorman's face that that gentleman +was a good deal put out. He remembered that +Mr. Mizzen wanted a chew of tobacco.</p> + +<p>"Would a little tobacco make you feel better?" +said he.</p> + +<p>"Now you've got yer hand on the right rope!" said +the Able Seaman, his face brightening. "I don't smoke. +I chew. If you're goin' to offer a bit of a chew, why +then, says I, I don't care if I do."</p> + +<p>Freddie took a long plug of chewing tobacco from +the shelf behind him. He knew that Mr. Toby would +not mind making a little gift to the sailorman after +his long journey. He put the plug under the cutter +on the counter, and was about to press down the +handle, to cut off a portion, when the Able Seaman +hitched up his trousers and said:</p> + +<p>"Belay there, skipper! Put the whole cargo aboard! +This here craft needs ballast; hoist her over the side!" +And he reached out his hand for the whole plug of +tobacco and took it from Freddie, and gnawed off a +corner with his teeth.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said he, his right cheek bulging out. "Too +much ballast to starboard." And he gnawed off another +corner, so that his left cheek bulged out like his +right.</p> + +<p>"All snug!" said he. "I'll just pay fer my cargo +before I set sail, with a bit of a draft on the owners, +in a manner of speakin'. Here y'are, sir. Stow that<!-- Page 52 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +bit o' paper in yer sea-chest, and it'll come in handy +one o' these days. Pay as you go, says I."</p> + +<p>He placed in Freddie's hand a folded sheet of soiled +paper. It was greasy with handling, and was evidently +very old; it was folded small and tight, and was beginning +to break with age at the creases. On the outside, +it was blank; but there might have been writing +inside.</p> + +<p>"Got it in the Caribbean off a runaway sailor, fer a +set of false whiskers and a tattoo needle. Will it do +to pay fer the cargo with?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; thank you," said Freddie, holding the +paper in his hand without unfolding it.</p> + +<p>"Then all I got to say is, before I weighs anchor,—take +good keer o' that there bit o' paper. Aloft and +alow, don't ye never let go; round the yard take a bight +and hold on to it tight; let the harricane blow till yer +fingers is blue, but wotever you do, don't ye never let +go. And skipper, mind wot I'm a-tellin' you; if you +ever needs Lemuel Mizzen, A.B., fer to give him his +orders, all you got to do is to smoke a couple o' whiffs +of the Chinaman's 'baccy, and Lemuel Mizzen, A.B., +he'll be on deck before the smoke's cleared away. +That's clear?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie, with eyes wide open.</p> + +<p>"And now as I see there's no orders to give, I'm off +to my tight little bark called The Sieve, and when I'm +aboard I'll close all the shutters, and lock up the parrot +that sneezes and stutters, and wake all the skippers, +and put on my slippers, and get into bed while the +mates overhead are swabbing the decks and heaving +the lead and baling the bilge-water up with their dippers; +and when they have gotten the vessel to going, +and settled all down to their knitting and sewing, and +the twenty-third mate, who is always so late, has +learned what is meant by a third and last warning, I'll +turn up the gas, take a look at the glass, and read me<!-- Page 53 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +the Life of Old Chew until morning!—And so, sir," +continued Mr. Mizzen, walking towards the street +door, "I must give you a view of my little stern-light, +and bid you, dear sir, a very good night."</p> + +<p>So saying, he turned squarely towards Freddie, with +one hand on the door-knob, and with the other hand +touched his cap respectfully. Freddie saw that his +trousers were very wide at the ankles and very tight +at the hips, and that he rolled a little when he walked. +Having touched his cap respectfully, he opened the +door and went out, and disappeared in the darkness +outside.</p> + +<p>Freddie stood looking after him with his mouth +wide open.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 54 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>THE HANDS OF THE CLOCK COME TOGETHER</h3> + +<p>It was some minutes before Freddie recovered from +his astonishment. Certainly this was a strange +Sailorman. And he had come all the way from the +China Sea at a puff of the Chinaman's tobacco! Certainly +magic tobacco, that! But it was a pity that Mr. +Mizzen had been called away from the China Sea, all +for nothing, while he was so busy gathering boxes to +box compasses with! No wonder he had felt put out +about it. And it must have been a queer sort of ship, +with its shutters, and all those skippers and mates—did +they really like to knit and sew after they had got +the ship to going? It would be a wonderful thing to +sail in a ship like that; he wished he had thought to +ask Mr. Mizzen more about it. He must tell Aunt +Amanda at once.</p> + +<p>He ran to the back door and burst into the back +room, crying out "Aunt Amanda!"</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda was sound asleep in her chair, with her +head back and her mouth open; the gas was burning +brightly overhead, and the clock was ticking away distinctly +on the mantel-piece.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Amanda!" cried Freddie.</p> + +<p>She awoke with a jump, blinked her eyes, and said:</p> + +<p>"Hah! Where's the—what's the—who said—Where's +Toby? What's the matter?"</p> + +<p>"It's me, Aunt Amanda," cried Freddie, breathlessly, +"and the Sailorman's just been here and gone, +and I called him with the pipe, and I can call him whenever<!-- Page 55 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +I want him, and he gave me a piece of paper, and +he talks like a singing-book, and there's a parrot that +stutters, and they have to bale out the water with dippers +because the ship's named The Sieve, and we +mustn't lose the paper because the runaway sailor wore +false whiskers, and he feeds on tacks instead of pins, +and we have to hold on tight to the paper, and one of +the men on the ship is always late, and we mustn't lose +the paper, because——"</p> + +<p>"Stop! Stop!" said Aunt Amanda. "What on earth +is the child talking about? What's all this about a +Sailorman and a paper?"</p> + +<p>"He's the one that brought the Chinaman's tobacco +from China, and he gave me a piece of paper, and +here it is, and we mustn't lose it, because——"</p> + +<p>"One minute, Freddie! Now you just stand right +there, perfectly still, and tell me about it slowly. Now, +then; what about this Sailorman? Slow, slow."</p> + +<p>It was a long time before Freddie made her understand +exactly what had happened, but at last she did +understand, from beginning to end. She was grieved +and horrified that he had smoked the tobacco, but +there was no help for it now, and she was too much +excited by his tale to scold him very long.</p> + +<p>"What's the paper he give you?" said she, when he +had told her everything.</p> + +<p>Freddie put the paper in her hand, and she unfolded +it carefully.</p> + +<p>"Why," said she, "it's a map!"</p> + +<p>"What kind of a map?" said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"It's a map of an Island," said Aunt Amanda. +"Where's Toby? I wish he would come home. It +looks like an Island, and there's writing here on it. +Looks like some sailorman might have drawn it, +maybe; it's certainly pretty old. I wish Toby would +come."<!-- Page 56 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What's the writing on it, Aunt Amanda?" said +Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Well, here at the top it says, 'Correction Island,' +and under that it says, 'Spanish Main.' Bless me; +that's where the pirates used to——"</p> + +<p>"Pirates?" said Freddie, his eyes sparkling.</p> + +<p>"Yes, pirates, of course. You've heard of the +Spanish Main, haven't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes'm. It's a long way off. You have to go there +in a ship. Have you ever been there?"</p> + +<p>"Me? Me been to the Spanish Main? Mercy +sakes, no, child! What would I be doing on the Spanish +Main? I ain't been outside of this town since I +was born."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't I like to go there! Pirates!" said +Freddie. "Oh jiminy!"</p> + +<p>"You mustn't use such dreadful language," said +Aunt Amanda. "I wonder where Toby is? Just look +at that clock! Why, bless me, it's twenty-seven minutes +to seven."</p> + +<p>Freddie looked, and saw that the hands of the clock +were together, one on top of the other. It was the +hour for Mr. Punch's father to call Mr. Punch from +the church-tower.</p> + +<p>"Toby's got to talkin' with that barber again, as +sure as you live; when they once begin, they never +know when to leave off. I wish he'd——"</p> + +<p>As she said this, the door opened, and in walked +Mr. Toby himself.</p> + +<p>"Sorry I'm so late," he cried, "but the barber got +to talking about—What, young feller, are you still +here?" He turned and called through the open door to +someone behind him in the shop. "Come in! Make +you acquainted with my aunt and a young chap here—Don't +be bashful, come right in! Nobody's goin' to +eat you!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Toby held the door wide open, and made way<!-- Page 57 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +for a little gentleman who now advanced into the room. +He was a hunchbacked man, of the same height as +Toby, and he was holding out in one hand a bunch of +black cigars; he was bareheaded and bald-headed; he +had high cheek-bones and a big chin and a hooked +nose; he wore blue knee breeches and black stockings +and buckled shoes, and his coat was cut away in front +over his stomach and had two tails behind, down to +his knees. His joints creaked a little as he walked. +He made a stiff bow to Aunt Amanda, and another +one to Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Come in, Mr. Punch," said Toby, "you don't need +to hold them cigars any longer. Give 'em to me." +And he took them from Mr. Punch and laid them on +the table. He then went to Mr. Punch and linked his +arm in his, and the two hunchbacks stepped forward +together and stood before Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"Allow me to present my friend Mr. Punch," said +Toby. "Just as I was coming in, I heard a voice sing +out 'Punch!' from the church-tower, and Mr. Punch +stepped down from his perch, and I invited him to +come in, and here we are."</p> + +<p>"Good hevening, marm," said Mr. Punch. His +voice sounded harsh, as if his throat were rusty. "Good +hevening, young sir. Hit's wery pleasant within-doors, +wery pleasant indeed; Hi carn't s'y it's so blooming +agreeable hout there on my box, hall d'y and hall +night; the gaslight is wery welcome to me poor heyes, +I assure you, marm. Hi trust I see you well, marm."</p> + +<p>"Mercy on us!" said Aunt Amanda, who had been +speechless with astonishment. "Freddie, it's Mr. +Punch himself, bless me if it ain't!"</p> + +<p>Freddie edged a little closer to Aunt Amanda, for +he was afraid Mr. Punch might snatch him up and +carry him off to his father in the tower. Mr. Punch +noticed this.</p> + +<p>"'Ave no fear, me good sir," said Mr. Punch, his<!-- Page 58 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +wide mouth expanding in a smile, almost to his ears. +"Hi sharn't see me father this night, hif me kind friends +will permit me to enjoy their society for a brief period, +together with their charmin' gaslight, which it is wery +dim hall night in the street and quite hunsatisfactory, +accordingly most pleased to haccept me friend Toby's +kind 'ospitality, Hi assure you. One grows quite +cramped in one's legs and one's harms when one 'as +to remain in one position on one's box hall night, unless +one's father should tyke hit into 'is 'ead to call one +hup for a bit of a lark, and one can never be sure of +one's father's 'aving it in 'is 'ead to call one hup, to s'y +nothing of one's fingers coming stiffer and stiffer with +one's parcel of cigars 'eld out in one's 'and, and no 'at +on one's 'ead, and no 'air on one's 'ead to defend one +against the hevening hair, with one's nose dropping +hicicles in winter, so that one never knows when one +will lose one's nose off of one's fyce——"</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," said Aunt Amanda. It was evident +that Mr. Punch was a talkative person. "Are you an +Englishman?"</p> + +<p>"Ho lor' miss, indeed!" said Mr. Punch. "A Henglishman +as ever was, Hi assure you. But I 'opes I give +myself no hairs."</p> + +<p>Freddie gave up trying to understand the difference +between air and hair; it was plain enough that the +bald-headed man had never given himself any hair, so +it couldn't be that. Anyway, this was an Englishman, +and Freddie was glad that he would now probably +have a chance to hear English spoken, which he had +never heard before.</p> + +<p>"Toby," said Aunt Amanda, "Freddie has seen the +Sailorman from China, and he has a map. I'll tell +you about it."</p> + +<p>Thereupon she related the story of Mr. Lemuel +Mizzen, as she had got it from Freddie. Mr. Toby +and Mr. Punch were both tremendously impressed.<!-- Page 59 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's too bad," said Mr. Toby, "this young feller +here had to go and smoke the Chinaman's tobacco +after I told him not to; it's too bad, that's what it is. +What did you mean by it, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Hit's a wery naughty haction indeed," said Mr. +Punch. "Wery reprehensible. Wery. Hi carn't s'y +as I ever 'eard of a thing so hextremely reprehensible. +Now when Hi was a lad——"</p> + +<p>"You don't say so!" said Mr. Toby. "Well, I don't +see anything so very bad about it. I'd a' done it myself +if I'd been in his place. What do you mean by saying +that my Freddie's reprehensible? I won't have nobody +callin' him names, I won't, and what's more——"</p> + +<p>"No offense, Toby! No offense!" cried Mr. Punch. +"Sorry, Hi assure you. Wery reprehensible of me to +s'y such a thing. Wery. Pray be calm; be calm."</p> + +<p>"Well, then," grumbled Toby, "don't you go and +say nothing about Freddie, because—Anyway, let's +have a look at the map."</p> + +<p>At that moment there came a timid knock upon the +door.</p> + +<p>"Who next?" said Toby. "Come in!"</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 60 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>CELLULOID CUFFS AND A SILK HAT</h3> + +<p>The door opened, and there entered a poor-looking +elderly man, bowing and scraping as +he came, and saluting the company with an old +rusty dented tall hat which he carried in his hand. The +most striking thing about him was that he had a +wooden leg. His hair was grey and thin, and his face +was not very clean; there were signs of tobacco at the +corners of his mouth. His clothes were frayed and +patched, and there was a good deal of grease on his +vest; he wore a celluloid collar without any necktie, +and round celluloid cuffs; his coat-sleeves were much +too short, and his cuffs hung out certainly three inches. +Strange to say, his collar and cuffs were spotlessly +clean, and presented quite a contrast to his very untidy +face and clothes; but then, celluloid is easy to clean; +much less trouble than washing the face. As he +stumped into the room, he kept bowing humbly from +one to another, and bobbing his old hat up and down +in his hand.</p> + +<p>"Ahem!" he said, making another bow. "I was +just going by, and I thought I would drop in to—er—ahem!—I +hope I am not in the way?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, come in," said Toby, not very graciously. "As +long as you are here, you might as well stay. This +is Mr. Punch, and this is Freddie."</p> + +<p>The elderly man bowed to Freddie, and went up +to Mr. Punch and shook him cordially by the hand.<!-- Page 61 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +He put his mouth quite close to Mr. Punch's ear, and +lowered his voice, and said:</p> + +<p>"Ahem! I'm delighted to know you, sir. I trust +you are well. I have seen you often, but not to speak +to. Ahem!" He lowered his voice again, and spoke +very confidentially into Mr. Punch's ear. "The fact +is, sir, that as I was going by, I suddenly found that I +had left my tobacco pouch at home; most unfortunate; +and I came in with the hope that perhaps—er—ahem! +Very seldom forget my tobacco; very seldom indeed; +perfectly lost without it; do you—er, ahem!—do you +happen to have such a thing about you as a—er—ahem!—a +small portion of—er—smoking tobacco? I +should be very much obliged!"</p> + +<p>"Sorry," said Mr. Punch, stiffly, backing away. "Hi +never use tobacco in any way, shape or form."</p> + +<p>The elderly man looked much disappointed, and +sighed. He turned to Toby, and bowed and smiled +hopefully.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Mr. Littleback—" he began.</p> + +<p>"Not on your life," said Toby. "You don't get no +tobacco out of me, and that's flat."</p> + +<p>The elderly man sighed again, and looked steadily +at Freddie; but he evidently thought there was no hope +in that quarter, and he said nothing.</p> + +<p>Freddie now realized who the elderly gentleman was. +He had a wooden leg, and he never bought tobacco +when tobacco he could beg—It was the Old Codger +whom Mr. Toby had now and then sung a song about; +one of his two friends, the one who was always begging +tobacco, and never had any of his own. Freddie +looked at him, and felt rather sorry for him.</p> + +<p>"Ahem!" said the Old Codger with the Wooden +Leg. "Very sorry to intrude, Miss Amanda. I hope +I'm not in the way. It's very mild weather we're +having."<!-- Page 62 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, then," said Toby, briskly, "let's look at this +map."</p> + +<p>As he said this, another knock was heard at the door; +a firm and confident knock this time.</p> + +<p>"Confound it!" said Toby. "Who next? Come +in!"</p> + +<p>The door opened, and another elderly man stepped +in; a tall slim man, with very white hair and a long +narrow face; he carried a tall shiny black silk hat in +his hand; he wore a black suit, all of broadcloth, and +his coat hung to his knees and was buttoned to the +top; his cuffs and collar and shirt were of beautiful +white linen with a gloss, and his tie was a little white +linen bow. He came forward with an air of warm +benevolence.</p> + +<p>"My dear, <i>dear</i> friends!" he said, and stretched out +both hands towards the company, as if to clasp them +all to his heart. "What a beautiful, beautiful scene! +So homelike, so cosy, so sociable, so—so—What can +be so beautiful as the gathering together of friends +about the family hearth! <i>So</i> beautiful!" There was +a Latrobe stove in the room, but no hearth; however, +that made no difference; he went, with his hands +outstretched, to Aunt Amanda, and pressed one of hers +in both of his.</p> + +<p>The Old Codger with the Wooden Leg immediately +sidled up to him, and while he was still pressing Aunt +Amanda's hand, said, in a confidential tone:</p> + +<p>"Ahem! I'm delighted to see you again. I trust +you are well. The fact is, I find that I have—er—left +my tobacco pouch at home,—most unfortunate; very +seldom forget it; completely lost without it; I was +wondering—er—ahem!—if you happened to have such +a thing about you as a—"</p> + +<p>"No!" said the other old man, changing at once +from beaming benevolence to stern severity. "I'll be<!-- Page 63 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +hanged if I do!" And he released Aunt Amanda's +hand, and turned his back on the Old Codger with +the Wooden Leg.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Toby, "let's look at the map. This +here is Mr. Punch, and this is Freddie."</p> + +<p>The newcomer took Mr. Punch's hand in both of his +and squeezed it softly; he then took Freddie's hand in +both of his and pressed it tenderly. Freddie knew +him. He was the "other Old Codger, as sly as a +fox, who always had tobacco in his old tobacco-box." +Freddie could hardly believe that that white-haired +old gentleman could be as sly as a fox.</p> + +<p>"My dear, <i>dear</i> friends!" said the Sly Old Fox. +"What is so beautiful as the love of friends?" He +stopped to glare at the Old Codger with the Wooden +Leg, who looked away nervously. "The love of +friends! Gathered together around the family hearth! +How beautiful! It touches me, my friends, it touches +me——"</p> + +<p>"That's all right about that," said Toby. "For +heaven's <i>sake</i>, let's look at the map!"</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda spread out the map on the table beside +her, and the others gathered round.</p> + +<p>"It's an island!" cried Toby.</p> + +<p>"On the Spanish Main," said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"The Spanish Main!" said the Sly Old Fox. "A +beautiful country! Full of palms,—and grape-nuts,—What +you might call a real work of nature! Full +of parrots, and monkeys, and lagoons, and other wild +creatures; a work of nature, my dear friends, a real +work of nature."</p> + +<p>"And pirates," said Freddie, earnestly.</p> + +<p>"I <i>said</i> parrots," said the Sly Old Fox.</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> said pirates," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Just what I said," said the Sly Old Fox. "That<!-- Page 64 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +live in trees, my little friend, in trees; and have red +and blue feathers, and——"</p> + +<p>"Pirates don't have feathers," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Dear, dear!" said the Sly Old Fox. "How <i>can</i> +you say such a thing? How <i>can</i> you——?"</p> + +<p>"Did you ever see a pirate in a tree?"</p> + +<p>"In cages, my dear little friend! Hundreds of +them!"</p> + +<p>"That's enough!" said Mr. Toby. "Quit wrangling +for a minute, will you? What about this here map? I +tell you what, though. I'd like the Churchwarden to +see this map. Freddie, will you run down the street +and get the Churchwarden?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie, moving towards the door.</p> + +<p>"And tell him to bring along his Odour of Sanctity +with him. He always carries a bottle of it in his +pocket, and we may need it. Don't forget it."</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Hold on a minute," said Mr. Toby, snatching up +his hat. "I'll go for him myself. I can do it quicker." +And in a moment he was out of the door.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 65 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>THE ODOUR OF SANCTITY</h3> + +<p>While Toby was gone, Aunt Amanda explained +to the two old men about the Sailorman from +China, and about his gift of the map which +was lying on the table. They were just at the end of +their discussion when Toby returned, bringing with +him the Churchwarden, puffing and blowing with the +unusual exertion of walking, and without his pipe. +Toby introduced him to Mr. Punch and the two old +Codgers, and drew him up to the table and showed him +the map, explaining at the same time how it came +there.</p> + +<p>The Churchwarden examined the map carefully, +while the others all looked at him. He finally put +down the map, settled himself in a chair, folded his +hands across his fat stomach, blew out his cheeks, and +said:</p> + +<p>"My opinion is, that what we ought to do is to—I've +considered the matter carefully, from all sides, and +I think we ought to—Of course you may not agree +with me, but I think the best thing to do would be +to—Unless, of course, some of you may think of +something better, but if you don't, then I can't say as +there's anything better to do than to——"</p> + +<p>At this moment there came a sound from the street +outside which made everyone but Aunt Amanda jump +to his feet. It was the sound of running feet, mixed +with strange cries, not very loud, but somehow blood-curdling. +It was evident that someone was in trouble.<!-- Page 66 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +Freddie and the five men rushed from the room and +through the shop and into the street.</p> + +<p>The street was very dark, except for a gas-lamp +at the opposite corner. A white figure was running +down the pavement towards the shop-door, with +frantic speed; and behind him, evidently chasing him, +came a crowd of little dark creatures, hard to make +out in the dim light. It was these creatures who were +making the little blood-curdling cries. In a moment +they had come so near that the party about the shop-door +could see what they were. In front, running +desperately with leaps and bounds, and panting for +breath, came a tall slim man all in tight-fitting white +clothes, with a dead white face and a white hairless +head; and after him, tumbling on pell-mell, was a +perfect riot of little red imps, with little horns on their +foreheads, and little tails behind them, all trying to +spear the white man with the wicked little pitchforks +which they carried, and to seize him with their claws. +Freddie thought they were precisely like the imps he +had seen at Hanlon's Superba. When the white man +reached the shop-door they had nearly caught him. +He paused at that moment, looked wildly about him, +saw the open door of the shop, and dashed in and +banged the door to behind him. The imps came tumbling +up and hesitated an instant before the men at +the door; and in that instant the Churchwarden showed +the most unexpected presence of mind. He quickly +reached behind him and drew a small bottle out of his +pocket and pulled out the cork and sprinkled a few +drops of its contents on the ground before him. A +sharp penetrating odour immediately filled the air; it +was so intense that it made the tears come into Freddie's +eyes; but what it did to the wild mob of imps +was almost beyond belief. As they got their first whiff +of it, they tumbled back over one another in a mad<!-- Page 67 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +effort to get away; but they could not get away from +the odour quick enough; it caught them and held them, +so that in a moment they could not move; they stood +fixed and fast and silent; in another moment they began +to melt away, and in two minutes they had vanished; +actually vanished where they stood, each and +every one, before the very eyes of the astonished party +before the door.</p> + +<p>"Blimy hif I ever see the like!" said Mr. Punch.</p> + +<p>"Never knew my Odour of Sanctity to fail once," +said the Churchwarden, coolly. "Hardly ever go out +without it. There ain't a witch or an imp or a bad +spirit of any kind whatever can stand up against my +Odour of Sanctity, if he once gets a couple of good +whiffs of it out of this little bottle. Just a few drops +from the bottle, and a few sniffs, and whoof! they're +done for! No, sir! there ain't no perfumery in the +world like Odour of Sanctity!"</p> + +<p>On the floor of the shop they found the poor white +man lying completely exhausted. They asked him to +explain, but he could not speak. Mr. Toby and Mr. +Punch, one on each side, supported him into the back +room, and sat him down in a chair before Aunt +Amanda. She held up her hands in astonishment. The +man was certainly a strange-looking man. They plied +him with questions, but he touched his tongue with his +finger and shook his head. He could not speak; he +was dumb. Freddie, after one long look at him under +the gaslight, knew who he was.</p> + +<p>"It's Mr. Hanlon!" he cried, in great excitement. +"It's Mr. Hanlon!"</p> + +<p>The dumb man looked at Freddie and smiled, and +nodded his head. He rose to his feet, shook Freddie's +hand, and made a graceful bow to the whole company.</p> + +<p>"It's Mr. Hanlon sure enough," said Toby, "still +being chased by the imps. Pretty near got him that<!-- Page 68 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +time, too! But he got away safe and sound after all, +didn't he, eh?" And all the party, including Mr. Hanlon +himself, laughed with delight. And when the +Churchwarden pulled out his little perfume bottle and +showed it around, and explained to Mr. Hanlon what +it had done, the poor man was so overcome that he +put his head down on the Churchwarden's shoulder +and wept.</p> + +<p>"This'll never do!" cried Toby. "Ain't we never, +<i>never</i>, going to get down to this here map? I never +<i>see</i> such a time as I've had, trying to examine this +here map! One thing right after another! Mr. Hanlon, +I'll tell you what it's about, and then you can see +it for yourself. Would you like to stay here with +our little party? It's a good deal safer than out-of-doors."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hanlon nodded eagerly and smiled, and Toby +explained everything to him and showed him the map.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Toby, when that was done, "speak +up, Warden, and finish what you was a-saying!"</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 69 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>CAPTAIN HIGGINSON AND THE SPANISH MAIN</h3> + +<p>The Churchwarden, having put back into his +pocket the bottle of Odour of Sanctity, folded +his hands across his fat stomach and began +again:</p> + +<p>"As I was saying——"</p> + +<p>"Never mind that," said Toby. "Tell us what we +had better do."</p> + +<p>"Well, as I was saying," went on the Churchwarden, +paying no attention to Toby, "the best idea that occurs +to me, after thinking it over considerable, is that—But +I ain't saying there's none better, and I don't lay +claim to being any wiser than—Anyway, it seems to +me we ought to——"</p> + +<p>"Just listen to this!" broke in Aunt Amanda. She +had been studying the map all this time, and she was +holding it in her hands. She was much excited. "I've +just made out all this handwriting at the bottom of +the map, and I'll read it to you. Do you want to hear +it?" Her voice shook and her hands trembled. Everybody +except the Churchwarden begged her to go on. +"Oh! do you think it could be true? If it only could! +Oh, if it <i>could</i> only be true!"</p> + +<p>"Maybe if you'd read it, Aunt Amanda——" said +Toby.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, I will," said she, all of a twitter. "I'll +read it. Don't hurry me. This is what it says. If it +could only be true! 'Correction Island: By dead Reckoning, +latitude 12° 32' 14" N., longitude 61° 45' 13"<!-- Page 70 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +W.,' whatever that means. But I'll read it to you just +as it's written. It's a queer kind of language—Anyway, +this is what it says:</p> + +<p>"'Lately discovered by me, Reuben Higginson, +Master Mariner, Brig Cotton Mather: New Bedford.</p> + +<p>"'Notify Elizabeth Higginson, Spinster: or Else +the acknowledged Elder of the Society of Friends: +New Bedford.</p> + +<p>"'Now off course in heavy gale on return Voyage +to fetch my Sister aforesaid to Correction Island with +as Many others as are Minded to come.</p> + +<p>"'Leaking badly below line: pumps Given over: +Water mounting in hold: decks Awash: Both masts +gone By the board: whale-oil, no use: Down with all +hands in another Hour.</p> + +<p>"'This Map shall be cast Overboard in a stout Bottel +as we go down, with a Paper of directions how to +Gain correction in the Island.'"</p> + +<p>"Where's the paper of directions?" said Toby.</p> + +<p>"It ain't here," said Aunt Amanda. "I suppose +Captain Higginson lost it, or else he didn't have time +to put it in the bottle. Anyway, this is what the writing +on the map says:</p> + +<p>"'Let him that Finds the Bottel remember these +Mariners: Also, let him take heed to Search out the +Island diligently.</p> + +<p>"'For this Island'—Listen to what it says now," +said Aunt Amanda, trembling with excitement. "Oh, +do you suppose it could really be true? And yet this +Reuben Higginson was a good Quaker captain, I'm +sure, and I don't believe he would say what wasn't +true, and especially when he was on his way home to +get his own sister——"</p> + +<p>"Why don't you read it, instead of talking about +it?" said Toby.<!-- Page 71 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I would, if you'd let me," said Aunt Amanda. +"Here's what it says:</p> + +<p>"'For this Island is Refuge to such as be afflicted: +And in this Island shall be Corrected'—oh! listen to +this! I wouldn't believe it from anybody but Reuben +Higginson—'shall be Corrected whatever Errors, Disappointments, +Miscarriages, Faylures, Preventions, +and the like, this mortal Life may have afflicted Any +withal: Wherefore I have called it Correction Island.</p> + +<p>"'There be Perils enough in coming at Compleat +Correction: But let Courage halt not By the way, so +shall he Arrive presently.</p> + +<p>"'If any be Crooked'—this is the part! it's too wonderful! +but Captain Higginson wouldn't have said it, +when he was so near going down with his ship, and +especially on his way home to get his own sister——"</p> + +<p>"Me dear lydy," said Mr. Punch, "<i>hif</i> you would +be so wery kind as to——"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; give me time. I declare you make me +so nervous—Now just listen to this, every one of you, +and don't speak:</p> + +<p>"'If any be Crooked, he shall there be made +Straight.'"</p> + +<p>She paused, and looked hard at Toby. Mr. Punch +started at the same time, and he and Toby looked hard +at each other.</p> + +<p>"'If any be Blind, he shall see: If any Dumb, he +shall speak.'"</p> + +<p>At the word "dumb," Mr. Hanlon, whose elbow +was resting on the table, jumped so violently that he +knocked the Album onto the floor. Aunt Amanda +nodded her head to him, and all the others stared at +him.</p> + +<p>"'If any be Old, he shall be Young again: If any +Fat, he shall be as Lean as he will.'"<!-- Page 72 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the word "fat", the Churchwarden gave a questioning +grunt, and settled down deeper in his chair.</p> + +<p>"'If any be Poor, whether in Purse or in Mind, he +shall seek Alms no longer.'"</p> + +<p>The Old Codger with the Wooden Leg, who had +been resting his wooden leg on the chair opposite, +dropped it to the floor and sat up very straight. Toby, +who was standing beside him, clapped him heartily on +the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"'If any be Mean, or Cunning, or Despiteful, he +shall be given a new heart.'"</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda looked directly at the Sly Old Codger, +who was sitting smiling, with his tall silk hat on his +knees; and everyone else in the room, except Mr. Hanlon, +looked very intently at him. He noticed it, and +glanced around inquiringly, smiling more benevolently +than ever.</p> + +<p>"How beautiful that would be," he said. "How +beautiful! If some of my dear, dear friends could only +have a new heart,—how beautiful!"</p> + +<p>"Don't interrupt," said Aunt Amanda. "Freddie, +listen to this:</p> + +<p>"'If any be Little in stature, against his desire, he +shall be Great.'"</p> + +<p>Freddie opened his eyes very wide. Would it be +possible to be big at once, without waiting all that long +dreary time? How glorious that would be!</p> + +<p>"But this," said Aunt Amanda, "this is the last and +the best. I don't know—whether I can—read it +right—" her voice broke, and she blew her nose and +cleared her throat—"but I will try. Oh! do you suppose +it <i>could</i> be true? Would a good Quaker captain, +with a sister in New Bedford, say it if it wasn't true? +With the sea raging and both masts gone, and the +ship filling up with water, and——"<!-- Page 73 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Aunt Amanda," said Toby, "if you don't read the +rest of it this minute——"</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, Toby, I will," said Aunt Amanda. "It +must be true, or a good man like that wouldn't have +said it. This is the last part, and the best:</p> + +<p>"'If any be Prevented unjustly of Beauty or of +Children or of Love or of Other like desires, there +shall be found for him of these a great Store: So that +there shall be an End of repining, and none in that +Place shall say, Thus and thus might I have been also, +had I been but justly entreated.</p> + +<p>"'And so I commit my Body to the sea, and my +soul to——'"</p> + +<p>"Go on! go on!" cried the company—excepting, of +course, Mr. Hanlon.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda blew her nose again, and laid down +the map on the table. "That's all," she said. "I +suppose he didn't have time to finish it."</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 74 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>A MIXED COMPANY IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURE</h3> + +<p>After Aunt Amanda had stopped reading, it +was a moment or two before anyone spoke. +"If all those things," said Mr. Toby +thoughtfully, "could be done in that Island, I'd be in +favor of going there."</p> + +<p>There was a general murmur of assent, and Mr. +Hanlon nodded his head.</p> + +<p>"Well," went on Mr. Toby, "we'd better make up +our minds what we want to do about it. The Churchwarden +ain't had his say yet, what with all these interruptions, +and I move we give him a chance to have +his say, right now. Speak up, Warden; what do you +think we ought to do?"</p> + +<p>"As I was saying," said the Churchwarden, looking +around solemnly, "while I don't hold to my own opinion +if anybody else can think up something better, still it +seems to me—But maybe you'd ruther hear from the +others first."</p> + +<p>"No, no!" cried the whole company,—except Mr. +Hanlon, who shook his head vigorously.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, being as you've asked me so particular, +and having thought about it considerable,—as I was +saying, it appears to me that the best thing to do would +be to—This is only the way it looks to me, you understand, +and I ain't speaking for nobody but myself, and +I don't pretend that my opinion is worth——"</p> + +<p>"By crackey!" cried Mr. Toby, very rudely. "Ain't +you the most maddening old feller that ever was in the<!-- Page 75 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +world? Come on, now, tell us what to do, and be +quick about it!"</p> + +<p>"Call up the Able Seaman!"</p> + +<p>This was so unexpected that nobody spoke for a +moment.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" cried Toby. "Now you've said it. We'll +call up Mr. Lemuel Mizzen—is that his name? That's +the thing to do! Do you all agree to that?" Everybody +approved, and Mr. Toby turned to Freddie. +"He's your man, Freddie, and if you've done it once, +I reckon it won't be any harm for you to do it again. +Wait a minute." And he ran into the shop, and immediately +returned with the Chinaman's head and a +churchwarden pipe.</p> + +<p>"Now, then, Freddie," he said. "Will you do it +again?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said Freddie. "I'd rather not."</p> + +<p>"You shouldn't make him do it," said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Aunt Amanda!" cried Toby. "He's as +bad now as he'll ever be, and it ain't a-going to do him +no harm. I'll fill the pipe."</p> + +<p>"Hit's quite a lark," said Mr. Punch, laughing +heartily. "Fancy the little beggar's smoking a pipe!"</p> + +<p>"My dear little friend," began the Sly Old Fox, +beaming upon Freddie. "You must always remember +that your elders know best——"</p> + +<p>"Here, Freddie," said Mr. Toby, having filled the +pipe, "sit down here." And he pushed Freddie gently +down upon his accustomed hassock at Aunt Amanda's +feet.</p> + +<p>Freddie shook his head, but Mr. Toby put the pipe +into his mouth and lit a match. All the others sat in +silence, watching Freddie intently.</p> + +<p>"Now, then!" said Toby. "Pull away!" And he +touched the lighted match to the pipeful of black +tobacco.<!-- Page 76 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + +<p>Freddie gave a pull, and blew out a cloud of smoke. +He did not choke this time. He gave another pull, +and blew out another cloud. The white smoke lay above +the heads of the company in a thick mass; it grew +thicker, so that he could not see through it; it began to +move, as if in a high wind. He drew on the pipe +once more, and blew out another cloud of smoke. He +knew what was coming, and in fact the same thing +happened that had happened to him before. The +white cloud churned about, with its barber-poles and +jets of fire, coming down closer and closer upon him, +and in a jiffy he was sitting in midair on his hassock, +and then he felt himself falling, falling; and as he +struck the bottom with a jar, he heard, very distinctly, +a knock on the door; and he was sitting again on his +hassock at Aunt Amanda's feet in the quiet room, with +no sign of a cloud anywhere to be seen.</p> + +<p>"Come in!" he heard Mr. Toby cry.</p> + +<p>The door opened, and in walked Mr. Lemuel Mizzen, +A.B., as cool as a cucumber.</p> + +<p>He took off his flat blue cap with the black ribbon, +and made a bow to the company.</p> + +<p>"Piped me aft again, and good evening to you all!" +said he, in his hoarse voice. "Lemuel Mizzen, A.B.! +That's me! What'll it be? All ready for orders, +skipper! It was just half past by the starboard watch, +and the skippers their apples were quietly peeling, when +I locked up the last of the lemons and Scotch, and +lay on my bed looking up at the ceiling, to snatch forty +winks, as I foolishly reckoned; but just as I thinks, +'Thirty-first, thirty-second,' there's a ring at the bell of +the big front-door, and the mates come and yell that +I'm wanted ashore; so I tucks in my cap the eight +points of my nap, and just before stopping to turn +down the lights, I runs to the dresser and puts it to +rights, and then before giving a last look behind, I goes<!-- Page 77 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +to the bed and takes off the spread, and lays out to +air the three sheets in the wind! And here I be," concluded +the Able Seaman, "all ready for orders." And +he looked very hard at Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Well!" said Aunt Amanda, gasping. "I never in +my life heard such a——"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what it is, Mr. Mizzen," said Toby. +"It's about Correction Island, on the Spanish Main."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir!" said Mr. Mizzen. "Would you like +to go there?"</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said everyone at once, except Mr. Hanlon, +who nodded his head.</p> + +<p>"No trouble at all," said Mr. Mizzen. "Just step +into The Sieve, and we'll be off. A sweet little bark +is The Sieve, provided there's plenty of dippers; but +we always go well provided. Is the whole party +going?"</p> + +<p>"One moment, if you please," said the Sly Old +Codger. "There is one little point on which I—that +is to say—Will there be any expense?"</p> + +<p>"Not a penny," said Mr. Mizzen. "Everything's +found. Orders from the skipper. What he says +goes."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said the Sly Old Fox. "The Spanish Main! +With all the little parrots and monkeys flitting about +in the branches of the upas trees!—I think I will +join."</p> + +<p>"I reckon we're all going," said Mr. Toby. "Is +everybody agreed? All right. It's settled. And my +vote is, to go right now, while we've got hold of our +Able Seaman here."</p> + +<p>"Shouldn't I tell mother first?" asked Freddie.</p> + +<p>"I'll write her a note in the morning," said Toby. +"I'll fix it; you leave it to me."</p> + +<p>"I suppose I really ought to finish this sewing," said +Aunt Amanda.<!-- Page 78 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No time," said Toby, who seemed to be managing +everything. "Where's the ship, Mr. Mizzen?"</p> + +<p>"Made fast to the wharf at the foot of this street," +said Mr. Mizzen.</p> + +<p>"Then let's go," said Toby.</p> + +<p>He ran out of the room, and returned with his white +derby hat on his head, and his hand-painted necktie +neatly in its place. He helped Aunt Amanda to get up, +and brought her her little black bonnet, which she put +on and tied under her chin, and her cashmere shawl, +which she put around her shoulders.</p> + +<p>"All right!" cried Toby. "We're off! Come along!"</p> + +<p>"We're off to the Spanish Main," said Mr. Mizzen, +in his curious sing-song, "to the wet Antipodee; but +dry or wet we need not fret, for we are bold as bold +can be; and on the way at Botany Bay we'll probably +stay a week or two, to gather ferns as the Botanists +do, and then we'll stop at the door of Spain, to ask +the way to the Spanish Main, and so without any more +delay, on the Spanish Main we'll all alight, where the +star-fish shines in the sea all night, and the dog-star +barks in the sky all day—Here, skipper, put this in your +pocket, and hold fast to it." He handed Freddie the +map, and Freddie put it away safely in his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Have you got the Odour of Sanctity?" said Mr. +Toby to the Churchwarden.</p> + +<p>"Right here," said the fat man, tapping his back +pocket.</p> + +<p>"I'll carry the Chinaman's tobacco," said Toby. "We +may need it." And he tucked the Chinaman's head +under his arm.</p> + +<p>In a few moments the whole party were standing +on the pavement outside, and Toby locked the shop-door +behind them. They crossed the street, and as +they did so they heard a faint voice halloing from the +top of the church tower, and they could make out<!-- Page 79 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +that it said, "Punch! Punch!" But Mr. Punch only +sniffed and shrugged his shoulders, and made no +answer.</p> + +<p>It was very dark. The gas-lamps at the corners only +made the darkness gloomier. The only sound they +heard, after Mr. Punch's father's voice had died away +behind them, was the stump-stump of the Old Codger's +wooden leg on the brick pavement. All the dwelling-houses +were closed, and as they came nearer to the +wharves all the warehouses were dark and awful. Not +a soul was to be seen, except that once they saw the +back of a policeman as he disappeared around a dark +corner in advance. At the sight of this policeman's +back, and in the shadow of a great gloomy building +alongside an alley, Freddie slipped his hand into the +Able Seaman's big paw. He wondered if he were doing +quite right in leaving home without saying a word to +his mother, but Mr. Toby had promised to do whatever +was necessary, and anyway, he was going aboard +a ship! If he should stop to speak to his mother about +going away on a voyage in a ship, he felt somehow +that he might never go. He could already smell the +delicious odour of tarred ropes.</p> + +<p>Their progress was very slow, on account of Aunt +Amanda's lameness. First came Mr. Mizzen, leading +the way with Freddie by his side. Next came Aunt +Amanda, limping with her cane, and supported on one +side by Mr. Toby and on the other by Mr. Punch. Behind +them walked the Churchwarden and the Sly Old +Fox, and last of all Mr. Hanlon and the Old Codger +with the Wooden Leg.</p> + +<p>They could see not far before them the ghost-like +masts and shrouds of ships, looking as if they were +growing up from the street among the buildings; and +in another moment they found themselves standing in +a group on a wide wharf, piled up with bales and<!-- Page 80 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +boxes, and before them, against the edge of the wharf, +where the black water was lapping the piles, stood a +tall ship with most of her sails set. Freddie thrilled +in every vein of his body. At that moment he did +not think of his father or mother; he thought of nothing +but the smell of brackish water and tarred ropes, +and the deck of a ship on the open sea under a cloud +of canvas, and the far-away Spanish Main.</p> + +<p>The Able Seaman led the company of adventurers +forward between the bales and boxes, until they stood +beside the dark hull of the ship. He turned round +and faced them and touched his cap respectfully.</p> + +<p>"Come aboard," said he.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 81 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>THE VOYAGE OF THE SIEVE</h3> + +<p>When Freddie awoke the next morning, he +leaned up on his elbow, rubbing his eyes, and +was surprised to see the floor of the little +room in which he found himself settling slowly down +at one side. In a moment the floor rose again on +that side, and the other side settled down. Then the +whole room tilted sideways and back again. It made +him dizzy, and he closed his eyes, wondering what kind +of a house he had gotten into. He decided he would +get up and find out about it.</p> + +<p>He carefully rose, and tried to walk across the floor +to the window. As he stepped out, the floor seemed +to go down under him, and he quickly grasped the +bed; he put out his foot again, and the floor rose up; +he was dizzier than before, and he had a queer sinking +feeling in his stomach. As the floor tilted down +sideways again, he made a dash to the opposite wall, +and held on there by the window; but the floor sank +again, and he made another dash, back to bed. He +was cold and hot, and his head ached, and there was a +feeling in his stomach as if—oh dear! He decided he +would lie in bed for a few moments until he felt better.</p> + +<p>He remained there for two days.</p> + +<p>What occurred during those two days he could not +remember very well afterwards. He slept a great deal, +and it seemed that some one with a green patch over +his eye came in now and then; but he paid very little<!-- Page 82 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +attention. All he wanted was to go to sleep and stay +asleep.</p> + +<p>On the morning after his third night he sat up wide +awake. He was hungry. He jumped up and dressed +in a hurry. As the floor tilted and sank and rose with +him he thought he had never felt so delicious a sensation. +He wondered if there would be bacon and eggs +for breakfast.</p> + +<p>In a moment he had thrown open the door and he +was running up a short flight of steps. He was weak +and tottery, but he paid no attention to that. He was +at the top of the steps, and he drew in a deep breath +of the cool morning air.</p> + +<p>He was standing on the deck of a great ship. Over +his head clouds and clouds of beautiful white canvas +swelled out to the breeze. The sun was sparkling merrily +on the water, and there was no land to be seen +anywhere. Up forward, the bow of the ship was dipping +and rising regularly. There were three tall masts, +and on the first two the sails were set square to the +masts, and on the third lengthwise; every sail seemed +to be up. It was glorious.</p> + +<p>He walked forward up the deck. Here and there +were men in blue overalls, cleaning the deck, coiling +ropes, and polishing metal; and in a little house with +windows a man was standing beside an upright wheel. +Near the first mast, in a group, were Aunt Amanda, +Mr. Toby, the Churchwarden, and the two old Codgers. +Freddie hailed them with a shout.</p> + +<p>"All right, young feller," cried Mr. Toby, as Freddie +came up, "here we are! How is this for a corking +spree? Beats all the Tolchester excursions you ever +see, that's what I say! Blamed if it don't. I ain't +been out of bed for two days."</p> + +<p>"No more has any of us," said Aunt Amanda. "Do<!-- Page 83 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +you feel well, Freddie? I declare I'm quite excited. +Isn't the air invigorating?"</p> + +<p>"Yes'm," said Freddie. "What did you say in your +note, Mr. Toby?"</p> + +<p>"What note?" said Toby.</p> + +<p>"Why, your note to my mother, explaining about me +and——"</p> + +<p>"By crackey!" cried Toby. "Blamed if I didn't +clean forget all about it! Now ain't that too bad! +What on earth are we going to do about it?"</p> + +<p>"Well!" said Aunt Amanda. "Now ain't that just +like you, Toby Littleback? I declare if your head +wasn't fastened on you'd——"</p> + +<p>"Wery reprehensible," said Mr. Punch. "Wery."</p> + +<p>"My dear friends," said the Sly Old Codger, "let us +not be disquieted on such a morning as this. Everything +is so beautiful. <i>So</i> beautiful! And without any +expense whatever. It is a precious thought. How +pleasant it is to hear the breeze blowing so gently +among all the little capstans up there!"</p> + +<p>He took off his high silk hat and looked up among +the sails with a rapt expression on his face, and all the +others looked up too, trying to see the capstans fluttering +in the breeze.</p> + +<p>"Look!" cried Aunt Amanda. "Why, there's Mr. +Hanlon!"</p> + +<p>Far, far up, near the top of the second mast, was a +white figure, standing on a rope under the topmost +sail, and holding on with one hand and waving the +other down at the passengers. Mr. Toby waved his +white derby, and Mr. Hanlon began to come down. +Freddie trembled with alarm, but Mr. Hanlon was +obviously having the time of his life. He skipped +swiftly along his dangerous perch, and sliding down +and along the spars of wood that held the sails, and +actually leaping from one to another, and tripping<!-- Page 84 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +lightly down ladders of rope, while the whole top +swayed dizzily from side to side, he at length came +down on the deck with a bounce, and bowing to everybody +shook Freddie by the hand.</p> + +<p>"Here comes the Able Seaman!" cried Toby. "And +see what he's got on his wrist!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Lemuel Mizzen came rolling down the deck, +and as he approached he took off his cap with his left +hand and made a bow. On his right wrist was a +blue and red parrot, who cocked his head sideways at +the strangers, and then looked up inquiringly at the +Able Seaman.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, all!" said Mr. Mizzen. "Glad to +see the passengers come to life again! Nothing like +the open sea, lady and gentlemen!"</p> + +<p>"Are you sure it's perfectly safe?" said Aunt +Amanda.</p> + +<p>"Perfectly safe, ma'am. A tight little bark is The +Sieve, provided the dippers hold out. Most of the men +is below now, baling out the water with their dippers, +and the ship ain't leaking more than ordinary—yet. +Of course you never can tell what may happen, but +there's plenty of dippers, unless we should founder in +a storm, or split up on the rocks, or——"</p> + +<p>"Mercy on us!" cried Aunt Amanda. "I wish we +hadn't come. If I only had some sewing with me."</p> + +<p>"Would you mend socks, ma'am?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that would be lovely! And I could look after +the men's shirts, too, and count the laundry when it +comes home, and—I'm sure we are going to have a +delightful voyage! I feel better already. I don't believe +there's any danger after all. It's all nonsense +about the ship's leaking."</p> + +<p>"Who's your f-f-f-friends, L-l-lem?" shrieked a voice +from Mr. Mizzen's wrist.</p> + +<p>Everyone started, and looked in amazement at the<!-- Page 85 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +parrot, whose head was perked sideways up at Mr. +Mizzen's face.</p> + +<p>"L-l-lem!" shrieked the parrot, stuttering terribly. +"Who's your f-f-f-friends?"</p> + +<p>"Never you mind," said Lemuel, "you'll find out +soon enough. Breakfast's ready. Anybody want breakfast?"</p> + +<p>Before anyone had a chance to reply, the parrot +opened his mouth wide and gave a loud laugh, and +cried out:</p> + +<p>"Th-th-three ch-cheers! Th-th-there's ch-ch-chops, +s-s-steak, b-b-bacon and eggs! I'll have l-l-l-liver and +onions! Ha! ha! ha! Th-th-three ch-cheers for +l-l-l-liver and onions!"</p> + +<p>"Be quiet, Marmaduke," said the Able Seaman. +"I'll lock you up again, if you ain't careful."</p> + +<p>"K-k-k-ker-<i>choo</i>!" said Marmaduke, giving a loud +sneeze; and rubbed his beak with his foot and fluttered +his feathers. "L-l-l-lock me up in the a-a-after +hold, till I g-g-g-get all over this d-d-d-dreadful cold! +Th-th-three ch-cheers for hay f-f-f-fever! K-k-k-ker-<i>choo</i>!"</p> + +<p>"I'll lock you up in the after hold, if you don't quit +being so fresh and bold; I'll learn you manners before +I'm through, and if ever I hear one little—"</p> + +<p>"Ker-<i>choo</i>!" said Marmaduke, finishing Mr. Mizzen's +sentence for him very neatly.</p> + +<p>Everyone laughed, except the Able Seaman.</p> + +<p>"All right," said he, "just wait till I've had my chow, +I'll attend to you proper; now off with you—now!" +And he tossed Master Marmaduke off his wrist up +into the air. The parrot lit on a spar overhead, just +under a sail, and peered down at the company without +the least appearance of embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"If there's b-b-b-bacon and eggs," he cried, "I'll +take l-l-l-liver! Th-th-three ch-ch-cheers for l-l-l-liver!"</p> + +<div style="height: 0"> + <a id="image02"></a> +</div> +<div class="figcenter"> + <!-- Page 86 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> + <img src="images/i002.png" alt=""L-l-lem!" shrieked the parrot. "Who's your f-f-f-friends?"" /> + <p class="caption">"L-l-lem!" shrieked the parrot. "Who's your f-f-f-friends?"</p> +</div><p><!-- Page 87 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p>Freddie burst into a merry laugh, and all his friends +joined; all except Mr. Punch, who looked puzzled.</p> + +<p>"'Ow could 'e 'ave liver," said he, "hif there was +only bycon an' heggs?"</p> + +<p>At this everyone laughed louder than before, and +Mr. Punch was completely perplexed.</p> + +<p>"I'll explain that to you some day," said Toby. +"Didn't you never hear a joke?"</p> + +<p>"Ho, yes," said Mr. Punch. "Hi 'eard a wery +good joke once; a wery good one indeed. Hi'll relate +it to you. When I was a lad—"</p> + +<p>"There's the breakfast bell," said Mr. Mizzen. +"Sorry to interrupt, but we mustn't let it get cold. +We'll hold the election afterwards."</p> + +<p>No one waited to hear Mr. Punch's joke. The +Able Seaman led the way, and all the others followed +him down the deck, towards a kind of three-sided +box which opened on a stairway below.</p> + +<p>In a moment or two they found themselves in the +dining-saloon, and in another moment they were +seated about a round table, set for breakfast. The +passengers insisted on the Able Seaman's sitting down +with them, and he consented to do so.</p> + +<p>A lad of about eighteen entered, to wait on the +table. He had a shock of bright red hair, and a kind +of frightened look in his eyes, as if he were afraid +he would do everything wrong, and would always be +in hot water about it. He stood behind the Able Seaman's +chair, and began to make a queer contortion of +the face, in an effort to speak.</p> + +<p>"Th-th-th-there's—" he began.</p> + +<p>"Skipper first," interrupted Mr. Mizzen, nodding +towards Freddie.</p> + +<p>The Cabin-boy (for that was what he was) went +to Freddie's chair, and began to speak again, with +the same contortion of the face.<!-- Page 88 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Th-th-th-there's ch-ch-chops, s-s-s-steak, b-b-b-bacon +and eggs," he said.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>The Cabin-boy stared in bewilderment, and began +again.</p> + +<p>"Th-th-th-there's ch-ch-chops, s-s-s-steak, b-b-b-bacon +and eggs," said he.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie, much embarrassed.</p> + +<p>"I don't blame you, skipper," said the Able Seaman. +"I would too, if I hadn't eaten for two days. Next!"</p> + +<p>The Cabin-boy stood behind Aunt Amanda's chair, +and began:</p> + +<p>"Th-th-th-there's ch-ch-chops, s-s-s-steak, b-b-b-bacon +and—Ker-<i>choo</i>!" He gave a hearty sneeze, and pulled +out his pocket-handkerchief; so he had to begin all +over again:</p> + +<p>"Th-th-th-there's ch-ch-chops, s-s-s-s-s—"</p> + +<p>"Chops, thank you," said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>The Cabin-boy took his stand behind Toby's chair, +and began:</p> + +<p>"There's—there's—th-th-th-th—Ker-<i>choo</i>! Th-th-there's +ch-ch-ch-chops, s-s-s-s-s—"</p> + +<p>"Chops and steak," said Toby.</p> + +<p>The Cabin-boy stood behind each of the other chairs +in turn, and repeated each time his entire list. Everybody +gave a different order, and the boy became so +bewildered at last that he wiped his forehead with his +pocket-handkerchief, brushed a tear from his eye, and +when he had taken the last order dashed out of the +door with a kind of sob.</p> + +<p>As soon as he was gone, sounds came through the +door by which he had left, as if a dreadful row was +going on in the next room.</p> + +<p>"Frightful temper, that cook," said the Able Seaman, +"but the boy certainly does get on his nerves."</p> + +<p>In a short time the Cabin-boy came in with four<!-- Page 89 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +plates at once, and as he reached Freddie's chair the +ship gave a deep lurch downward, and the four plates +shot out of his arms across the room, showering the +floor with chops, steak, bacon and eggs.</p> + +<p>The boy gave a wild cry and burst into tears, and fled +through the door. From the next room came the sound +of a row more violent than before.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Mr. Mizzen, "he'll be back."</p> + +<p>He came back presently, his eyes very red, and +stumbling in and out managed to put down before +each one a plate. Every plate contained chops, steak, +bacon and eggs.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Mr. Mizzen, when the breakfast was +over, "we'll go up and hold the election."</p> + +<p>When they came on deck, they were astonished to +see a considerable number of men in blue overalls, +who were sitting on the deck in a group. As the +passengers approached, they stood up respectfully, and +one of them said something privately to Mr. Mizzen.</p> + +<p>"They've held the election already," said the Able +Seaman, turning to the passengers. "There's three +dozen of 'em, and they've elected the captains and +mates for the voyage; thirteen captains and twenty-three +mates. They went right ahead without waiting +for me, so I'm the only Able Seaman left on the ship."</p> + +<p>"What!" said Aunt Amanda. "Do you mean to +tell me—?"</p> + +<p>"It's all right, madam," said Mr. Mizzen in an +undertone. "You see, they're all free and equal, and +everything goes by voting. They won't have it any +other way. It's lucky they didn't all want to be captains. +It's all right, anyway, because there's none of +'em knows anything about navigation, and I'm the only +one on board that <i>does</i> know; so it comes to the same +thing as if they had elected <i>me</i> captain. But of course +<i>they</i> don't think of that. Not a word. I'll send 'em<!-- Page 90 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +about their business now, as soon as they've put on +their uniforms."</p> + +<p>"Well!" said Aunt Amanda, gasping. "I never in +my life—!"</p> + +<p>The thirteen captains and the twenty-three mates +disappeared from the deck in a hurry, and in a very +few minutes reappeared. Each one of them wore, in +place of his blue overalls, a smart blue suit with brass +buttons and gold braid, and a jaunty blue cap with +gold braid around it; the mates having only nine instead +of ten rows of braid around their sleeves.</p> + +<p>The Able Seaman led them aside, and after a few +words with them returned to his passengers.</p> + +<p>"Everything's settled," said he. "Some of them +are going below with their dippers, and the rest of +them are to look after handling the ship. The navigation +is left to me. We'll get along fine now, provided +the leaks don't get any worse."</p> + +<p>Freddie wandered off by himself, to inspect the ship. +He could walk very well now, in spite of the roll of the +ship, and he went everywhere. He found himself +finally on the after deck, leaning over the rail and +watching the wake of the ship boiling away so white +and beautiful behind. He was more and more delighted +with this strange adventure. It was too bad +that Mr. Toby had forgotten to write the note to his +mother, but it couldn't be helped now, and they would +sometime find a place somewhere or other where they +could post a letter. It was so entrancing to be actually +at sea on a ship, with the deck rising and falling, +and the wake boiling away behind, and land nowhere +in sight, that it would seem a pity ever to arrive at +the Spanish Main; but the thought of adventures +there—! However, he was in no hurry to have the +voyage over.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda was sitting somewhere with a pile of<!-- Page 91 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +sailors' socks in her lap, perfectly contented. Mr. +Hanlon was swinging his feet away up yonder from +the topmost yard of the second mast. The Churchwarden, +Mr. Punch, Toby, and the Sly Old Fox were +engaged in an earnest discussion in chairs beside the +deck-house. The Old Codger with the Wooden Leg +was speaking confidentially in the ear of the twenty-first +mate, in an effort to borrow a pipeful of tobacco.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Freddie heard behind him the loud harsh +laughter of Marmaduke the parrot. Turning round, +he saw the parrot perched on the ship's rail, and before +him was the Cabin-boy, shaking his finger in the parrot's +face, and storming away at him angrily. Freddie +immediately went over to them.</p> + +<p>"I w-w-w-won't s-s-s-s-stand it no l-l-l-l-longer!" the +Cabin-boy was bawling, his face nearly as red as +his hair. "I w-w-w-won't! W-w-w-what do you +m-m-m-mean by m-m-m-mocking me all the t-t-t-ime?"</p> + +<p>"Who? M-m-m-m-m-me?" said the parrot.</p> + +<p>"Y-y-y-yaas, y-y-y-you!" cried the Cabin-boy. "Just +because I s-s-s-s-s-stutter, do you—do you—do you have +to—have to—s-s-s-s-stut-stutter too?"</p> + +<p>"M-m-m-m-me? You're entirely m-m-m-m-mistaken. +You're the one that s-s-s-stut-s-s-s-stutters."</p> + +<p>"Ain't you always s-s-saying—saying—ch-ch-chops, +s-s-s-steak, b-b-b-b-bacon and eggs? Ain't you? You've +got to k-k-k-k-quit—r-r-right <i>now</i>, d'you <i>hear</i>? I +w-w-w-won't s-s-s-stand it no l-l-l-l-longer, and you +b-b-b-better b-b-b-believe it!"</p> + +<p>"Highty-tighty! Sixty, ninety! Uncle Sam! Pop +pop! Th-th-there's ch-ch-chops, s-s-s-steak, b-b-b-bacon +and eggs! Th-th-three ch-ch-cheers for l-l-l-liver and +onions!"</p> + +<p>The poor Cabin-boy burst out crying.</p> + +<p>"All ri-i-i-ight," he sobbed, stamping his foot. "All +ri-i-i-ight. I c-c-can't help it—if—I do s-s-stutter. But<!-- Page 92 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +there ain't no p-p-p-p-parrot going to m-m-m-m-mock +me, M-m-m-m-mizzen nor no M-m-m-m-mizzen. I'll +wring—your—bla-a-a-asted—neck first, you ornery—l-l-l-little—varmint, +you s-s-s-see if I—see if I—d-d-d-don't!"</p> + +<p>"Marmaduke's my name!" shrieked the parrot. +"Please to note the same! Pop, pop, pop! I'll have +l-l-l-liver and onions, l-l-l-l-liver and onions, l-l-l-l-liver +and onions, pop, pop, pop!"</p> + +<p>The Cabin-boy, shaking with sobs, raised his hand +threateningly.</p> + +<p>"D-d-d-d-don't you d-d-d-dare t-t-t-to—Ker-<i>choo</i>!" +He sneezed, and out came his handkerchief.</p> + +<p>"Ker-<i>choo</i>!" sneezed the parrot, and rubbed his +beak with his foot.</p> + +<p>This was the last straw. The Cabin-boy reached +for Marmaduke's neck, and would surely have choked +him then and there, if Freddie had not caught his +arm and pulled him away.</p> + +<p>The Cabin-boy allowed himself to be led off, and +Freddie drew him along towards the companion-way.</p> + +<p>"Come along down to my room," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"All r-r-right," said the Cabin-boy, wiping his eyes +and sniffling. "I'll c-c-c-come, b-b-b-but there's going +to be trouble—trouble—on this sh-sh-sh-ship along o' +that p-p-p-parrot before this—before this v-v-v-voyage—is +over, you m-m-m-mark m-m-m-m-my w-w-w-w-words!"</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 93 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>THE CABIN-BOY'S REVENGE</h3> + +<p>It was a soft moonlight night in southern seas. Our +party of adventurers, with Mr. Mizzen in their +midst, were sitting quietly on the after part of the +deck, enjoying the balmy air and watching the bright +track which the full moon made on the water. The +sea was very calm. There was only a light breeze, and +The Sieve was hardly moving.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mizzen was scratching the head of Marmaduke +the parrot, who was perched on the Able Seaman's +wrist. From the forward part of the deck, where the +skippers and mates were sitting in a party of their own, +could be heard the tinkle of a guitar and the sound +of a voice singing.</p> + +<p>"One always enjoys," said Mr. Punch, "a bit of +singing by moonlight on the water. Hi remember when +I was a lad—"</p> + +<p>"Why don't you sing for us yourself?" said Toby.</p> + +<p>"Oh, do!" cried several of the others.</p> + +<p>Mr. Punch looked down at the deck bashfully. "Hi +should be wery glad to oblige," said he, "but I 'ave a +slight cold, and besides, Hi only know one song."</p> + +<p>"What is the name of it?" said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"Kathleen Mavourneen," said Mr. Punch.</p> + +<p>"That's a very good song," said Aunt Amanda. +"Sing it."</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute," said Mr. Mizzen, "and I'll get the +guitar. I can play it."<!-- Page 94 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<p>While he was gone, and while the others were +talking, Freddie felt a hand on his arm, and looking +down saw the Cabin-boy sitting on the deck beside +his chair, and winking up at him with a strange excited +look on his face. The Cabin-boy pulled Freddie's head +down, and whispered in his ear.</p> + +<p>"S-s-s-sh! K-k-keep your eyes o-o-ope-open! Something's +going to happen to-to-tonight! You'll see! +Down with M-m-mizzen and M-m-marmaduke!"</p> + +<p>Freddie gazed at the Cabin-boy in some alarm, and +was about to ask a question, when Mr. Mizzen returned +with the guitar.</p> + +<p>"Now we're ready," said he, taking his seat and putting +Marmaduke on the rail of the ship. "Here's the +chord. All right, Mr. Punch."</p> + +<p>"Hi really 'ave such a cold—" said Mr. Punch.</p> + +<p>"That's understood," said Toby. "Now then, strike +up."</p> + +<p>Mr. Punch cleared his throat very loud, and coughed +once or twice, and began to sing:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Kathleen Mavourneen, the gr'y dorn is bryking,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The 'orn of the 'unter is 'eard on the 'ill."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Ha! ha! ha! ha!" roared Toby. "The 'orn of the 'unter! Blamed if I ever +hear the like of that before! My stars! What's the matter, Mr. Punch, +can't you put in a little 'h' now and then? The 'orn of the 'unter! Oh +my stars! Ha! ha! ha! ha!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Punch was deeply offended. "Hit is quite sufficient," said he. "Hi +shall sing no more." And nothing that anybody could say could induce him +to go on.</p> + +<p>"Toby Littleback," said Aunt Amanda, "it's just like you, all over. Now +you ask Mr. Punch's pardon, right this minute."</p> + +<p>Toby apologized, and Mr. Punch said that it was of no consequence +whatever; but he would not sing.<!-- Page 95 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then I guess you'll have to sing for us yourself, Mizzen," said Toby.</p> + +<p>"Right-o," said Mr. Mizzen, thrumming on his guitar. "What'll it be?"</p> + +<p>The Cabin-boy sniffed and spoke in an undertone close to Freddie's ear.</p> + +<p>"He'll be s-s-singing on the other s-s-side of his f-f-face before this +night's o-o-over, you mark m-m-m-my wo-wo-words!"</p> + +<p>"Lady and gentlemen"—began Mr. Mizzen.</p> + +<p>"Ker-choo!" sneezed the parrot. "A wet sh-sh-sheet and a f-f-flowing +s-s-s-sea! Three cheers f-f-for the—Ker-choo! Three cheers f-f-for hay +f-f-fe-fever!"</p> + +<p>"Down with b-b-b-both of 'em!" whispered the Cabin-boy fiercely in +Freddie's ear.</p> + +<p>"Suppose you sing us something about yourself," said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, ma'am," said Mr. Mizzen; and after playing a few chords and +quivers on the guitar, he began to sing, in a voice like a fog-horn +muffled by a heavy fog, the following song concerning the</p> + +<h4>LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF L. MIZZEN</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"When I was a lad I was bad as I could be,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wouldn't say 'Thank you' nor 'Please,' not me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And at church I wouldn't kneel but only on one knee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And at school I wouldn't study my A B C,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I couldn't conscientious with the Golden Rule agree,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor understand the secret of its popularitee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor get a ounce of pleasure from the Rule of Three,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I was bad right through; sweared 'hully gee,'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And worse sometimes, like 'jiminee;'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Scrawled with a pencil on my jographee,</span><!-- Page 96 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span><br /> +<span class="i0">Stole birds' eggs in the huckleberry tree,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, I was bad; tried to learn a flea<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How to keep his balance on a rolling pea,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, regular bad; and my ma, said she,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'If you don't be better than what you be,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll put you in the cupboard and turn the key.'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But I wouldn't and I wouldn't, no sirree,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">So I ran away to sea;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Yes, I ran away to sea;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">With a little gingham, bottle of cambric tea,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And a penny wrapped up in my hankerchee,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i4">For I wanted to be free,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">So I ran away to sea."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Mr. Mizzen stopped, and looked towards the stern +of the ship. "I thought," said he, "I kind of noticed +something queer about the stern rail; looked as if it +was lower. But I guess I'm mistaken."</p> + +<p>Everyone looked, but saw nothing amiss. The +Cabin-boy tittered into Freddie's ear.</p> + +<p>"Would you like to hear the second verse?" said the +Able Seaman.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes! Go on!" said several voices at once.</p> + +<p>"Here goes, then," said Mr. Mizzen, thrumming +on the guitar. "After I ran away to sea, I had a good +many adventures, and some of 'em—anyway—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"When I was young I followed the Equator<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From Pole to Pole in the ship Perambulator,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A four-wheeled schooner, a smoky old freighter,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Loaded with sulphur for an old dead crater<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the Andes Mountains, and a night or two later<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With a three-knot gale blowing loud and rude<br /></span> +<span class="i4">As the dark grows darker and the gale increases</span><!-- Page 97 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span><br /> +<span class="i4">Of a sudden we strike and we goes all to pieces<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On the forty-seventh parallel of latitude.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And then and there we formed a committee<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And went in a body up to London City<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And walked up the steps and pulled the little bell,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And spoke out bold to the Lords of Creation<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where they sat in their wigs making rules of navigation,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And explained to 'em the dangers of the Deadly Parallel.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">'Take 'em down and pull 'em in,'<br /></span> +<span class="i4">That's the way we did begin:<br /></span> +<span class="i4">''Tisn't leaks nor 'tisn't whiskey<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Makes the sailor's life so risky,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It's the parallel as lies acrost our track.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It's the Deadly Parallel, lying there so long and black,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Is the subject of our moderate petition;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">'Tisn't much that we are wishin',<br /></span> +<span class="i4">But we humbly beg permission<br /></span> +<span class="i14">To implore,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Coil 'em up, we implore, where they won't be in the way,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Out of sight, safe ashore, we humbly pray;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">For there's many a tidy bark<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Strikes against 'em in the dark<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And is never never heard of any more.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">So we'll thank you heartilee<br /></span> +<span class="i4">If so very kind you'll be<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And remove this awful danger from the sea.'<br /></span> +<span class="i4">But we couldn't make 'em do it;<br /></span> +<span class="i4">No, they simply wouldn't do it;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the bailiff shoved us gently from the door.<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And we wept uncommon salty,</span><!-- Page 98 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span><br /> +<span class="i4">For their reason did seem faulty,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Any way that we could view it:<br /></span> +<span class="i4">And the reason which they gave us<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Why they really couldn't save us<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was because the thing had ne'er been done before;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No, such a thing had ne'er been done before."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Mr. Mizzen stopped again, and looked along the +deck and up at the masts, and said, "I can't get it out +of my head that the deck is slanting a little more than +usual; the ship doesn't seem to come up well at the +stern. However,—would you like to hear any more of +this song?"</p> + +<p>Everybody begged him to go on.</p> + +<p>The Cabin-boy plucked Freddie's sleeve. "I've done +it. You'll s-s-s-see! Won't that M-m-marmaduke and +that M-m-m-mizzen sing another tune when they f-f-f-find +out?" Freddie looked at him in amazement; but +the Able Seaman was commencing the third verse of +his song:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"When I was older, and bold as you please,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I shipped on the good ship Firkin of Cheese,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For a v'yage of discovery in the far South Seas,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To gather up a cargo of ambergris<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That grows in a cave on the amber trees<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where the medicine men, all fine M.D.'s,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For the sake of the usual medical fees,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Crawl in by night on their hands and knees<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In a strictly ethical manner to seize<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The amber fruit that is used to grease<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The itching palm in Shekel's Disease,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On a long long v'yage, as busy as bees,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Never stopping for a moment to take our ease,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Never changing our course, except when the breeze<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Took to blowing to windward,—we had slipped by degrees</span><!-- Page 99 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span><br /> +<span class="i0">Down the oozy slopes of the Hebrides,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And passed through the locks of the Florida Keys,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which in getting through was a rather tight squeeze,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But danger is nothing to men like these,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When suddenly the lookout, a Portuguese<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who had better been below a-shelling peas,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shrieked out, 'They are coming! By twos and threes!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On the starboard bow! We are lost!—"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"We're lost! we're lost! we're lost!" came a terrible +cry from the forward part of the ship, as if in echo of +Mr. Mizzen's song. "We're lost! The dippers! The +dippers!"</p> + +<p>Everyone jumped up, even Aunt Amanda. The +Cabin-boy whispered in Freddie's ear, in great excitement, +"N-n-n-now you'll s-see!"</p> + +<p>A man came running down the deck, followed by all +the skippers and mates. As he halted before Mr. Mizzen, +he was evidently the Cook, by the white cook's +cap he wore on his head. He took off his cap and +wiped his forehead with his hand. He was in a state +of mixed alarm and anger.</p> + +<p>"We're lost!" he cried, and actually tore his hair +with his hands. "It's that rascally Cabin-boy! The +dippers is gone! Every last one of them! And the +ship leakin' by the barrelful! Let me get at that +boy once, and I'll learn him! Fryin' on a slow fire +would be too good for him! Swore he'd get even, he +did, and now he's gone and done it! Stole all the +dippers—he's the one that done it, you can bet your last +biscuit! There ain't a dipper left in the ship, and the +water pourin' in by the barrelful! I just found it out, +while them lazy skippers and mates was lying around +doing nothing! Gimme one sea-cook for all the skippers<!-- Page 100 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +on the ocean, that's what I say! Every last +dipper gone! gone! We're lost!"</p> + +<p>Everyone looked around for the Cabin-boy. He +was nowhere to be seen, but his laugh was heard +overhead, and his face was then seen looking down +from the rigging just above.</p> + +<p>"I've d-d-d-done it," he cried, shrieking with laughter. +"I'm even with you n-n-n-n-now! M-m-m-m-mizzen +he l-l-l-learned the parrot to m-m-m-mock me, he +did, and Cook he b-b-b-basted me in the g-g-g-galley +all the t-t-t-t-time, and now I'm e-e-e-even with all of +'em. They ain't g-g-g-going to t-t-t-torment me no +m-m-m-m-more! I stole the dippers and th-th-th-threw +'em overboard, every last one of 'em, and n-n-n-now +you're g-g-g-going to s-s-sink, sink, si-i-<i>ink</i>, d-d-d-down, +down, d-d-d-<i>down</i>, to the bottom of the—bottom of +the s-s-s-<i>sea</i>!"</p> + +<p>He laughed louder than before, and the angry Cook +sprang forward to climb up after him, but just then +the ship gave a violent lurch backwards, nearly upsetting +everyone, and settled down by the stern, so that +that end of the boat was completely under water.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda screamed. Toby and Mr. Punch +came to her at once and supported her on each side. +There was a great hubbub. Everyone tried to speak +at once. Freddie felt his hand grasped in the strong +hand of Mr. Toby, and he began to feel somewhat +less afraid. Over the hubbub could be heard the Cabin-boy's +wild laugh.</p> + +<p>"Everybody quiet!" shouted Mr. Mizzen. "We +must think what we had better do."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," cried a number of voices. "What are +we going to do?"</p> + +<p>"I wish," said Mr. Mizzen, thoughtfully, "I wish +we had thought to bring a rowboat with us."</p> + +<p>"What!" cried Aunt Amanda. "Do you mean to tell<!-- Page 101 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +me that you came away on this long journey without +an extra boat?"</p> + +<p>"We didn't think of it," said Mr. Mizzen. "We +had plenty of dippers, and we never thought of anybody's +throwing them overboard."</p> + +<p>"No! no!" cried all the skippers and mates together. +"We never thought of that!"</p> + +<p>"Then bring out the life-preservers at once!" said +Aunt Amanda. "And be quick about it!"</p> + +<p>"We haven't any," said Mr. Mizzen. "What would +have been the use of life-preservers if the dippers were +all on board? We never thought we would need +them."</p> + +<p>"No! no!" cried all the skippers and mates together. +"We never thought of that!"</p> + +<p>"Then think of something now," said Aunt Amanda. +"Don't you see the ship's settling deeper in the water?"</p> + +<p>The ship was in fact deeper in the water. It was +sinking rapidly. The deck began to list so much towards +the stern that it was difficult to stand on it. The +ship was making no headway whatever. The breeze +was even lighter than before, and the sails were hanging +limp. It would have taken a stiff wind indeed to +have moved that water-logged boat; and it lay as if +moored to a float, going up and down heavily in the +long swell.</p> + +<p>"Do you—er—think," said the Old Codger with +the Wooden Leg, "that we are in—er—danger?"</p> + +<p>"Danger!" cried Aunt Amanda. "Something must +be done! Are you going to let us drown without turning +a hand?"</p> + +<p>"There's only one thing to do," said Mr. Mizzen, +"and I don't know whether it will work or not; but +we can try it. Boys, bring up all the mattresses from +the cabins, and a coil of rope! Look alive, now!"</p> + +<p>The skippers and mates ran off in great haste and<!-- Page 102 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +disappeared down the hatchways. In a few minutes +they had laid on the deck a great pile of mattresses. +While this was being done, Aunt Amanda, whose bonnet +and shawl had been brought to her by one of the +men, tied her bonnet-strings under her chin and put her +shawl about her shoulders, in readiness for departure.</p> + +<p>"Now then," said Mr. Mizzen, "lash the mattresses +together."</p> + +<p>The men proved themselves very handy with ropes. +With Mr. Mizzen's help, they lashed together securely +a good number of the mattresses, and the first result +of their work was a mattress raft some fifteen feet +square, and some four or five feet thick. A supply +of oil-cloth was found in the store-room, and this was +bound by ropes all over and under and around the raft.</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether it will do," said Mr. Mizzen, +"but anyway there's nothing else that <i>will</i> do. Now, +lads, over the side with her!"</p> + +<p>All the men lent a hand, and the mattress raft was +hoisted over the side and on to the water. To the satisfaction +of everyone, it floated there quietly and easily, +with its top well above the surface of the sea.</p> + +<p>"Lucky it's a smooth sea," said Mr. Mizzen. "We +ought to be pleased with the state of the weather; +couldn't be better; I feel quite joyful about it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you do," said Aunt Amanda. "Well, I don't +feel joyful about it. What next?"</p> + +<p>"Put the provisions aboard," said the Able Seaman; +whereupon some of the men placed on the raft a small +barrel of water and some tins of meat, soup, biscuit, +and other things.</p> + +<p>"If you please," said Mr. Mizzen, when this had +been done, "I think the passengers had better get +aboard. When you're aboard, we'll make another raft +for ourselves. Are you ready?"</p> + +<p>The passengers were helped aboard the raft, one<!-- Page 103 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +after another. Although the raft bobbed up and down +on the swell, it was not a difficult matter for the men +and the boy to get on, for it was held fast against the +side of the ship at a point where it was about even +with the deck-rail. Freddie gave a good spring, and +was on in no time; Mr. Hanlon, who did not seem +in the least uneasy, got aboard with the agility of a +cat; there was no trouble with anyone except Aunt +Amanda, whose lameness impeded her movements a +good deal.</p> + +<p>As the Sly Old Fox, with his high silk hat on his +head, was about to step over the side, he turned and +said:</p> + +<p>"I feel it my duty, Mr. Mizzen, to register a complaint +against the outrageous treatment to which we +are being subjected. I submit under protest, sir; under +protest. If I had for one moment imagined—"</p> + +<p>"Oh bosh," said Toby. "Push him over, Mizzen." +And the Sly Old Fox was in fact somewhat rudely +pushed over on to the raft.</p> + +<p>None of the others made any objection. Mr. Punch, +who usually talked a good deal, was noticeably silent; +and when Toby offered him a hand to help him over, +he said stiffly:</p> + +<p>"Hi thank you sir, but I do not require any hassistance."</p> + +<p>When the Churchwarden took his seat in the middle +of the raft, it went down alarmingly; but nothing +happened, and when the Old Codger with the Wooden +Leg was aboard, the party was complete. All the +others sat around the Churchwarden, as close as they +could huddle. It was evident that the raft would float +them, at least until it should become water-logged, or +a gale of wind should blow. The men on the ship +now let go of the raft, and proceeded to lash together<!-- Page 104 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +the remaining mattresses for themselves. The raft +floated quietly away from the ship.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda's arm was about Freddie. He did +not feel, however, that he needed her protection. He +had already forgotten his first alarm, and he was feeling +most of all what an extraordinary adventure it +was that had befallen him; the men from the ship +would be nearby on the other rafts, the sea was calm, +the air was warm, and they would probably be picked +up by some vessel before the food gave out. He supposed +there were very few boys who had ever sailed +the open sea on a mattress.</p> + +<p>"Well, Freddie," said Mr. Toby, as the raft continued +to float slowly away from the ship, "what do +you think of this, eh? Have you got the map of Correction +Island with you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I have. It's in my pocket."</p> + +<p>"Good! Don't lose it. We may get to the Island +after all, some day; you never can tell. By the way, +Warden, have you got your Odour of Sanctity?"</p> + +<p>"Safe in my pocket," said the Churchwarden. "What +about you? Have you got the Chinaman's head?"</p> + +<p>"What? Me? The Chinaman's head? Oh merciful +fathers! I clean forgot it!" cried Toby. "Blamed if +I didn't leave it in my room on the ship! Never +thought about it once! If that don't beat all! What'll +we do? We can't get back! We're floating away! +Great jumping Joan! What'll we do?"</p> + +<p>"Well!" gasped Aunt Amanda. "Won't you never +get a head on your shoulders, you Toby Littleback? +Can't you never remember anything? I declare, Toby +Littleback, you are the most addlepated, exasperating,—Oh +dear, we'd better hail the ship, quick!"</p> + +<p>The party on the raft set up a loud cry, which was +answered from the ship.</p> + +<p>"The Chinaman's head!" shouted Toby. "On the<!-- Page 105 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +dresser in my cabin! I forgot it! Run and get it! +Quick! We're floating away!"</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir!" came a voice from the ship.</p> + +<p>The company on the raft waited anxiously. In a +very few moments, which seemed like a great many, +a hail came from the side of the ship, and they could +see the Cabin-boy standing at a point of the deck +where it was now sloped high out of the water, and +he was holding the Chinaman's head aloft in both +hands, as if about to throw it towards the raft.</p> + +<p>"Don't throw it!" shouted Toby. "Tie a rope to +it first!"</p> + +<p>But he was too late. The Cabin-boy raised the +Chinaman's head higher, swinging his body sideways, +and as a dark figure came up behind him and tried +to seize his arm, he gave a mighty heave and toss, and +sent the Chinaman's head flying through the air in the +direction of the raft.</p> + +<p>For a second it glistened in the moonlight. In another +second it descended towards the raft, and almost +reached it; but not quite; it came down within five +feet of it, and fell like a shot plump into the ocean. +It splashed, and that was all. The Chinaman's head +was gone.</p> + +<p>A wail went up from the company on the raft at +this terrible disaster. How terrible it really was they +did not even yet understand, but they were soon to +learn. Freddie was almost ready to burst into tears. +Aunt Amanda was so exasperated that she could scarcely +speak. The others seemed to be stupefied.</p> + +<p>"Oh! oh! oh!" cried Aunt Amanda. "You Toby, +you! Now you've done it for good. Why, why, <i>why</i> +can't you never remember anything? It's your fault, +and don't you never try to lay it to that Cabin-boy! +And now what'll we do if we ever get separated from +Mr. Mizzen? How'll we ever call him up to help<!-- Page 106 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +us out of trouble if we get into it? Here's a pretty +kettle of fish, now ain't it? I hope and pray we can +stick close to Mr. Mizzen until we're all safe and—"</p> + +<p>"Look there!" cried Mr. Punch. "Bless me heyes, +what do I see? Look at the ship!"</p> + +<p>It was high time to look at the ship. No sooner +had the Chinaman's head disappeared into the depths +of the ocean, than a change began to come over the +ship. It grew paler and thinner in the moonlight. The +green shutters along the side faded away one by one. +The dark hull became lighter; the sails grew so thin +that at last the watchers could see the stars shining +through them. The whole ship seemed to waver and +dissolve into a pale mist. It did not sink; no, the bow +was still high out of the water, and all the masts +and sails were visible. It simply faded away where it +stood.</p> + +<p>As it was becoming more and more vague, the voice +of Marmaduke the parrot came across the water out +of the rigging; a far-away voice, which grew fainter +and fainter as the ship grew dimmer, until it died away +as if in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Th-th-th-three ch-ch-cheers!" it said. "Th-th-th-three +ch-ch-cheers for l-l-l-l-liver and onions—th-th-three +ch-ch-cheers—l-l-l-liver—and—"</p> + +<p>As Marmaduke's voice died away, the ship dissolved +like a pale ghost and vanished. The Sieve +was gone.</p> + +<p>The party of adventurers sat on their mattress raft +in the midst of the wide ocean, with never a ship to +be seen; the long sea-swell rolled placidly over the +place where their ship had been. They sat huddled +together in silence around the Churchwarden, too horrified +to speak a word.</p> + +<p>The moon glistened on the Sly Old Codger's high +silk hat.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 107 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE CRUISE OF THE MATTRESSES</h3> + +<p>"I wish," said Aunt Amanda, "that I had brought +some sewing with me. I don't suppose I could +sew very well by moonlight on a mattress in +the middle of the ocean, but I don't believe this would +have happened if I'd had my sewing with me."</p> + +<p>"Hi carn't see 'ow that would 'ave—" began Mr. +Punch.</p> + +<p>"Now look here," said Toby. "We've got to sit +in the middle of this here raft, or else she'll tilt over. +Why don't you sit in the middle, Warden?"</p> + +<p>"I <i>am</i> sitting in the middle," said the Churchwarden. +"I wonder what the Vestry would say if they +could—"</p> + +<p>"I wish it distinctly understood," said the Sly Old +Fox, "that I am here under protest. If I had for one +moment imagined—"</p> + +<p>"Now listen to me," said Aunt Amanda. "There's +got to be a captain of this expedition, and as there's +nobody here but a lot of helpless men-creatures, I +suppose I've got to be the captain myself. All those +in favor say aye. I'm elected. That's done. Warden, +sit a little bit over to the right."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir; ay, ay, ma'am; certainly," said the +Warden.</p> + +<p>"Now everybody sit up close to the Warden," said +Aunt Amanda. "There. Is the raft balanced now?"<!-- Page 108 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir," said the Churchwarden. "I mean, +ay, ay, ma'am."</p> + +<p>"Then my orders as captain is, to sit still and see +what's going to happen."</p> + +<p>Nothing happened. Freddie grew sleepy, and leaned +his head against Aunt Amanda's shoulder. As he was +falling off to sleep, a slim dark object rose from the +sea near by and whirred across the ocean and plopped +into the water.</p> + +<p>"Bless me heyes," said Mr. Punch, "hit's a flying-fish, +as ever was."</p> + +<p>"Is it, really?" said Freddie. "Did he really fly?"</p> + +<p>"How wonderful is nature!" said the Sly Old Codger. +"Such an opportunity to improve the mind! My +little friend, I trust you will profit by what you have +seen. It is very educational; very educational indeed."</p> + +<p>"Ahem!" said the Old Codger with the Wooden +Leg. "What do you suppose—er—ahem!—if you +will pardon me—what are those little things sparkling +out there on the surface of the water?"</p> + +<p>"Hit's a school of sardines!" said Mr. Punch. "Hi +know them wery well; when I was a lad—"</p> + +<p>"There must be millions of them," said Freddie. +"Just look!"</p> + +<p>The tiny fish were leaping by thousands on the +surface of the water, immediately in the path of moonlight; +and they flashed and sparkled as they leaped.</p> + +<p>"Hi believe there's a great fish arfter them," said +Mr. Punch.</p> + +<p>"Maybe a whole regiment of big fish," said Toby. +"By crackey, there's one now!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, a black fin cut the water near the +sardines, and they became more agitated than ever; +from the size of the fin, it must have been a very great +fish indeed; and along the upper edge of the fin was<!-- Page 109 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +a row of long sharp saw-teeth, looking big and strong +enough to have sawed through a wooden plank.</p> + +<p>"There's another one!" cried Freddie.</p> + +<p>"And another! and another!" cried Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>There must have been five or six of the great fish.</p> + +<p>"I hope they won't come near this boat," said Toby. +"One of 'em would just about turn us upside down +if he struck us."</p> + +<p>"Mercy!" said Aunt Amanda. "Don't say such a +terrible thing."</p> + +<p>At that moment a great round black back appeared +above the surface of the water, some hundred yards +or so away, and in another moment a great black blunt +head joined itself to the back, and a spout of white +vapor rose from the head.</p> + +<p>"A whale!" cried several voices at once.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Aunt Amanda. "Suppose he should +come this way?"</p> + +<p>The five or six fins of the great fish near the sardines +now disappeared. The whale threw up his enormous +tail, and went down head first beneath the water. +Almost immediately, one of the saw-toothed fins reappeared, +much nearer the raft than before.</p> + +<p>"Merciful heavens!" cried Aunt Amanda. "He's +coming towards us! Oh dear!"</p> + +<p>The great fish was in fact evidently making straight +towards the raft. Freddie clutched Aunt Amanda's +arm. The fin cut the water at a high speed; it disappeared +at times, but on each reappearance it was +still pointed towards the raft.</p> + +<p>"He's nearly on us!" cried Aunt Amanda. "Hold +on tight, Freddie!"</p> + +<p>The great fish came on with a rush, and as he +reached the raft struck it with his back and slid under +it. There was a tremendous bump, which nearly sent<!-- Page 110 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +the company flat; then there was a rubbing under the +raft, and everything was quiet again.</p> + +<p>"He's gone," said Toby.</p> + +<p>"No, 'e isn't," said Mr. Punch. "Look at 'is tail!"</p> + +<p>A great tail could be seen beyond the edge of the +raft, just below the surface of the water. It thrashed +about and churned up the water violently for a few +seconds, and then waved back and forth quietly; but +it did not disappear.</p> + +<p>"By crackey," said Toby, "he's stuck! His fin has +got stuck into the bottom of the raft! He's got the +whole kit and bilin' of us on his back!"</p> + +<p>"Mercy on us!" said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"Is it really true?" said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"On due consideration," said the Churchwarden, "I +think Toby's right."</p> + +<p>"Hi believe 'e is!" said Mr. Punch. "Blimy if I +ever rode on the back of a fish before! Now 'e's got +us on 'is back, what's 'e going to do with us?"</p> + +<p>"We're moving!" cried Freddie.</p> + +<p>"So we are!" said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"Blamed if we ain't," said Toby.</p> + +<p>The mattress craft was in fact moving; very slowly, +indeed, but still moving; and it was moving in the +opposite direction to the fish's tail, which could be seen +now and then under the water, waving back and forth +like the tail of a swimming fish.</p> + +<p>"If this don't beat all," said Toby. "That fish down +there has certainly got his fin hooked into our mattress, +and he's swimming along with us on top of him. +I've seen a snail crawlin' with his shell on top of him, +but a fish with a load of mattresses and live-stock is +a new thing to me!"</p> + +<p>"I'm the captain," said Aunt Amanda, "and my +orders is to sit as still as you can and see where he's +taking us to."<!-- Page 111 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, sir," said the Churchwarden. "I mean, +ay, ay, ma'am."</p> + +<p>The party huddled on top of the mattresses sat +as still as mice, hardly daring to breathe. Their little +craft continued to move gently through the water. +They expected each moment that the fish would free +himself, but evidently his fin had embedded itself so +firmly in one of the bottom mattresses that he could +not get loose; he went on swimming with his load +on his back.</p> + +<p>Hour after hour they waited to feel their craft stop; +but hour after hour it moved gently and slowly across +the surface of the sea. They settled themselves more +comfortably against each other, and spoke very little. +No one noticed that their raft was now much lower +in the water.</p> + +<p>The air was warm, the moonlight and the silence +were extremely soothing, and the motion of the raft +was gentle and languorous. Freddie's head sank +against Aunt Amanda's shoulder, and his eyes closed; +and in another moment he was asleep. Aunt Amanda +herself nodded, and her eyes closed; she was asleep +too. Toby yawned, and leaned heavily against the Sly +Old Codger; his eyes closed, and—in short, every eye +closed, and every frame relaxed heavily against its +neighbor, and at last, doubled over in a closely huddled +group in the exact center of their mattresses, the +whole party slept; each and every one.</p> + +<p>The raft went on steadily and quietly through the +water, the moon glittered on the sea, the raft settled +deeper and deeper, and there was absolute silence on +the ocean, except for a slight groan which came regularly +and gently from the nose of the Churchwarden.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 112 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>A FALL IN THE DARK</h3> + +<p>Freddie was the first to be awake in the +morning. He was cramped and stiff. He +sat up straight, rubbed his eyes, and stretched +his arms. He looked abroad, and the sight which +met him caused him to grasp Aunt Amanda's hand +in excitement.</p> + +<p>"Land!" he cried, so loud that everyone awoke.</p> + +<p>"Blamed if it ain't," said Toby, and put on his +white derby hat, considering that he had thereby +dressed himself for the day.</p> + +<p>All the others sat bolt upright, and stared across +the smooth blue sea, sparkling in the sunlight.</p> + +<p>Not more than a quarter of a mile away rose a +tall black cliff straight up out of the water. It stretched +away on either hand for miles and miles, and came +to an end in the ocean at the right hand and the left, +so that it was probably the side of an island. The +sea rolled up and down at the foot of the cliff, making +a beautiful white splash against the rocks.</p> + +<p>"But how on earth," said Aunt Amanda, "are we +ever to get ashore on such a place as that?"</p> + +<p>"We're moving towards it," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Blamed if we ain't," said Toby. "We'll soon know +whether we can get ashore or not."</p> + +<p>They moved very slowly, and it was a long time +before they came close enough to the cliff to see what +their chances of a landing might be. They floated at +last within two or three hundred yards of the cliff.<!-- Page 113 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +It was very dangerous looking; the waves rolled over +huge black rocks at its foot and broke in white foam +against its side; it seemed the last place in the world +for a landing.</p> + +<p>A great swell rolled in from the sea and brought +them nearer the breakers.</p> + +<p>"My word!" cried Mr. Punch, excitedly. "There's +a harch!"</p> + +<p>"A what?" said Toby.</p> + +<p>"See!" said Aunt Amanda. "There's a little archway +in the rock, like the mouth of a cave, over there +to the right! Don't you see? With the water pouring +in! Over there!"</p> + +<p>It was true. There was an archway, like the mouth +of a cave; and into this the water was streaming in a +strong current, making a kind of passage-way, more +or less smooth, through the breakers.</p> + +<p>"Yes!" said Freddie. "And I believe we're headed +towards it!"</p> + +<p>Their course changed a little to the right, as if the +fish who was piloting them had now taken a correct +bearing. They found themselves in a passage through +the breakers where the water swirled in towards the +arch. They were caught in this current and were swept +to a point close under the towering black rocks, and +in another moment they were directly before the opening. +The current seized the raft as if with strong +hands and drew it in.</p> + +<p>They were in a cavern, narrow and high, whose interior +was lost in darkness. The current carried them +onward into the dark. The roar of the breakers +suddenly ceased, and as they looked behind them the +archway was no more than a speck of light. Their +raft turned slightly to the left, and at that moment +the speck of light disappeared, as if they had turned<!-- Page 114 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +a corner; and the darkness became so black that no +one could see even the person sitting next to him.</p> + +<p>"I wonder," said Toby, "if there are any matches +and candles on board this boat. I'm going to see."</p> + +<p>He was silent for a while, and it was evident from +the tilting of the raft that he had moved his position. +Finally he said "Ah!" and a match spluttered and +went out in the breeze which was blowing past them; +but after it went out there remained a glimmer, and +Toby was holding up a lighted candle, and shielding it +from the draught with his hand.</p> + +<p>"Found 'em in the tin with the biscuits," said Toby.</p> + +<p>He held the candle on high so that its little beam +searched out the darkness in front and on both sides.</p> + +<p>They were in a narrow passage-way. On each side +was a wall of solid rock, not ten feet beyond the edge +of the raft. How high the wall was they could not +tell, for it was lost in the darkness overhead. They +were slipping along a narrow alley-way of water. +Toby held the candle higher, and everyone peered into +the darkness ahead; but it was impossible to see more +than a few yards.</p> + +<p>"I wish it distinctly understood," said the Sly Old +Codger, "that I am here under—"</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Aunt Amanda, "my orders as +captain is, to say nothing and wait and see what will +happen."</p> + +<p>The raft turned a corner to the right, and slipped on +silently in that direction for a long distance, probably +for more than a mile. Then the raft turned again, this +time to the left; and after about ten minutes longer +Toby suddenly said, "S-sh! What's that?" They +all listened, and heard afar off a sound as of rushing +water, very faint, but unmistakable.</p> + +<p>"Er—excuse me," said the Old Codger with the<!-- Page 115 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +Wooden Leg. "Do you think—ahem!—there is any—er—<i>danger</i>?"</p> + +<p>"I don't like it," said Aunt Amanda. "I don't +think it's safe in here."</p> + +<p>"I think we are lower in the water," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"So we are," said Toby. "The water's coming up +over the top now, and if we don't get on dry land +soon, we'll all be sitting in a puddle."</p> + +<p>In spite of its being water-logged and lower in +the water, the raft was beginning to go faster, for the +current had suddenly become swifter. The wind blew +stronger; it swept through the narrow passage-way +so briskly that Toby put his hat over the candle; but +he was too late; the light wavered and went out. +A groan went up from the company.</p> + +<p>"I can hear that rushing sound plainer," said Aunt +Amanda.</p> + +<p>"Hit's wery like a water-fall," said Mr. Punch.</p> + +<p>"I wish it understood," said the Sly Old Fox, "distinctly +understood, that I am here under protest. If +I had ever for one moment imagined—"</p> + +<p>"O-o-oh!" screamed Aunt Amanda. "We're going—faster—o-o-oh!"</p> + +<p>She threw her arm around Freddie and held him +tight. The current suddenly became swifter; the raft, +almost under water, was leaping forward at a frightful +speed. Directly ahead of them, growing louder +and louder, was the roar of rushing water.</p> + +<p>"Hold—on—tight, Freddie!" cried Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"We'll all be done for," shouted Toby, "in another—minute, +I reckon,—hold—on—tight!"</p> + +<p>As Toby said this, the raft almost galloped. The +roar of falling water burst on them from close ahead. +The raft seemed to rise up and then to sink down. +Its nose slanted downward. The roar of falling +water was all about them. Aunt Amanda screamed,<!-- Page 116 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +but no one could hear her. The raft paused and +teetered for an instant; then it pointed downward, +almost straight, and the whole party, the raft, and +the fish under the raft, plunged downward through +the darkness on a cascade of tumbling water; down, +down, down; the raft shot from under and the passengers +shot off; in a twinkling they were going down +the water-fall on their backs. Would they never +reach the bottom? There did not seem to be any +bottom; but—</p> + +<p>In another moment, there were Aunt Amanda and +Freddie (her arm still about him) standing on their +feet in about twenty-four inches of quiet water on a +solid bottom. Dark forms appeared, one after another, +beside them, and almost at once all the party +were standing together in a group, in about two feet +of quiet water, on a solid bottom.</p> + +<p>"I fear," said the voice of the Sly Old Codger, +"that I have lost my hat."</p> + +<p>They could see that they were in a great chamber, +whose walls they could make out dimly on each side. +They could not see the top of the water-fall, but +they could see its lower part very plainly. Through +the tumbling water of the fall, near the bottom, sunlight +was shining. Behind the water was an opening +some six feet high, and as the water fell across this +opening the sunlight from without shone through it, +making it glow with green and sparkle with white. +The water-fall hung over this opening like a curtain.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Aunt Amanda, "I'm pretty near +drowned, and my clothes are a sight to behold. But +I'm the captain of this expedition, and my orders is, +that we go ashore."</p> + +<p>The water proved to be shallow all about them, and +they waded to a strip of dry ground beside the +wall which rose at their left as they faced the fall.<!-- Page 117 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +Aunt Amanda, whose cane was gone, was assisted +by Mr. Toby and Mr. Punch.</p> + +<p>"Blamed if my hat ain't gone too," said Toby. +"She was a good hat, I'll have to say that for her."</p> + +<p>The party walked along the edge of the water, and +came to the end wall of the chamber, opposite the +fall. There lay the wreck of the raft, with the tail +of the great fish sticking out from beneath.</p> + +<p>"I fear," said the Sly Old Codger, "that the faithful +creature has departed this life."</p> + +<p>"He's dead as a doornail," said Toby.</p> + +<p>"Poor thing," said Aunt Amanda. "Anyway, my +orders is to explore this cavern, and see what we +can find."</p> + +<p>At this end of the cavern the water was slipping +away under the wall, and this outlet explained why +the water inside remained so shallow. The party commented +on it, and then walked along the side wall +towards the other end where the fall was. When they +were midway along this wall, a cry from Toby, who +had left Aunt Amanda to the care of Mr. Punch, +startled the others.</p> + +<p>"What's this?" he cried. "Look here!"</p> + +<p>He was stooping over something, and as the others +gathered round, they saw that he was stooping over +a pile of small square boxes, standing in several long +rows along the wall.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hanlon lifted one of the boxes, with a great +effort, and shook it. A jingling sound came from +within.</p> + +<p>"Aha!" said the Sly Old Fox. "That beautiful +music! It is the sound, dear friends, the sound of—of +Money!"</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul!" cried Aunt Amanda. "Is it?"</p> + +<p>"My opinion is," said the Churchwarden, "that +there is gold in that box."<!-- Page 118 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then open it!" said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hanlon shook his head. The box was locked +tight, and it was bound with iron bands. All the +boxes were locked, and they were all bound with iron +bands.</p> + +<p>"Come along this way," said Toby. "There's +something more here."</p> + +<p>Further along the wall, leaning against it, was a +row of large coffee-sacks, each bound around the +mouth by strong twine. One of these sacks Mr. Hanlon +quickly opened. He tilted it over and poured out +its contents on the ground. The party of onlookers +gasped with astonishment.</p> + +<p>From the mouth of the bag fell pearl necklaces; +diamond rings; ruby rings; emerald rings; all kinds +of rings; gold bracelets and chains; silver forks and +spoons; gold toothpicks; gold cups; silver vases; and +a great variety of other things of the same sort.</p> + +<p>It was a moment or two before anyone spoke. Then +the Churchwarden said, "It's my opinion that this is +pirates' treasure."</p> + +<p>"Mercy on us!" said Aunt Amanda. "And they may +be in here on us any minute!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Hanlon opened others of the bags. Each was +filled with rare and costly articles of gold, silver, and +precious stones.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it's really pirates?" said Freddie, in +an awed whisper.</p> + +<p>"Not a doubt of it!" said Toby, in a voice much +lower than before. "Look at this!"</p> + +<p>He pointed to a placard on the wall above the sacks. +The light was almost too dim for reading, but the writing +on the placard was very large, and Toby, by standing +on one of the bags, was able to make it out. He +read it aloud.<!-- Page 119 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> + +<p> +"Beware! Hands Off! Whoever Shall Touch<br /> +it He Shall Die by the Hand of Lingo!<br /> +With a Knife in the Throat! Long Live<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">King James and the Jolly Roger!"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"There a skull and cross-bones under it," said Toby. +"Pirates, as sure as you're born."</p> + +<p>"We'd better be getting away from here," said Aunt +Amanda.</p> + +<p>"Better not speak so loud," said Toby. "How are +we to——?"</p> + +<p>"S-sh!" said the Old Codger with the Wooden Leg, +in a frightened whisper. "Excuse me—look—I saw +something under the water-fall. What's that?"</p> + +<p>"Stand close back against the wall," whispered Toby, +"and don't speak a word."</p> + +<p>They crowded back against the wall, alongside of +the treasure, and looked towards the water-fall.</p> + +<p>A dark object was rising from the shallow water at +the foot of the fall. As they watched, another dark +object appeared to come through from under the fall +and apparently from behind it; and this object rose also +from the shallow water near the foot of the fall, and +took its place beside the other. One after another, five +more of these dark objects came from under the fall +and apparently from behind it, and stood upright in +the shallow water.</p> + +<p>There were now seven in all. They moved in a group +towards the shore. Each of them had two legs, and +each was muffled from top to toe in a single loose garment +with baggy legs; they walked somewhat like a +company of bears. They stood on the dry ground, +and one of them proceeded to take off the loose garment +with which he was muffled, while the others assisted +him with evident deference.</p> + +<p>First came off a close hood which covered his head, +cheeks, and neck. As the watchers by the wall saw his<!-- Page 120 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +head, they held their breath in terror, and Aunt +Amanda clutched Freddie's arm. Around the head +was a tight-fitting kerchief, knotted behind; in his ears +were great round ear-rings; and gripped between his +teeth was a long pointed knife.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda gave a sign as if she was about to +scream, but Toby quickly put his hand over her mouth.</p> + +<p>As the man with the ear-rings got himself out of the +legs of his loose garment, the party by the wall saw +that he was a short and burly man, of a ferocious +aspect. In a sash which he wore was stuck on one side +a cutlass, and on the other a long pistol. He wore no +coat, and his shirt was open at the throat. His arms +showed from the elbows down, and they were thick +with muscles. His trousers were knee breeches, buckled +just below the knee, and he was very bow-legged; his +calves were big and knotted.</p> + +<p>When his outer covering had been removed, it was +plain that he was perfectly dry from head to foot, +except for water on his face and hands; and while the +others were taking off their coverings, he withdrew +with one hand the knife from between his teeth, and +with the other hand wiped the water from his eyes and +face. He then stuck the knife in his sash, waved his +hands somewhat daintily in the air as if to dry them, +took from his breeches pocket a large white handkerchief, +completed with this handkerchief the drying of +his face and hands, examined his finger-nails carefully, +blew on them, and proceeded to polish them delicately +with his pocket-handkerchief, at the same time swearing +two dreadful oaths, in a low tone of voice, at the six +men who were struggling with their coverings. When +these had been removed, the six appeared in much the +same style of dress as the first, and each bore a cutlass +and a pistol; but their clothing was much ruder than +his, and they had no ear-rings; instead of sashes they +wore leather belts.<!-- Page 121 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Kerchoo!" rang out a sneeze as sharp as a pistol-shot, +from the party by the wall.</p> + +<p>"Dear me," said the Sly Old Codger, out loud, "I +do believe I'm catching cold."</p> + +<p>At the sudden discharge of the sneeze, the seven men +jumped as if they had in fact been shot. Each one +snatched out his cutlass with his right hand and his +pistol with his left, and faced in the direction of the +sneeze.</p> + +<p>"Confound your cold," whispered Toby fiercely to +the Sly Old Codger, "now we're done for."</p> + +<p>The seven men with their cutlasses and pistols, with +the ear-ringed man in the lead, tiptoed stealthily in the +direction of the sneeze.</p> + +<p>As they came closer to the party who were crouched +against the wall, Aunt Amanda slipped down quietly +to the ground at Toby's feet. The captain of the expedition +had fainted.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 122 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>CAPTAIN LINGO AND A FINE PIECE OF HEAD-WORK</h3> + +<p>The man with the ear-rings muttered something +in a fierce undertone to his six followers. +They spread out behind him in a wide line. +With a stealthy step they came forward noiselessly. +The party by the wall held their breath in terror. +Nearer and nearer came the seven men, still in perfect +silence. They reached the cowering company by the +wall, leveled their pistols at their breasts, held up their +cutlasses ready to strike, and looked at their leader for +the command to kill.</p> + +<p>At this moment the man with the ear-rings observed +the form of Aunt Amanda on the ground. He stooped +down and examined her, and stood up again. Then he +eyed the company of travellers with a hard cold eye, +and spoke deliberately and in a low voice. His manner +of speech was somewhat stilted and precise, and scarcely +what might have been expected of a pirate.</p> + +<p>"The ceremony," said he, "will be deferred for the +moment. I commend you meanwhile to perfect quietness; +one movement, and the consequences may be fatal. +A hint is sufficient. I perceive here a lady in distress. +'Tis a monstrous pity, indeed. I regret that we were +unaware of the presence of a lady; had we known, we +should certainly have taken our measures more fittingly. +I crave your pardon. No one has yet accused Captain +Lingo of rudeness to a lady. Ketch, put up thy cutlass +and go straightway to the pool and wet this pocket-handkerchief. +Be brisk, thou muddle-pated son of a +sea-cook! Haste!"<!-- Page 123 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> + +<p>The man called Ketch jumped as though he had been +stung, and took from Captain Lingo's hand a fine white +cambric handkerchief which the captain had produced +from his breeches pocket, and running to the water +moistened it and returned in great haste.</p> + +<p>While this was going on, the poor captives were able +to examine their chief captor more carefully. They +remarked with surprise the fine quality of the handkerchief +which he had handed to his man, and they were +even more surprised to note the whiteness and fineness +of the linen of his shirt. His breeches were of blue +velvet, and his sash and the kerchief which bound his +head were of crimson silk. On the fingers of each hand +he wore three or four diamond rings, which sparkled +brilliantly in the half-darkness. His stockings were +plainly of silk, and the buckles at his knees and on his +shoes were of polished silver, outlined in diamonds. +His face was hard and cruel, but its unpleasantness may +have been due to a long scar which crossed his mouth +from his right cheek to his chin. When he smiled, as +he did in referring to the lady in distress, the scar gave +to his face a singularly evil expression.</p> + +<p>Taking the wet handkerchief from Ketch's hand, he +knelt beside Aunt Amanda and bathed her face and +wrists, slapping her cheeks and temples smartly now +and then with the handkerchief, and changing her position +so that her head lay lower than her body. After +he had worked over her with much care for a few +moments, Aunt Amanda opened her eyes. She was +staring at the frightful crooked smile of a strange man +with rings in his ears and a kerchief on his head. She +started up, bewildered.</p> + +<p>"Where's Toby? Where am I? Who are you?"</p> + +<p>"Captain Lingo, ma'am," said the strange man, "at +your service."</p> + +<p>"Let me up," said Aunt Amanda. She struggled to +her feet, rejecting the assistance offered by the ear-ring'd<!-- Page 124 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +man, and stood facing him, her bedraggled bonnet +very much over her right ear. "Who are you?" +she said again.</p> + +<p>"Your humble servant, ma'am," said the strange +man, smiling his crooked smile. "Captain Lingo, by +name. A gentleman adventurer of the high seas. +Owner of the treasure which you have discovered here +in our little retreat. Known here on the Spanish Main +as the Scourge of Ships, and loyal servant of his blessed +Majesty King James, whom the saints defend. Your +obedient humble servant to command." He made the +lady a very courtly bow.</p> + +<p>Toby whispered into Freddie's ear. "He can't be +so terrible bad, not with all that polite way of talking. +Don't be afraid. We'll be all right with this pirate. +Who on earth is King James?"</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda was also much relieved by the pirate's +polite address.</p> + +<p>"As long as you are my obedient servant," said she, +"I'll thank you to help us to get out of here as soon +as possible. We didn't want to come in the first place, +and we are in a hurry to get out."</p> + +<p>Captain Lingo laughed heartily. "They are in a +hurry to get out, lads," he said to his companions; and +at this they all laughed uproariously.</p> + +<p>"I don't see anything to laugh at," said Aunt +Amanda. "If we don't get out of here soon, we'll +catch our death of cold."</p> + +<p>This made Captain Lingo laugh more heartily than +before. "Ha! ha! ha! Their death of cold! That +would be a rare fine thing, but a bit too slow, lads, eh?" +And the other six laughed again, so that the walls of +the chamber echoed with their mirth.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by too slow?" said Aunt +Amanda.</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Captain Lingo, "we are a little<!-- Page 125 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +pressed for time. We really could not wait for you to +die of colds."</p> + +<p>"What?" said Aunt Amanda faintly, her feeling of +confidence beginning to ooze away. "Do you mean to +say——?"</p> + +<p>"Madam," said the pirate, seriously, "I will put it +to you plainly. Our treasure, which you have discovered, +has taken a great deal of hard work to accumulate. +We really couldn't bear to lose it. The people +of this island, and a great many other people besides, +have been trying for many years to find it. You have +not only found it, but you have even gone so far as to +open certain of our bags, in spite of the warning posted +above your heads. Now picture to yourselves, dear +madam and gentlemen, what consequences would certainly +ensue if you were to leave—here—ahem!—alive."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" gasped Aunt Amanda. "Leave—here—alive!"</p> + +<p>"All the fruits of our industry would be lost, and +our own safety would be imperilled. You will readily +see that, of course. 'Tis a pity so many will have to +die at once, for it will mess up the place very badly, +and I always endeavor to be neat. But why, <i>why</i> did +so many of you come at once? Couldn't you have +come, say two at a time? It would have made so much +less trouble."</p> + +<p>"Ho!" said Mr. Punch. "Hif we 'ad only stopped +at 'ome, hall of us!"</p> + +<p>"However, I do not wish you to feel too keenly the +trouble you are putting us to; my brave lads will cheerfully +put up with the inconvenience, though I must +confess the amount of blood will be quite unusual, and +so many bodies will be troublesome to bury. I wish it +were possible to have you walk the plank. However, +pray do not bother too much on our account."<!-- Page 126 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We weren't thinking about you at all," said Toby. +"We were thinking about ourselves."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Captain Lingo, in a tone of disappointment. +"I beg your pardon; I misunderstood. At any +rate, we will now prepare for our little ceremony. If +there are any trifling articles of jewelry and the like, +I will be pleased to——"</p> + +<p>"But this boy!" cried Toby. "And this lady! You +don't mean to—you can't mean——"</p> + +<p>"Not for worlds," said Captain Lingo, "would I be +rude to a lady. I trust you will find my conduct +towards the lady beyond reproach. There shall be no +rudeness of any kind. Merely a quick stroke, and all +will be over. No violence, no roughness of any kind; +not a word to offend the most sensitive ears. A single +stroke, and the affair is done. And let me tell you, I +have here with me a Practitioner who is very expert +in this sort of business: our friend Ketch, in fact, who +was so kind as to wet the handkerchief for the lady. +I assure you that you are in great luck to fall into the +hands of such a Practitioner; he will make it as pleasant +for you as possible; one stroke only, I promise you. +With one stroke of a cutlass, he is able to slice off a +head as neatly as you could do it with a broadaxe; +there are very few who can do it with a cutlass, let me +tell you that. Many men have become famous by being +operated on by Ketch. I remember a case—However," +he said, looking about him as if considering something, +and speaking rather to himself than to the others, "it +would be difficult to bury the bodies here, and the light +is not very good. I think, yes, I think it had better +be done outside. You are already wet, and I trust that +another immersion will not inconvenience you too +much. Lads," he said to his six men, "put on the rubber +suits, and help our friends under the fall. Look +alive, now."</p> + +<p>The six men immediately ran to their rubber suits<!-- Page 127 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +and began to put them on. While they were doing this, +Toby put one arm about Freddie and the other about +Aunt Amanda. She lowered her head to his shoulder +for a moment, but she soon raised it, and standing very +erect she said, "Very well, if it must be, it must. It's +easy to see that this bloodthirsty villain means every +word he says; but I ain't going to whimper; I'm the +captain, and I order that everybody keep up his courage, +and wait and see what will happen."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, ma'am," said the Churchwarden.</p> + +<p>"Do you know," whispered the Old Codger with the +Wooden Leg, "I believe that we are in a good deal of—er—danger."</p> + +<p>Freddie put his hand in Toby's, and held it tight. +"You keep close to me if you can," said Toby, squeezing +his hand. "We may be rescued at the last minute; +you never can tell. Don't lose your nerve."</p> + +<p>Freddie was trembling with fear, and the hand which +held Toby's was as cold as ice; but he said nothing; +the others were being brave, and he resolved that he +would be as brave as the rest, up to the very last. He +began to think of his mother and his father, and to +wonder what would become of them if he should be—but +he forced himself not to think of that; he pressed +his lips tight together, and commanded himself to +be brave.</p> + +<p>The six pirates returned, clad in their baggy rubber +suits, and looking very much like bears walking on +their hind legs. They brought with them Captain +Lingo's suit, and helped him to get into it. When he +was encased like the others, with only his hands and +face showing, he said:</p> + +<p>"Now, madam, I will assist you to the fall."</p> + +<p>"We'll attend to that," put in Toby, quickly. "Come +on, Mr. Punch."</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda's cane having been lost, she found +more difficulty in walking than formerly, but Toby and<!-- Page 128 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +Mr. Punch supported her to such good effect that she +kept up with the others very well on their march into +the water towards the fall. All, except the pirates, +shivered as the cold water came again around their +knees, and they looked with fear upon the tumbling +cataract which they were required to go under. There +was no help for it, however; the seven pirates surrounded +them and persuaded them to go on. They +stood in a forlorn group in the quiet water near the +foot of the fall.</p> + +<p>"Now, madam," said Captain Lingo, "I will help +you under."</p> + +<p>Toby and Mr. Punch, feeling that the pirate knew +the way better than they did, resigned Aunt Amanda to +his care, not without some fear that the villain might +deliberately drown her on the way through. He made +her kneel in the water, and then lie flat; and with a +strong arm he pulled her under the water-fall and out +of sight.</p> + +<p>"You're next," said a deep voice to Freddie, and +Ketch the Practitioner seized him and plunged with +him under the water; and in an instant they had disappeared +beyond the fall.</p> + +<p>One after another the miserable, shivering victims +were assisted by the pirates under the water, and one +by one disappeared. The Old Codger with the Wooden +Leg was the last, and one of the pirates returned for +him. When he had followed the others, the great +half-dark chamber remained as it had been before, in +its empty solitude and gloom, without an ear to hear +the steady rush of water pouring incessantly down its +fall.</p> + +<p>On the outer side of that rushing fall was a scene +very different indeed. The pirates and their captives +stood under a blazing sun, looking across a wide and +beautiful landscape. Behind them, in the side of a high +hill overgrown with bushes, was the hole by which they<!-- Page 129 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +had come forth, and across the inside of this hole was +the curtain of falling water. Freddie wondered how +anyone had ever had the courage to plunge for the +first time through that curtain into the unknown dark. +The heat of the sun was very grateful, and the clothing +of the soaked travellers began to dry perceptibly at +once. The pirates took off their rubber suits.</p> + +<p>Beneath the observers the ground sloped down into +a broad valley, chequered with grass meadows and +dotted with trees. To their left, as they gazed out +across the landscape, the ground rose from the valley +by easy stages to a great height, no doubt forming the +landward side of the black cliff which bordered the +ocean.</p> + +<p>To the right, the country rolled gently away from +the valley in a vast unbroken forest, a shimmering green +ocean of tree-tops as far as the eye could see. Far, far +off where the forest rose in a kind of mound, Freddie +thought he could see what looked like the top of a +round tower, just emerging above the haze of trees.</p> + +<p>The pirates and their captives were standing on a +little grassy plateau, on which were great boulders here +and there, and a few wide leafy trees. Two or three +fallen logs were lying near the edge of the plateau, +where it began to slope downward.</p> + +<p>Captain Lingo stepped out of his rubber suit, spread +out his fine white handkerchief on a boulder to dry, +and twiddled his moist fingers daintily in the air, after +which he blew on his finger-nails and polished them on +his shirt-sleeves.</p> + +<p>"We are now ready," said he, "for the ceremony. +Ketch, thy cutlass."</p> + +<p>Ketch drew his cutlass from his belt and handed it +to the captain. It glittered wickedly in the sunlight. +The captain ran his thumb along its edge, and nodded +his head with satisfaction.</p> + +<p>"It will do," said he. "One stroke for each will be<!-- Page 130 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +quite sufficient. We will now proceed with the ceremony."</p> + +<p>He restored the cutlass to the Practitioner, who +raised it high and gave a swinging slash downward +with it, as if to test his eye and arm. The Practitioner +then rolled his right shirt-sleeve up to his shoulder; he +was the largest man in the party, and his arm was the +arm of a blacksmith.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" cried Mr. Punch. "One moment! Captain +Lingo! You are a Henglishman, aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"I am an Englishman," said the Captain, swelling +out his chest. "Long live King James!"</p> + +<p>"Hi am a Henglishman also," said Mr. Punch, +swelling out <i>his</i> chest. "You carn't murder a fellow-countryman +in cold blood, now can you? Hi s'y, you +couldn't do that, you know. We're both subjects of +her gracious Majesty, we are. Long live Queen Victoria!"</p> + +<p>"Who?" said Captain Lingo.</p> + +<p>"Queen Victoria!" cried Mr. Punch. "She'd never, +never forgive you hif——"</p> + +<p>"Never heard of her," said Captain Lingo calmly. +"I'm a loyal subject of his Catholic Majesty King +James the Second,—may all the saints defend him!"</p> + +<p>"King James the Second!" cried Mr. Punch. "Why, +'e's been dead these two 'undred year, nearly! 'E's +as dead as Christopher Columbus!"</p> + +<p>Captain Lingo started violently, and his face became +dark with anger.</p> + +<p>"Dead? King James dead? Do you mark that, +lads? He calls his blessed Majesty dead! Aha! thou +renegade Englishman, thou hast imagined the death +of the king! A felony, by St. George! And the +punishment is death! What, thou reprobate, dost thou +not know 'tis a felony, punishable by death, to imagine +the death of the King?"<!-- Page 131 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But 'e <i>is</i> dead. One carn't live two 'undred years, +you know."</p> + +<p>"You hear!" said Captain Lingo, his voice quivering +with rage. "He imagines the death of the King! Any +judge in the kingdom would sentence him to die for +that! 'Tis the law! But enough talk. Captain Lingo +is not the man to stand by and see the law defied! For +that, my pretty Englishman, thou shalt die the death +twice over. There shall be violence in thy case. Thou +shalt wish thou hadst never been born. Thou shalt be +kept for the last. Ay, ay; there shall be fine sport at +his taking off, eh, lads? Enough! Proceed with the +ceremony. To imagine the death of the King! Ketch, +art thou ready?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, Captain," said the Practitioner.</p> + +<p>The captain cast his angry eye over the terrified +group shivering in their damp garments. "One of you +must be first. Who shall be first? Let me see." Each +person quailed as the pirate's eye rested on him. "One +moment. We will decide it by chance."</p> + +<p>He plucked seven sprigs of grass, and broke them +into varying lengths. He then held them in his hand +so that only the even ends showed. "Now choose," +said he. "The longest blade shall be first."</p> + +<p>Each drew a blade of grass, except Mr. Punch, who +had already been reserved for the last. "Thou shalt +be quartered alive," said the captain to him. "To dare +imagine the death of the King!"</p> + +<p>Freddie trembled as he drew his sprig of grass; but +he did not draw the longest; the longest blade fell to +Mr. Hanlon, and the next to Freddie. Mr. Toby was +third, the Churchwarden fourth, the Sly Old Codger +fifth, Aunt Amanda sixth, and the Old Codger with +the Wooden Leg seventh.</p> + +<p>"We will use that fallen log," said the captain, and +led the way towards it. He was now very stern; all<!-- Page 132 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +his politeness had been dissipated by the offense of Mr. +Punch.</p> + +<p>"Toby," said Aunt Amanda, as they were moving +towards the place of the ceremony, "I hope you will +excuse me for all the cross words I have ever spoken +to you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, nonsense, Aunt Amanda," said Toby, sniffling +a little, "I've been a trial enough, I know it. What +will become of the shop?"</p> + +<p>"Poor Freddie!" said Aunt Amanda. "It just +breaks my heart to see him so brave. He's so young +to have to—to—And his poor mother! Oh dear, oh +dear!"</p> + +<p>"Now then," said Captain Lingo, "you may sit down +on the grass until your turns come."</p> + +<p>Toby helped Aunt Amanda to sit down. Freddie +sat beside her and pressed his white face against her +shoulder. The others grouped themselves on the grass +about them; all except Mr. Hanlon, who, knowing that +his time had come, stepped forward and stood before +Ketch the Practitioner, who was feeling the edge of +his cutlass.</p> + +<p>One of the pirates produced from his pocket some +strong twine, and bound Mr. Hanlon's arms behind +him. On a sign from Captain Lingo, this man led +Mr. Hanlon to the fallen log, and made him kneel +beside it and rest his head face down upon it, so that +there was a good view from above of the back of +his neck.</p> + +<p>The dreadful moment had arrived.</p> + +<p>Ketch the Practitioner took his place by Mr. Hanlon's +side, planted his feet firmly, wide apart, tucked +in his right shirt-sleeve at the shoulder, and raised +his gleaming cutlass high above his head.</p> + +<p>A scream from Aunt Amanda made him hesitate +for an instant, but only for an instant; as Aunt Amanda +and Freddie closed their eyes and buried their faces in<!-- Page 133 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +their hands, the cutlass flashed twice around the head +of Ketch and came down with a swift and horrible +slash straight upon the back of Mr. Hanlon's neck.</p> + +<p>A single stroke was enough; Mr. Hanlon's head +rolled off upon the ground.</p> + +<p>"Well done, Ketch," said Captain Lingo, quietly. +"I doubt if there's another hand on the Spanish Main +could have done it."</p> + +<p>Ketch blushed with honest pride at these gracious +words. He swung his bloody cutlass in embarrassment. +All the pirates turned towards the pale group +on the grass, and Captain Lingo said, "Next!"</p> + +<p>Freddie stood up. His knees began to tremble +under him, and his heart was beating so fast that +he could hardly breathe. Aunt Amanda flung her +arms about him as he stood beside her, and cried "No, +no, no!" in a voice of anguish.</p> + +<p>All eyes were on the Little Boy, as he stood awaiting +his dreadful fate, with Aunt Amanda's arms about +him. His time had come. His friends were waiting +to see if he would be brave, and though his face was +white his courage did not fail him. He looked at them +in farewell, and each one gave him a tearful gaze +in return.</p> + +<p>He turned his eyes towards the warm and friendly +landscape, for a last look at the world he was about +to leave. It would be hard to go, and he would need +all his strength to bear the—A loud cry from Freddie +startled all the others. "Look!" he cried, and pointed +a shaking finger.</p> + +<p>They looked, and what they saw was Mr. Hanlon.</p> + +<p>By the log on which his head had been cut off, Mr. +Hanlon was standing, his hands behind his back, +and his head in its proper place on his shoulders. +He was smiling and bowing, and as the astonished +spectators gazed at him with their mouths open, +he sprang lightly into the air and clicked his heels +together as he came down.</p> + +<div style="height: 0"> + <a id="image03"></a> +</div> +<div class="figcenter"> + <!-- Page 134 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> + <img src="images/i003.png" alt="Mr. Hanlon was standing by the log on which his head had been cut off." /> + <p class="caption">Mr. Hanlon was standing by the log on which his head had been cut off.</p> +</div><p><!-- Page 135 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Toby in spite of himself. +"Freddie, we've seen that little act before, haven't +we?"</p> + +<p>Freddie nodded. He remembered very well the first +time he had seen Mr. Hanlon's head cut off, at the +Gaunt Street Theatre at home; he wondered that he +had not thought of it before.</p> + +<p>Captain Lingo was plainly very angry. His face +turned a purple hue, and the scar across his mouth +showed very white. He fingered his knife dangerously, +and at the same time glared at Ketch, who +was scratching his head in bewilderment. The captain +did not raise his voice, but he spoke with deadly +earnestness.</p> + +<p>"A fine workman thou, friend Ketch," said he. +"Truly a pretty hand with a cutlass, thou son of a +sea-cook. I've a mind to let a little of thy blood +with this knife, thou scurvy knave. But I will give +thee one more chance. If thou fail again, by St. +George thou shalt die the death. Once more, now! +And remember!"</p> + +<p>It was Ketch's turn now to tremble. He knew +very well that Captain Lingo would do as he had +said, if he should fail a second time. His own life +hung on a thread now.</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, Captain," he said huskily, and led Mr. +Hanlon back to the fallen log and made him kneel +as before.</p> + +<p>As Mr. Hanlon's head lay across the log, he turned +it round towards his friends, and gave them a long +slow wink.</p> + +<p>Ketch's cutlass flashed as before. Round his head it +swung twice, and down it came with a slashing stroke +straight and true on the back of Mr. Hanlon's neck. +Off rolled Mr. Hanlon's head upon the ground.<!-- Page 136 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p> + +<p>Everyone watched breathlessly; and Ketch did not +breathe at all.</p> + +<p>For a second Mr. Hanlon's body continued to kneel +headless beside the log. Then the head on the ground +popped like a flash to the neck it belonged to, and +fastened itself accurately there in place. Ketch turned +ghastly pale.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hanlon sprang up, opened his mouth wide in +a soundless laugh, bowed to Captain Lingo, jumped +lightly into the air, and clicked his heels together three +times as he came down.</p> + +<p>Captain Lingo's face was a terrible sight to see. He +gazed steadily at Ketch. The unfortunate Practitioner +was shaking like a leaf. Captain Lingo slowly drew +his knife, and held it behind him in his right hand. +With the other hand he pointed to the ground before +him.</p> + +<p>"Hither, dog," he said, in a quiet, even voice.</p> + +<p>Ketch hesitated, gave a wild look about him, and +advanced slowly towards his captain. When he +reached him, he fell on his knees and held up his +shaking hands.</p> + +<p>"No! no! no! captain," he cried. "Don't do it! +Oh, please don't do it! I done my duty always, and +I ain't never failed before! Remember my poor +old mother, captain! Give me one chance, captain, +just one! Don't kill me! Captain! Captain!"</p> + +<p>The expression on Lingo's face did not change; but +the glitter in his eye became even more murderous +than before. He said not a word, but with his left +hand snatched off the kerchief which bound Ketch's +head, and seized him by the hair; and with his other +hand he brought the knife swiftly around in front and +lowered it to plunge it into Ketch's heart.</p> + +<p>At that moment Aunt Amanda, forgetting her lameness, +struggled to her feet, hobbled to the kneeling<!-- Page 137 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +man, and throwing her body between him and the +knife, shrieked at Captain Lingo.</p> + +<p>"Stop! stop! you bloodthirsty villain! Ain't you +got no shame? What are you going to murder him +for? Ain't he done the best he could? You're a big +bully, that's all you are! You ain't a man at all, +you're a monster! Put up that knife, and take your +hand out of his hair! Ain't you ashamed of yourself?"</p> + +<p>Captain Lingo was taken completely by surprise. His +eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped; he was so astonished +that he took his hand from Ketch's hair and +put up his knife.</p> + +<p>"That's the idea," said Aunt Amanda. "You're +more of a man than I thought. Mr. Ketch, you had +better get up."</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Captain Lingo, making her a bow, +"'tis a bold action and generous. I trust I am able +to respond to it in kind. My duty to you, ma'am; +your obedient humble servant. Ketch, thou white-livered +dog, get up, and thank this lady for thy life."</p> + +<p>Ketch, still pale and trembling, stood up, and seizing +one of Aunt Amanda's hands in both of his, made a +low bow over it and kissed it fervently. By the look +in his eyes it was plain to see that he was from +that moment her devoted slave.</p> + +<p>"Madam and gentlemen," said Captain Lingo, "I +am sorry to inform you that the ceremony is over, until +I can obtain another Practitioner to take the place +of Ketch. I blush with shame when I think how I +boasted of his skill. I hope you will not think I meant +to deceive you. I assure you I am more disappointed +than you can possibly be. I am provoked and disgusted +and irritated; I am annoyed; I can't deny it. +There is nothing to do but to retire to our home in +High Dudgeon."<!-- Page 138 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What's that?" said Aunt Amanda. "Is it a place, +or is it just the way you feel?"</p> + +<p>"Ask me no more," said Captain Lingo, turning +away. "I must confer with my lads about our next +step."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to take us with you?" asked Aunt +Amanda.</p> + +<p>"We shall certainly give ourselves that pleasure, +madam," said the captain, rather stiffly. "Lads, come +with me."</p> + +<p>On a sign from the captain, one of the pirates cut +the twine which bound Mr. Hanlon's hands, and the +restored one joined his friends on the grass. The +seven pirates moved away to a spot some score of yards +apart, where they all sat down on the ground and +engaged at once in animated talk.</p> + +<p>"I conclude," said the Churchwarden, "though I +don't know as I'm right about it, and other people +may have a different opinion, that we're a good deal +better off—"</p> + +<p>"What I say is," said Toby, clapping Freddie on the +shoulder, "what I say is, three cheers for Mr. +Hanlon!"</p> + +<p>"Yes!" said Freddie. "That's just what I said that +day after the theatre!"</p> + +<p>"I wonder," said the Old Codger with the Wooden +Leg, "I wonder if—er—ahem!—if Captain Lingo +has—er—such a thing as a pinch of snuff about him."</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 139 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>HIGH DUDGEON AND LOW DUDGEON</h3> + +<p>The pirate captain and his men rose from the +ground, and Captain Lingo, in his politest +manner, requested his captives to follow him. +The entire party moved down the slope into the valley, +and after a walk of some quarter of a mile entered +a grove of trees. In this grove were tethered +ten handsome mules, of which seven were saddled and +three were laden with packs.</p> + +<p>One of the pack-mules was quickly unladen, a fire +was built, and in ten minutes the hungry guests and +their hosts were making a very good breakfast of +bacon, fried by Mr. Leatherbread, as the captain +called him, one of the pirates to whom the business of +the frying-pan was left by general consent. When +the bacon had been washed down with clear cold water +from a spring near by, and the mule had been packed +again, Freddie and Aunt Amanda were assisted into +the saddles of the two smallest mules, and the captain +mounted into the saddle of the largest.</p> + +<p>"Now look here, Captain Lingo," said Aunt +Amanda, "I want to know where we are going and +all about it. The idea of me sitting here a-straddle +of a mule! And this bonnet simply ruined, and my +dress just about fit to go to the rag-bone man, and +my hair—Look here, Captain Lingo, I ain't going a +step on this mule until you tell me what—"</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, my dear lady," said the captain, "but +I must ask you to put up with my little whims a +short while longer. I beg the pleasure of your society<!-- Page 140 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +upon a little journey; nothing more. I assure +you the country is very interesting. May I not promise +myself the bliss of your approval?" He turned to +the six pirates with a scowl. "Mount the rest of +them, scoundrels!"</p> + +<p>Four of the captives were mounted by the pirates +on the remaining mules, and the procession moved out +of the grove into the open valley.</p> + +<p>Freddie had never ridden a mule before, and he +was delighted. When they entered, as they soon did, +the great forest which they had seen from the plateau, +Freddie was more than ever delighted. After the +blazing sun of the open country, the shade of the forest +was delicious. The trees were huge, and while the +trunks were far apart, their branches made a leafy roof +overhead which was almost unbroken. Flowering +plants grew everywhere; vines climbed the trees; little +streams murmured here and there; and the only sound +which disturbed the repose of the forest was the occasional +screech of a parrot and the occasional chatter +of monkeys. The first time Freddie heard the +sudden scream of a parrot in the stillness he was +thoroughly alarmed, but when he learned what it was, +and saw the flash of the bird's plumage between the +trees, he forgot all about his danger, and for the rest +of the day he gave himself up to the pleasure of watching +for parrots and monkeys among the branches.</p> + +<p>The Sly Old Codger turned in his saddle and said +to Toby, who was riding behind, with Mr. Punch +walking between:</p> + +<p>"A work of nature, my dear friend, a real work +of nature. <i>So</i> beautiful! Parrots and monkeys flitting +about overhead, the primeval forest stretching +its bosky arms above us in all directions—<i>so</i> bosky! +What one might call a real work of nature; so very, +very bosky."</p> + +<p>"Right you are," said Toby. "It puts our Druid<!-- Page 141 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +Hill Park in the shade, that's a fact; makes it take a +back seat and play second fiddle, as sure as you're +born."</p> + +<p>"Hi beg your pardon," said Mr. Punch. "'Ow can +a park sit down and play a fiddle?"</p> + +<p>All day long they moved onward, single file, further +and further into the depths of the forest. At noon +they halted for a luncheon of fried bacon, prepared +by Mr. Leatherbread. The afternoon wore on, and +the forest became gloomier and gloomier about them +as they marched; the silence grew almost terrifying; +and all the pleasure which Freddie had felt in the +morning vanished. Night fell, and the procession entered +a little clearing, and there the pirates made +camp for the night.</p> + +<p>After a supper of fried bacon, prepared by Mr. +Leatherbread, the whole party retired to rest, each on +a mattress of green branches and leaves, covered with +blankets. The night was mild, and when the last +blanket had been made ready the moon rose and tinged +the tops of the trees with silver; and while Freddie +was watching the moon as it climbed higher, he fell +asleep. Aunt Amanda did not go to sleep so soon.</p> + +<p>Ketch the Practitioner had devoted himself very +specially to her in preparing her resting-place. While +he was spreading the branches and blankets for her, +she said to him:</p> + +<p>"Ketch, where are we going?"</p> + +<p>"Not so loud, ma'am," said he. "We are going +to High Dudgeon."</p> + +<p>"High Dudgeon! What's that?"</p> + +<p>"S-sh! When we're disappointed, or disgusted, or +vexed, we always go to our home in High Dudgeon."</p> + +<p>"Is that where you live?"</p> + +<p>"Part of the time, ma'am. Mostly we are away at +sea or on the Island; but when anything goes wrong,<!-- Page 142 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +and we're angry about it, we always go home and +stay there, in High Dudgeon. Yes, ma'am."</p> + +<p>"And what are they going to do with us when they +get us there?"</p> + +<p>"S-sh! You'll be in great danger there. If you +can find any way to escape from there, I advise you—S-sh! +Not another word. Captain Lingo is looking +this way. I must go."</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda did not sleep very well that night.</p> + +<p>In the morning, after a breakfast of fried bacon, +prepared by Mr. Leatherbread, the company resumed +its march.</p> + +<p>At noon, a halt was made beside a spring for rest +and food, and here Mr. Leatherbread prepared a +luncheon of fried bacon.</p> + +<p>In the evening, as the travellers were plodding onward, +Ketch walked for a time at the head of Aunt +Amanda's mule. Aunt Amanda leaned forward and +said to him:</p> + +<p>"Ketch, are we going to have more bacon tonight?"</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am," said he, in a low voice. "We'll have +supper in High Dudgeon. My old mother's the cook +there. You heard me mention her yesterday morning. +I've an idea there'll be pigeon pies for supper. +And mark what I'm saying to you, ma'am." His voice +sank to a whisper. "If you get a pigeon pie for supper, +look careful to see what's inside of it before you +eat it."</p> + +<p>"Mercy on us!" said Aunt Amanda. "Are they +going to poison us?"</p> + +<p>But Ketch slipped away in the gathering darkness, +and said no more.</p> + +<p>They had gone but a few hundred yards further, +when, at the moment when the darkness of night was +making ready to blot out everything, they suddenly +emerged into a round grassy clearing enclosed by the +forest, where the light was better, and over which a<!-- Page 143 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +star or two could be seen glimmering in a pale blue +sky. In the midst of this clearing rose a tower.</p> + +<p>It was a round tower, built of stone; its top came +scarcely to the top of the surrounding trees, and it +was in fact not more than two stories high; it appeared, +with its wide girth, low and squat. Its sides were +pierced here and there with deep and narrow slits, +for windows, and on one side was a heavy oaken door, +with great iron hinges and an iron lock. Through +two or three of the upper slits in the wall glimmered +a light from within. It was otherwise dark and forbidding.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda found Ketch at her mule's head again. +She leaned forward and said to him:</p> + +<p>"Is that High Dudgeon?"</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am. That's Low Dudgeon."</p> + +<p>"Low Dudgeon? What do you mean by Low +Dudgeon?"</p> + +<p>Ketch looked at the tower and shuddered. "I don't +like to talk about it, ma'am. I don't like the place. +It's the place where we used to live long ago, before +we built High Dudgeon. There's none of us wants +to live there now. We haven't lived there since—" +Ketch paused, and shuddered again, and evidently decided +not to go on.</p> + +<p>"There's a light up there," said Aunt Amanda. +"Does anybody live there?"</p> + +<p>"No, ma'am," said Ketch. "Nobody <i>lives</i> there."</p> + +<p>"But there's a light," said Aunt Amanda. "Surely +there must be somebody there."</p> + +<p>"There is, ma'am; there is; thirteen of 'em."</p> + +<p>"Thirteen what?"</p> + +<p>But Ketch only shuddered again, and would say no +more.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda noticed that instead of going straight +onward past the door of Low Dudgeon, the pirates +led the file in a wide course away from it, along the<!-- Page 144 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +edge of the clearing, as if to avoid coming near to +it; and when the procession had thus skirted the clearing +and entered the forest again on the other side, +leaving the low tower behind, a sigh, as if of relief, +went up from Ketch and all the other pirates; except, +however, from Captain Lingo himself, who appeared +to be wholly indifferent.</p> + +<p>"How much further?" said Aunt Amanda to Ketch.</p> + +<p>"About a mile, ma'am," said he.</p> + +<p>The last mile of their journey was a long mile, and +it was traversed in perfect darkness. The moon had +not yet risen. Not a word was spoken, and there was +no sound except the pad of the mules' feet and the +breaking of twigs and branches as the travellers +pushed their way through. The prisoners were in a +state of greater nervousness and anxiety than before, +and as they neared the place where their lives were +to be disposed of in one way or another, their sense +of uncertainty became almost unbearable. When it +seemed that they must be close to the fateful place, +the procession suddenly halted, and at the same instant +the screech of a parrot startled the silence and made +each of the prisoners jump.</p> + +<p>"It's only the captain," said Ketch. "It's a signal."</p> + +<p>Immediately, as if in response, there came from a +distance in advance the note of a cuckoo, three times +repeated. The procession moved forward.</p> + +<p>A moment or two later, the whole company came +forth from the forest under the stars, and stood on the +edge of a wide round clearing, grown high with grass +and weeds. In the midst of this clearing rose a tower.</p> + +<p>"High Dudgeon," said Ketch over his shoulder.</p> + +<p>This also was a round tower, built of stone; but it +was very tall, much taller than the highest trees, and +from the top there must have been a view of all the +surrounding country, even as far as the hill within +which was the treasure cave; from the number of deep<!-- Page 145 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +and narrow slits which served as windows it must have +been six or seven stories high. The top of the tower +was flat, with battlements around the rim. As a fortress, +it seemed to be impregnable; as a dwelling-house, +it was very dismal indeed. It was totally dark. +The captives trembled at the thought of being imprisoned +in such a place.</p> + +<p>The wayfarers proceeded in their single file directly +to the great iron-bound oaken door of the tower, and +those who were mounted got down. Ketch assisted +Aunt Amanda and Freddie to alight, and having done +so he took charge of the mules and led them away.</p> + +<p>Captain Lingo took from his breeches pocket a small +key and unlocked the door.</p> + +<p>"Be so kind as to enter," he said, and made way +for the captives and his men.</p> + +<p>When all were within, including Ketch, who had now +returned, the captain locked the door on the inside and +restored the key to his pocket.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 146 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>THE SOCIETY FOR PIRATICAL RESEARCH</h3> + +<p>They were in a dark and narrow passage-way. +As they stood huddled there together, a candle +glimmered at the end of the passage, held in a +tremulous hand, and lighting up the face of a very +old woman. She advanced towards the party by the +door, and holding her candle high above her head inspected +the strangers with little blinking watery eyes. +She was short and bent; she hobbled as she came forward; +her face was seamed with deep wrinkles, and +the hand which held the candle was knotted and +gnarled; wisps of dirty grey hair hung over her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Aha! Mother Ketch," said Captain Lingo. "I +wager thou didst not expect us so soon. What's in +the larder? We are famished."</p> + +<p>Old Mother Ketch looked at her son, the Practitioner, +and nodded her head at him once or twice, +blinking her eyes. Then she fixed her eyes on Aunt +Amanda, and seemed to forget everybody else.</p> + +<p>"Well? well?" said Captain Lingo, impatiently. +"Art going to keep us here all night? Come, woman! +Speak up directly! What's for supper, eh?"</p> + +<p>Mother Ketch slowly removed her eyes from Aunt +Amanda, and looked at the captain steadily.</p> + +<p>"There's nought but pigeons and mushrooms and—" +said she.</p> + +<p>"Good!" said the captain. "Then we will have +pigeon pies; one for each; and well filled, mind you. +Now haste; be off."<!-- Page 147 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mother Ketch turned and hobbled slowly down the +passage, and the glimmer of her candle disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Follow me," said Captain Lingo.</p> + +<p>The six pirates vanished somewhere in the darkness, +and the others followed Captain Lingo up a +winding stair. At the top was a heavy door, which +he unlocked with his key, and locked again on the inside +after his guests had passed through. He then led +them down a dark passage-way, and turning to the +right unlocked a door with his key and threw it open.</p> + +<p>They were in a large dining-room, on the table of +which were numerous candles, which the captain +lighted. In one wall was an opening for a dumb-waiter +for sending up food from the kitchen below. The +party seated themselves at the table, and after a considerable +time Ketch entered, a napkin on his arm, and +at the same time the dumb-waiter rose from the kitchen, +and the meal commenced.</p> + +<p>Ketch waited on the table. Besides pigeon pies +there were mushrooms, a lettuce salad, hot biscuit, and +excellent coffee. Ketch placed the first pigeon pie before +the captain, and Aunt Amanda noticed that he +examined the top of it carefully as he did so. She observed +that he examined the top of each pie carefully +before he placed it, until he had put one before herself, +after which he put the others about without looking +at them. She examined the top of her own pie +herself, to see what Ketch could have been looking at. +She saw in the center of it a tiny figure made of very +brown dough, and as she looked closer it seemed to +have the shape of a tiny key. She glanced at the other +pies, and none of them bore any mark of this kind.</p> + +<p>Everyone set to with a good will, and Aunt Amanda +opened her pie. She remembered Ketch's caution, and +she prodded it secretly with her fork before taking a +bite. At the bottom her fork touched something hard. +She immediately began to put the contents of her pie<!-- Page 148 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +on her plate, and she did so in such a way as to leave +the hard object beneath the rest. In the course of the +meal, she dropped a portion of the pie to the floor, +and stooped to pick it up. As she did so, she managed +to take the hard object from her plate and conceal +it in her lap. It was a key.</p> + +<p>When the meal was over, the captain led his guests +forth to their respective bedrooms, each carrying a +lighted candle from the table. At the top of a stair +was a closed door, which he unlocked with his key, +and locked after the others had passed through. Along +the passage which ran from this door were doors at +intervals in the walls, and these he opened, one after +another, showing one of his guests each time into a +bedroom and leaving him there. On the stair, Aunt +Amanda had whispered into Toby's ear the words, +"Don't go to bed. Pass it along." And these words +had been passed in a whisper from one to another of +the captives.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda, in her own room, now sat herself +down to wait. She blew out her candle, and sat watching +the shaft of moonlight which came through the +slit that served for a window. She must have fallen +asleep, for she came to herself with a start, and found +the shaft of moonlight gone. She limped to the door, +and found it locked. She took from her dress the +pigeon-pie key and unlocked the door. The passage-way +outside was silent and dark. She felt her way +along the wall to the next door, and found it locked. +She quietly unlocked it with her key. Toby was sitting +within, waiting. He rose without a word, and +followed her. They tiptoed from door to door, finding +each one locked, and silently released each of the +prisoners.</p> + +<p>The key fitted every lock on their way down stairs. +They reached the ground floor without an accident, and +there in the passage which they had first seen they<!-- Page 149 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +stopped to listen. They heard the click of a latch at +the rear; a door there opened quietly on a crack and +a light shone through; every heart stopped beating +for a moment. The door opened wider, and a lighted +candle appeared, and over it the wrinkled face of an +old woman; she peered out into the passage, shading +the candle with a trembling hand; the party of quaking +runaways stood as still as mice, and held their +breath; the old woman blinked for a moment into the +darkness, and blew out her candle. All was dark +again, and the latch of the door clicked.</p> + +<p>The runaways lost no time. They crept silently +but rapidly to the entrance door. Aunt Amanda +unlocked and opened it, and they pressed out hurriedly. +They were standing on the grass in a flood of moonlight.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda, whose lameness had been almost forgotten +in her excitement, now leaned on Toby, who +was holding Freddie's hand, and who led the way to +the rim of the forest where the trail lay. There was +some difficulty in finding the trail, but they did find +it at last, and they filed into the forest. They had +not gone more than twenty yards when Toby, who +was in advance, saw a great black object directly across +their path. He went forward cautiously, in spite of +his alarm, and breathed a sigh of joy when he saw +what it was: it was a mule, saddled and bridled, and +tied to a bush. Further on were other mules, all +tethered; there were ten in all, of which eight were +saddled and two were laden with packs.</p> + +<p>"Blessings on that Ketch," whispered Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>In a moment the entire party were mounted. In +another moment they were going along the trail at a +fast walk. The mules knew the way, and there was +now no danger of going astray in the forest. Only, +where were they to go, after all? If the pirates should +catch them, everything would soon be over. If they<!-- Page 150 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +should manage to elude the pirates, they would still be +lost in the wilderness of this unknown Island. What +was to become of them not one could tell. The future +seemed very dark indeed.</p> + +<p>Once or twice they paused, to listen for sounds of +pursuit; but they heard nothing; not a sound disturbed +the stillness; and the little moonlight which filtered here +and there through the trees seemed to make the darkness +more intense.</p> + +<p>They had gone about half a mile, and were plodding +along in drowsy silence, when suddenly, out of the tall +bushes beside the trail, seven dark figures sprang upon +them and seized the bridles of their mules.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" cried Toby. "We are lost! The pirates!"</p> + +<p>The mules stood stock still.</p> + +<p>"It's no use," said Toby. "We can't escape. They +are armed, and we are not. All right, Captain Lingo, +don't strike; we surrender. We'll go back with you; +don't strike."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," said a voice which none of +them had ever heard before. "Are you pirates?"</p> + +<p>"Ain't you pirates yourselves?" cried Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"What?" said the voice. "Is there a lady here? In +that case, you are probably not pirates. Perhaps we +have been too hasty. I beg your pardon."</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"Do you admit that you are not pirates?" said the +voice.</p> + +<p>"Admit it!" said Aunt Amanda. "We vow and declare +it! The very idea!"</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to hear it," said the voice. "We are +deeply disappointed. We of course cannot doubt the +word of a lady, but we were almost sure we had found +them. We have been searching for pirates for a long +time, and we were advised that they lived somewhere +near here. We must have missed our way. Could<!-- Page 151 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +you perhaps direct us? It is a place called High +Dudgeon."</p> + +<p>"You bet we could," said Toby, "but we won't. We +are running away from there, and you had better run +too."</p> + +<p>"Then perhaps you happen to know the whereabouts +of a place called Low Dudgeon, where the pirates formerly +lived?"</p> + +<p>"We do," said Toby. "You are about half-way now +between High Dudgeon and Low Dudgeon; and you +had better get out of this neighborhood as fast as you +can."</p> + +<p>"This is very interesting," said the voice. "I feel +that you will be able to give us some valuable information. +If you have no objection, we will walk behind +you until we come to a place where there is more light, +when we will have a few minutes' conversation on this +interesting subject."</p> + +<p>The seven dark figures stood aside, and the mules +moved onward. The seven figures walked behind.</p> + +<p>In five minutes they reached a patch of ground where +the moon shone brightly through the trees, and the +riders drew in their animals, and turned to look at the +figures who now marched sedately up beside them. +These figures stood in a row facing the riders, and six +of them turned their heads to the right, looking towards +the first in the row, who was probably their leader.</p> + +<p>They were seven tall men, dressed in black frock +coats and striped trousers, with pearl-gray spats; but +instead of high silk hats each wore a small black skull-cap, +as more convenient, no doubt, for their rough life +in the forest. It could be seen that they were no ordinary +men; they looked like professors at college; +their faces were thoughtful and even intellectual; each +one wore spectacles; they squinted as if from too much +poring over books by lamplight. The one at the head +of the row was fat, with mutton-chop whiskers, and<!-- Page 152 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +his frock coat was buttoned tight over a round stomach. +He spoke in the same voice which they had +heard in the dark.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," said he. "If you will be so +kind as to direct us either to High Dudgeon or to Low +Dudgeon, we will not fail to gratefully acknowledge—"</p> + +<p>"Aha!" said one of the others, in a playful tone. +"A split infinitive, Professor!"</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon. A slight inadvertence. To +acknowledge gratefully your kind—"</p> + +<p>"There's no time to talk now," said Toby. "We are +running away from these bloodthirsty cut-throats, and +if they catch us we are dead, as sure as you're born. +I'll tell you what we will do. We'll all keep on to +Low Dudgeon, and we'll go in there, if we can get in, +and decide there what we had better do. It looked +like a strong tower, and we would certainly be as +safe inside there as out of doors, if the pirates should +come along."</p> + +<p>The Professor looked down the line of his companions. +"What is the sense of the Committee on this +proposal?" said he. "Ah. Very good. We are +agreed. Proceed, my dear sir."</p> + +<p>"One minute," said Aunt Amanda. "Excuse my +asking, but I should like to know who you are, anyway."</p> + +<p>The Professor waved a fat hand towards his companions, +and looking at Aunt Amanda, said:</p> + +<p>"We belong, madam, to the Society for Piratical +Research, under the patronage of his gracious Majesty, +the King of this Island. You behold before you a +committee of that Society; the Committee on Doubtful +and Fabulous Tales, sometimes called for the sake of +brevity, from the initials of its title, the Daft Committee. +As Third Vice-President of the Society for +Piratical Research, I have the honour to be Chairman +of the Daft Committee. The seat of our Society is<!-- Page 153 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +far from here, in the principal city of this kingdom, the +famous City of Towers, blest as the residence of his +gracious Majesty, the most learned and liberal of +princes. Our camp, which we made only late this +evening, lies at no great distance from this spot. We +did not wish to delay our researches until morning, +and so, as Third Vice-President of the Society for +Piratical Research, and Chairman of the Daft Committee, +I—"</p> + +<p>"Much obliged," said Toby. "We've no time to +listen to any more. We must get on."</p> + +<p>The Daft Committee, led by the Third Vice-President, +fell in behind the mules, and the whole party +moved forward, as rapidly as the mules and the committee +could walk.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda felt far from easy at the prospect of +entering Low Dudgeon; but she had told Toby something +of Ketch's strange words and manner regarding +that place, and she was glad to leave the responsibility +to him. Their dark and silent progress through +the forest continued, and when they had gone what +they thought must have been about half a mile, they +knew they must be near their destination. Every eye +was watchful and every ear was alert. A grunt from +Toby in advance notified the others that they had arrived, +and they filed out of the forest into the clearing, +and saw before them the squat tower of Low +Dudgeon in the moonlight.</p> + +<p>The same light as before appeared from within, +through the upper slits in the side of the tower. As +they drew in their mules at the edge of the clearing, the +Daft Committee came up, and the Third Vice-President +spoke in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"I presume," he said, "that this is Low Dudgeon. +I have heard of it, but I have never seen it. It was +formerly, some hundred years ago, the headquarters +of the pirates. But something occurred here, I do<!-- Page 154 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +not know what, which impelled the pirates to move. +They accordingly built themselves a much better residence, +known as High Dudgeon, where I understand +they now live. I do not believe that Low Dudgeon +has been occupied since. Gentlemen," he said, turning +to his companions, "we are fortunate in having found +this interesting place at last, after so much trouble. +It is the very spot in which to begin our researches."</p> + +<p>A murmur of approval arose from the other members +of the committee.</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether it's occupied or not," said +Aunt Amanda. "Ketch told me that no one lives +there, and that there's thirteen of 'em; and he seemed +to be afraid of the place. And there's a light up +there. I don't understand it."</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said the Third Vice-President, "is +it the sense of the committee that we begin our researches +in Low Dudgeon?"</p> + +<p>Every member of the Daft Committee murmured +his assent.</p> + +<p>"If we go into the forest," said Toby, "we may be +caught; if we go in here, we are safe for a while, anyway, +and we can decide there what we had better do; +maybe these gentlemen can send for help. Anyway, +let's get in if we can."</p> + +<p>The riders dismounted from their mules and tied +them to trees; in another moment the whole party +were standing before the door of the tower.</p> + +<p>"Better knock," said Toby.</p> + +<p>They knocked, and knocked again; there was no +answer.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Amanda," said Toby, "try your key."</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda tried the key, and it fitted; she turned +it, and the lock snapped back. Toby thrust open the +door.</p> + +<p>The company entered, and Toby took the key and +locked the door behind them. They were in a dark<!-- Page 155 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +passage, near the foot of a winding stair. "We had +better go up where the light is," said Toby, in a +whisper.</p> + +<p>They went cautiously and noiselessly up the stair +to the landing. There they found themselves in a hall, +and at a little distance down the hall they saw a dim +light shining under a closed door. "There it is," said +Toby. "Come on."</p> + +<p>With the same breathless caution they tiptoed to the +door. It had no lock, and Toby turned the knob and +slowly pushed it open.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Toby, in a frightened gasp, and started +back.</p> + +<p>The others crowded at his back and pushed him +forward. The Third Vice-President of the Society for +Piratical Research brushed past him into the room, and +the other six members followed him. The party of +fugitives moved slowly in after them.</p> + +<p>In the middle of the room was a large round table. +In the center of this table stood some twenty wax +tapers in silver candlesticks, burning brightly; and +seated around the table were thirteen men.</p> + +<p>Not one of these men moved as the party came into +the room. Not a limb nor muscle stirred. The Third +Vice-President coughed aloud. Still none of the men +moved so much as a finger. The whole party came +forward to the table and stood close behind the thirteen +men and examined them. They were dead.</p> + +<p>They were sitting in all positions. Food was before +them, as if they were in the midst of a meal. +Some were leaning across the table as if in conversation. +Some were in the act of cutting meat on their +plates, some in the act of putting forks to their mouths. +Every face was ghastly white, and every eye was fixed +in a vacant stare.</p> + +<p>"See!" said Toby, in a whisper, pointing to their +backs.<!-- Page 156 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span></p> + +<p>From the back of each was sticking the handle of a +knife, the blade of which was buried in the flesh to +the hilt.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda sank on Toby's shoulder for a moment, +but she soon recovered. Freddie grasped Toby's +hand.</p> + +<p>"Look," said Toby. "They must be pirates."</p> + +<p>Each head was bound with a bright-colored kerchief, +and as the horrified company examined the dead men +closer, it was seen that they all wore knee breeches. +A long dagger was sticking upright in the table, just +under the candles. Pinned by this dagger to the table +was a large sheet of white paper, and there was +evidently writing on it.</p> + +<p>The Third Vice-President had apparently little fear +of thirteen dead men; he went directly to the table, +and reaching across between two of the stiff figures +drew the dagger from the table and took from the +dagger's point the sheet of paper. He adjusted his +spectacles, turned his back to the candles so as to obtain +a good light on the paper, and read from it aloud:</p> + +<p>"Thus does Captain Lingo serve All Traitors."</p> + +<p>For a moment there was silence. Then Aunt +Amanda spoke sharply.</p> + +<p>"The wicked villain!" said she. "Thirteen of his +men dead at once, by his own hand! No wonder the +six that are left are afraid of him! No wonder they +don't like this place! Oh the wicked scoundrel! If +I had him here, I declare I would—"</p> + +<p>She paused suddenly and listened. There was a +stealthy creaking on the stairs. It grew more distinct; +then it stopped, and there was silence.</p> + +<p>The thirteen in their chairs made no motion whatever; +but the living turned with one accord towards +the open doorway of the room. They waited with +bated breath. In another moment Captain Lingo +himself was standing in the doorway, a pistol in his<!-- Page 157 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +right hand and a knife in his left. Without a word +he advanced into the room, and behind him came his +six men, shrinking obviously away from the sight of +their thirteen murdered friends.</p> + +<p>As Captain Lingo came to a stand before his recent +prisoners, his eyes blazed, and with his right thumb he +cocked his pistol. Each of his men held a pistol in +his right hand and a cutlass in his left, and each cocked +his pistol with his thumb.</p> + +<p>The Third Vice-President of the Society for Piratical +Research, who seemed in no wise disconcerted, stepped +forward and addressed the pirate.</p> + +<p>"Captain Lingo, I presume?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay; be quick. I must finish this business +quickly."</p> + +<p>"My committee and myself have been long anxious, +sir, in the interest of science, to make your acquaintance. +I rejoice at this opportunity."</p> + +<p>"Oh, indeed," said Captain Lingo, drily.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir; I assure you I am delighted. I believe +I have the pleasure of speaking to a subject of King +James the Second."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay," said Lingo, eyeing him suspiciously. "What +then?"</p> + +<p>"Then the records of our Society are vindicated. +They go back, my dear sir, some two hundred years; +and they contain, from various sources, an unbroken account +of Captain Lingo and his exploits from the time +of James the Second to the present. But the sources of +our information were not always reliable; some doubts +were thrown upon our records by jealous persons outside +the Society; and as it is the special business of the +Committee on Doubtful and Fabulous Tales to look +into such matters, the Committee is here before you +at the present moment in the interest of truth. No +member of our Society has ever seen Captain Lingo, +and the jealous persons I have mentioned pretend<!-- Page 158 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +that no such person has ever existed. The chief mission +of our Committee is to vindicate our records by +a sight of Captain Lingo himself. Thanks to you, sir, +that has now been done. Our next mission is to determine +for our Society this most important question: +are you alive or dead?"</p> + +<p>At this, the captain's brows came together in a terrible +frown; the scar across his cheek and chin turned +very white; and he glared under his eyebrows dangerously +at the complacent Third Vice-President. His +lips parted, showing his white teeth clenched tight together. +He started to speak through his clenched +teeth, and leveled his pistol straight at the Third Vice-President's +breast; but at that moment a cry from the +Churchwarden startled everybody.</p> + +<p>"Bless my soul! Why didn't I never once think of +this before? These men ain't real persons at all! How +could they be, after two hundred years? They're no +better than wicked spirits! That's what they are, +wicked spirits! Why didn't we think of that before? +Aha! my fine friends, I've got a little medicine here +for you! Ha! ha!"</p> + +<p>He drew forth from his back pocket a little perfume +bottle, and waved it over his head.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" he cried. "Hurrah for the Odour of +Sanctity!" And with these words the Churchwarden +uncorked the bottle and sprinkled a few drops of his +perfume on the floor, directly at the feet of Captain +Lingo.</p> + +<p>A sharp odour instantly filled the air; so sharp that +it brought tears to the eyes of everyone. Captain +Lingo and his men stepped quickly backward, but it +was too late. A look of pained surprise crept over +their faces, and remained fixed there. Their feet +stood rooted to the floor, and the hands which held +the cutlasses and pistols stiffened and became rigid. +Not one of them could move an eye-lash. Their outlines<!-- Page 159 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +began to waver; their faces began to be dim +and vague, as if covered with close white veils; from +their outsides inward they slowly faded, melted, dissolved; +nothing remained of any of them but a wraith, +a vapor, a puff of smoke, remotely in the shape of a +human being; and then that also vanished; nothing remained; +the place where they had been was empty.</p> + +<p>All eyes turned to the table where the thirteen murdered +pirates had been sitting. They were gone. Their +chairs were vacant.</p> + +<p>The Churchwarden calmly put the stopper in his +bottle and restored it to his pocket.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" said he. "Nothing like Odour of Sanctity. +Never knew it to fail. No harm to human +persons, but no wicked spirit as ever lived can stand +against it; and a blessed good thing the bottle didn't +break as we came down the water-fall. No perfumery +in this world like Odour of Sanctity!"</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 160 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>A KNOCK AT THE DOOR</h3> + +<p>The Third Vice-President and his fellow-members +of the Daft Committee seated themselves +in the chairs just vacated by the thirteen murdered +pirates. Nothing could have persuaded any of +the others to sit in those dreadful seats; but no feeling +of this sort appeared to disturb the Committee, and +they evidently saw no reason why they should not be +comfortable.</p> + +<p>The Third Vice-President drummed on the table with +his fingers, and frowned to himself in silence. One of +the Committee, taking his skull-cap from his head and +smoothing it thoughtfully with his hand, glanced up +at the Chairman and said:</p> + +<p>"I fear, Professor, that our hopes are dashed. It +is nothing less than disastrous."</p> + +<p>"You are right, my dear sir," said the Chairman. +"It is a terrible misfortune; terrible indeed. And just +when we were on the point of—"</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Toby in astonishment. "Do +you mean to say you are sorry those rascally pirates +are gone?"</p> + +<p>"My dear sir," said the Chairman, very patiently, +"I am finding no fault. I do not wish to blame anyone. +The loss of these pirates to science is one that +can never be compensated. The Society for Piratical +Research is now at an end. There are no other pirates +on this island, and you must see for yourselves that +without pirates our society must perish. It is a +woful—"<!-- Page 161 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I never!" said Aunt Amanda. "Of all +things! Do you dare to sit there and tell me you'd +rather see us all murdered by pirates than—"</p> + +<p>"Be calm, my friends," said the Third Vice-President, +placidly. "I have already said that I do not +wish to find fault. I desire to be generous. It is my +wish. In fact, I forgive you freely. Whatever bitterness +you may have caused us, we are willing to believe +that it was not intentional. The Daft Committee +forgives you; freely. Let us be peaceful. It +only remains to decide what steps we shall take to meet +the future. I submit to you this question: whether we +shall first go to the pirates' home in High Dudgeon, or +return at once to the City of Towers, to confess our +failure and receive our—Hark! I thought I heard a +knock."</p> + +<p>Everyone listened. There was indeed the sound of +knocking, muffled but quite audible. The group standing +about the table looked from one to another in silence. +Was this some new danger? Were there other +pirates to be reckoned with? The Churchwarden put +his hand to his back pocket, to be ready with his bottle.</p> + +<p>"I think it comes from within this room," said the +Third Vice-President.</p> + +<p>All eyes examined the room. The walls were unbroken, +except by window-slits on one side, the open +doorway on another, and on a third a closed door, +which no one had before observed. Toby walked +over to this closed door, and placed his ear against it. +A muffled knock sounded from within.</p> + +<p>Toby nodded his head to the others, and tried the +door. It was locked. "Lend me your key, Aunt +Amanda," said he; and when she had given it to him +he inserted it in the lock and turned it and threw wide +the door. Inside was a dark closet hung with cloaks. +On the floor sat a man.</p> + +<p>Toby stepped back in amazement. The man sat<!-- Page 162 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +motionless, his legs crossed, gazing out into the lighted +room. After a second or two he rose, and stood in +the doorway, rubbing his eyes. He said not a word, +but continued to rub his eyes until they evidently +became used to the light, and gave two or three sniffs, +as if he smelt an odour, and found it far from +agreeable.</p> + +<p>He was a thickset man, dressed in sailor's clothes, +in no way like the clothes the pirates had worn. His +eyes were small and very close together; his nose was +broken and flat; his lower jaw stuck out beyond his +upper; an unpleasant fellow enough, if looks were anything. +In his belt he carried a long knife. His sailor +collar was cut low in front, and his chest was tattooed +in red and blue ink.</p> + +<p>As he hesitated in the doorway, sniffing the air uneasily +and blinking his eyes, the Chairman of the Daft +Committee spoke in his calm voice.</p> + +<p>"Come in, my good sir," said he. "I should like +to take the liberty of asking you a few questions."</p> + +<p>The sailorman walked slowly into the room and +looked about him.</p> + +<p>"What's that there smell in the air?" said he.</p> + +<p>"Nothing only my Odour of Sanctity," said the +Churchwarden.</p> + +<p>"I don't like it," said the sailorman.</p> + +<p>"I can't say that I like it much myself," said the +Third Vice-President, "but it is too faint now to be +disagreeable. Pray be seated, sir." One of the Committee +rose and offered the sailorman his chair. The +sailor sat down and gazed at the Third Vice-President, +who went on with his speech. "You need have no fear, +sir; if Captain Lingo causes you any uneasiness, I may +tell you that he is gone, never to return; and all his +men with him; even the thirteen dead men who were +sitting in these chairs until a few minutes ago."<!-- Page 163 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What!" said the sailor. "Has them thirteen men +been a-sitting here all these years?"</p> + +<p>"My dear sir," said the Third Vice-President, "I assure +you we saw them with our own eyes. But you will +perhaps be kind enough to tell us who you are, and +how you came to be locked up in that closet."</p> + +<p>"Humph!" said the sailor, hesitating. "I don't +know who you are, nor what you're doing in this here +place. However, if Lingo's gone, and—Oh well, I +might as well tell you. By the looks of you, I ain't got +much cause to be afraid."</p> + +<p>"Your courtesy under the circumstances will be much +appreciated," said the Third Vice-President.</p> + +<p>"Courtesy be blowed," said the sailorman. "Well, +here goes. I'm Matthew Speak, able-bodied seaman, +of the brig Cotton Mather, out of New Bedford, +Reuben Higginson, master."</p> + +<p>"What!" cried Aunt Amanda, almost shrieking. +"Are you—? The Cotton Mather! Reuben Higginson! +Did you know him? It ain't possible! I can't +believe it!"</p> + +<p>"It ain't nothing to me whether you believes it or +not. I shipped with Reuben Higginson at New Bedford +and landed here with him and his crew on this +same identical Island, all tight and safe; here on Correction +Island, as the cap'n called it."</p> + +<p>"What!" cried Aunt Amanda again. "Is this Correction +Island? Well, I never! Here we are on +Correction Island after all, and we never knew it! Are +you sure?"</p> + +<p>"That's what he called it, believe me or not. It +ain't nothing to me, but I seen it on the map I sold +to Mizzen, and the cap'n wrote it there in his own +handwrite; that's all I know; but maybe if you'd hunt +up this here Lemuel Mizzen, a sailor with a patch +on one eye and—"</p> + +<p>"Well, of all things!" exclaimed Aunt Amanda.<!-- Page 164 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"By crackey," said Toby, "I wouldn't 'a' believed it. +Lemuel Mizzen!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you will be so good as to tell us—" began +the Third Vice-President.</p> + +<p>"Freddie," said Aunt Amanda, "have you got the +map?"</p> + +<p>"Yes'm," said Freddie, and produced it from his +pocket.</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda took it from him and spread it open +on the table before Matthew Speak. The sailorman +glanced at it and nodded his head.</p> + +<p>"That's it," said he. "I don't know how you come +by it, but that's it. Higginson was lost with the Cotton +Mather in a storm on his way back to New Bedford, +and a lucky chance for me I wasn't aboard. A good +while afterwards a fisherman off of this here Island +picked up the map at sea in a bottle, and I got it off'n +him; he squealed a good bit when I stuck him, but +I got it, right enough. And then along comes Mizzen, +me being in hiding, and I sold it to him for a set of +false whiskers and a tattoo-needle."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said Freddie eagerly. "Mr. Mizzen +told me about it."</p> + +<p>"When Higginson sailed away from here in the Cotton +Mather, I didn't go with him. I ran away. Ay, +a runaway sailor, that's what I am. I liked the Spanish +Main, and I didn't like Higginson; nor yet he didn't +like me, neither. But before he sailed, I left my mark +on him, I did; four of his teeth out and a black eye; and +I won't say but what he broke my nose for me too, +right enough. For a Quaker, he hit pretty good. And +I stole this bit of writing from him; probably it ain't +no account, but Higginson he seemed to set great store +by it, so I stole it, and here it is." He took from his +pocket a sheet of folded paper and laid it on the +table beside the map; it was much soiled, and was evidently +very old. He sniffed the air once or twice,<!-- Page 165 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +and frowned. "I don't like this here smell. It's no +good. I say I don't like it. It makes me feel queer. +Well, I guess the old man thought this here bit of +writing was safe in his locker right up to the last; I +expect he never missed it until he went to put it into the +bottle with the map and throw it overboard." He +shook the paper in his hand and dropped it again on +the table. "And then," he went on, "I fell in with +Lingo, and joined his crew."</p> + +<p>"Look here," said Toby, "how long ago was all +this?"</p> + +<p>"How do I know?" said Speak. "I've been shut +up in that there cupboard so long I ain't got no account +of time. But I remember just before we sailed from +New Bedford there was a lot of crazy people talkin' +about getting up a fight with England and breakin' +loose from her, and being free and independent and +what not—a great pack of foolish nonsense—and +something or other about some kind of a tea-party +in Boston—I dunno. I ain't never heard what come +of it. Most likely nothin' at all. I guess it must have +been a good while ago. I dunno."</p> + +<p>The Churchwarden started, and put his hand to his +back pocket. "Are you as old as that?" said he.</p> + +<p>"No older nor what you be, old fat-chaps," said +Speak. "You attend to your own age, and I'll attend +to mine."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said the Third Vice-President, +hastily. "Pray tell us how you came to be locked up +in that closet."</p> + +<p>"Gimme a chanc't," said Speak. "I'd tell you if +you'd gimme a chanc't. I joined Lingo. I served him +true and faithful, and many a prize we've taken together, +and watched many a smart lad walk the plank, +that's a fact. Well, thirteen of his men laid a plan +to go to his treasure-cave where all his treasure was +hid, and make off with it; steal it; ay, ay; steal it, mind<!-- Page 166 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +you; as bad as that. Now me, I ain't got no patience +with dishonesty; I'm all for being honest, I am; so, +being as I had learned about this here plan, I went +and told the captain. He never winked an eye, not +him, but off he sent his other six men, out of the way, +and made a fine supper here for them thirteen and +sat down with them to it; ay, that he did. But first +he gets a little white powder out of a silver box and +takes it to Mother Ketch and orders her to put it in +their food; and she won't, not she, and nothing he +can do can make her; so he comes to me, and being as +I hates dishonesty, I puts the powder in their food, +and they eats it. Only, being kind of nervous, as you +might say, I spills about two-thirds of it on my way +upstairs in the dark; and there ain't enough left to do +the work complete. What was left I put in the food +on the table, and at that minute up the stairs comes +the whole thirteen with the captain at their head, and +I whips into that there cupboard and shuts the door, +a-trembling in my boots for fear of what the captain's +going to do to me when he finds out the powder won't +work only partly. I can hear 'em all set down to the +table laughin' hearty, and the captain's voice a-crackin' +jokes and makin' 'em feel at home; but after a bit I +don't hear nobody's voice but only the captain's, because +of the white powder actin' on the others as far +as it could, and them probably a-settin' up stiff and +tongue-tied in their chairs, unable to move a hand, because +of the mite of powder, d'ye see, and me a-settin' +quiet in the dark cupboard, a-quakin' all over and wonderin' +what the captain was a-goin' to do to me. And +after a bit I don't hear the captain's voice no more, +and there ain't no sound at all. And I guess the party +is over. And in another minute I hears a key turn in +the lock of my cupboard door, very soft and easy, and +there I am shut up and locked in as tight as pitch; and +there I've been ever since."<!-- Page 167 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And serve you jolly well right, too, hif you arsk +me," said Mr. Punch, with great disgust.</p> + +<p>"It's the wickedest piece of business all round I ever +heard of in my life," said Aunt Amanda, indignantly. +"It's my opinion you're as bad as any of them."</p> + +<p>"Worse, if anything," said the Churchwarden, whose +hand was still on his back pocket.</p> + +<p>"It's a pity the captain didn't knife you in the back +with the rest of 'em," said Toby, angrily.</p> + +<p>Speak's little eyes flashed fire. He drew his knife +and held it out threateningly in his hand, and started +to rise. But he did not rise. He remained fixed in +his chair, though it was easy to see that he was trying +to get up. He sniffed the air, and his head remained +fixed in the act of sniffing. The hand which held the +knife continued to hold it out, without moving. A look +of alarm came into his eyes. It was evident that he +had smelled the Odour of Sanctity, which yet lingered +faintly in the room. His outline began to waver; his +face became vague; his features ran together; he took +on the appearance of vapor; and there in the chair by +the table, in place of the thick and solid sailorman, was +an almost transparent form of mist or smoke, remotely +in the shape of a man.</p> + +<p>Everyone waited to see him vanish. The form still +lingered; it did not disappear; it continued to sit in its +chair with its hand extended, holding out a shadowy +knife. The Odour of Sanctity had lost its full power, +and what remained of it was insufficient to make him +disappear.</p> + +<p>The Churchwarden pulled out his bottle, and commenced +to uncork it.</p> + +<p>"Stay," said the Third Vice-President, holding up +his hand. "I pray you stay. Do not spill any more +of that deadly fluid. There has been enough destruction +here tonight. I propose that we leave the late +Matthew Speak as he is. He belongs to the Society<!-- Page 168 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +for Piratical Research. He is the Last of the Pirates, +and I beg leave to claim him for the Society. As an +exhibit, he will be highly valued. We shall from time +to time conduct hither parties of the learned or the +curious to view the Last of the Pirates. Nothing could +be better. Our Society is now revived. I am immensely +gratified. Low Dudgeon shall be known as +the only Museum in the world with but a single Exhibit. +Let the late Matthew Speak repose here in his +chair as a permanent relic of a bygone age; the sole +Exhibit in a Museum all his own. The interest of such +an Exhibit will doubtless warrant a small charge at +the door."</p> + +<p>The Committee murmured an earnest approval. +The Churchwarden looked at his companions, and put +the bottle back into his pocket with a sigh.</p> + +<p>"I thank you," said the Third Vice-President. "We +will now proceed to consider our next step."</p> + +<p>"I simply can't stay in this room," exclaimed Aunt +Amanda, "with that thing sitting in that chair."</p> + +<p>"It is nothing, madam, I assure you," said the Third +Vice-President. "See!"</p> + +<p>He leaned over and passed his hand directly through +the body in the chair; in at the breast and out at the +back.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried Aunt Amanda; and her friends all +gasped; but the Committee only nodded their heads +in token of their interest.</p> + +<p>"You see it is nothing," said the Third Vice-President. +"We will now look at the paper which our departed +friend has left."</p> + +<p>He picked up the paper from the table where Speak +had left it, adjusted his spectacles, turned his back to +the candles so as to get a good light, and read the paper +through to himself. He then glanced at the company +and read aloud:</p> + +<p><!-- Page 169 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Shiraz the Rug-Merchant.</p> + +<p>"Outside the Gate of Wanderers, six hundred Paces +to the Right, along the Wall.</p> + +<p>"Thee shall know his Shop by certain Numbers, to +wit: 3101310.</p> + +<p>"If he Hide himself, say these words: Shagli Jamshid +Shahriman.</p> + +<p>"Thee shall buy of his Wares; not that which he +shall offer First, nor Second; but that which he +shall offer Third, that thee shall Buy; and for that +thee shall Pay whatever he shall Demand.</p> + +<p>"Thereafter thee shall do whatever he shall Direct.</p> + +<p>"But enter not into the City but by the Shop of Shiraz +the Rug-Merchant."</p></div> + +<p>There was silence for a moment, then Aunt Amanda +said:</p> + +<p>"That's the way we are to get those wonderful things +the map speaks of. It doesn't seem to tell us much, +though. Where do you suppose is this Gate of Wanderers?"</p> + +<p>"That, dear madam," said the Third Vice-President, +"is one of the gates of our City of Towers. We know +it very well, of course."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Aunt Amanda, "as captain of my party, +my orders is that we go there at once."</p> + +<p>"Much good would that do," said Toby. "We've +got to buy something of this here Shiraz, if that's his +name, and pay anything he asks, too. And there ain't +a penny amongst us. How could we buy anything?"</p> + +<p>"The pirates' treasure!" cried Freddie. "The +pirates' treasure in the cave!"</p> + +<p>"By crackey!" said Toby. "I clean forgot all about +it. Good for you, Freddie! Talk about money to buy +things with! We'll buy out that old Shiraz's whole +shop! The treasure belongs to us, as sure as you're +born. By crickets, we're in luck."</p> + +<p>"If you will pardon me," said the Third Vice-President,<!-- Page 170 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +"we know nothing of any treasure, and if you +would be so good as to——"</p> + +<p>"I will," said Aunt Amanda, and she quickly explained +the whole matter. The Daft Committee, including +its Chairman, was much impressed.</p> + +<p>"We do not wish to intrude," said the Chairman, +"but if we could be of any service——"</p> + +<p>"Of course!" cried Toby. "You've got to help us +get the treasure out of the cave, and then help us +to find the City of Towers. And if you'll help us, why +what I say is, the Committee ought to have a share +of the treasure. Is that right?"</p> + +<p>Toby's friends willingly agreed, and the Committee +gladly consented to go with them to the Treasure Cave +and then to the City of Towers.</p> + +<p>"The Society for Piratical Research," said the Third +Vice-President, "is coming back to life! We now have +a Museum with one Exhibit, and we are about to acquire +a Fund of Money. Come, my friends, it is time +to depart. If you will go out first, I will remain and +blow out the candles. We must remember to close the +door behind us, for a draught of air would probably +blow the late Mr. Matthew Speak out of the window."</p> + +<p>In a few moments the whole party was standing in +the moonlight on the grass before the deserted tower +of Low Dudgeon. Not quite deserted, however; in +every mind was a picture of a misty and vapory form, +remotely in the shape of a man, sitting motionless in +a chair beside a table in a dark and silent room.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Toby, "now for the Treasure Cave +and the City of Towers."</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 171 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>THE CITY OF TOWERS</h3> + +<p>At the Pirates' Cave, the task of getting out the +treasure proved very difficult, but it was done +at last.</p> + +<p>The Committee's camp in the forest had supplied +abundance of provisions, and a great number of animals; +the Committee traveled in luxury.</p> + +<p>On the level ground where Mr. Hanlon had given +his exhibition of head-work, the toilers were now resting +in the hot sun, and drying their garments, thoroughly +soaked by their trips in and out of the cave, +under the water-fall. They looked with intense delight +on the boxes and bags which lay before them.</p> + +<p>"What I say is," said Toby, "let's divide the treasure +now, so we won't have to bother about it when we +get to the City of Towers."</p> + +<p>"How beautiful is nature!" said the Sly Old Codger. +"Behold that wide expanse of field and forest resting +so—so—expansively beneath the orb of day! A true, +true work of nature! At such a moment as this, dear +friends, a warm feeling invades my heart, a feeling of—of—Did +I hear a suggestion to divide the treasure?"</p> + +<p>The division was carefully made, and when it was +done, and each person had declared himself well satisfied, +each share was packed separately, and the treasure +loaded on the backs of the extra mules. It was a +princely fortune.</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose," said the Old Codger with the +Wooden Leg, "that—er—I shall be able to obtain, in<!-- Page 172 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +the City of Towers, such a thing as a pipeful—ahem!—a +pipeful of tobacco?"</p> + +<p>"Never fear," said the Third Vice-President. "I +fancy you will be able to buy there all the tobacco you +can use."</p> + +<p>"Wery sorry I am to 'ear it," said Mr. Punch. "Hi +regard the tobacco 'abit as a wery reprehensible 'abit. +Wery."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you do!" said Toby, glaring at him.</p> + +<p>"Wery reprehensible indeed," went on Mr. Punch, +calmly. "My conscience 'as troubled me for a long +time by reason of my position in the tobacco trade. +Being posted, as one may s'y, in a wery hadwantageous +position for hobserwation, I 'ave seen too much, entirely +too much, of the sad effects of the hobnoxious +weed. Many a time 'ave I wept to myself, when the +hobserver may 'ave thought it was only rain on me +cheek, to see 'em, young and hold, going in and hout +of Toby Littleback's shop, knowing what would come +of it sooner or later, and me a-standing there hencouraging +of 'em in, as one may s'y, with me packet of +cigars in me 'and. Hoften enough 'ave I wished to +give it hup and embark in a hoccupation less reprehensible; +many a time 'ave I said to myself, 'Ho, hif +I could only be hinnocent once, just once.' And now +Hi shall put be'ind me hall the d'ys of me sinful past, +and with my share of the treasure Hi shall open a shop +for the purveying of tripe."</p> + +<p>"There's a deal more harm been done by tripe than +ever there was by tobacco," said Toby.</p> + +<p>"There is a total absence of nicotine in tripe," said +Mr. Punch, loftily. "At least, such is my hinformation. +And I carn't 'elp 'oping that my friend Littleback will +reform hisself, now that 'e can afford it, and engage in +some pursuit less 'armful to the young. Hif I was +arsked, I would suggest pinking and pleating."</p> + +<p>"You ain't been asked," said Toby. "I can see<!-- Page 173 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +myself pinking and pleating. When I want advice +what to do with my money, I'll ask you. Tobacco is +my line, and tobacco is going to be my line to the end +of the chapter, and that's flat. Pinking and pleating! +Humph."</p> + +<p>"It's my belief," said the Churchwarden, "after listening +to what's been said, pro and con, backwards +and forwards, up and down, that if we don't start for +the City of Towers, we'll never get there."</p> + +<p>"And what's more," said Toby, "when I get back +I'm going to have an <i>Indian</i> outside my door, instead +of a tripe-seller."</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," said the Third Vice-President. "I am +sorry to interrupt this interesting discussion, but we +really ought to be going. Gentlemen," to the Committee, +"our steeds are waiting. To the City of +Towers!"</p> + +<p>The journey which now commenced proved to be a +very long one. Day after day the pilgrims plodded +through a wilderness of forest and field, over streams, +across mountains, down into deep valleys and up again, +camping at night wherever they happened to find water +and wood, and sleeping under the stars in blankets on +beds of boughs. The moon was gone before their +journey was over.</p> + +<p>One morning the trail brought them down on a +mountain-side to a well-paved road. This road they +followed for some hours, and it brought them finally +to the top of a gentle hill, covered with trees. From +the top of this hill they saw a striking scene.</p> + +<p>Stretching away from the foot of the hill lay a great +rolling valley, up which the road ran as straight as a +ribbon. Far away, at the end of the road, against a +dark wooded mountain, stood a great city, walled +around with a high wall, and shining in the sun with +white and gold domes and turrets and towers. The +rear of the city rose along the lower slope of the mountain,<!-- Page 174 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +and on the top of the mountain, concealing its +peak, lay a cloud; black below, and glittering with sunlight +at the edges. It hung there motionless during +the time when the watchers sat watching the scene. +Directly under the cloud, on the slope where the farthest +portion of the city lay, was an open space among +the buildings, like a great garden or park, and in the +midst of it a vast white building with a flat roof, great +enough for the palace of a king. That which struck +the strangers most, at their first look, was the great +number of towers which rose at all points in the city; +surely so many towers had never been gotten together +in one place before; and the most remarkable one of +them was the tower which rose from just behind the +great white building in the park. It was dull in colour, +and doubtless of brick; it was round in shape, tapering +gradually upwards. It rose to a height which none of +the strangers would have thought possible, had they +not seen it with their own eyes; it rose straight to the +cloud which hung motionless upon the mountain; it +pierced the cloud, and its top was lost to view in the +cloud or above it.</p> + +<p>"The City of Towers!" said the Third Vice-President, +waving his arm in that direction. "The Gate of +Wanderers is before us, at the end of the road."</p> + +<p>The party urged their animals forward down the +hill-side, and pressed on until noon, when they halted +for rest and refreshment in a wood beside the road. +There they sat at their ease on the grass, and the Third +Vice-President looked from one to another, and spoke +as follows:</p> + +<p>"My friends, I must tell you the story of the Towers. +Our King, you must know, is a handsome and amiable +man, in appearance about thirty years of age. When +I tell you that he has been our king for more than +forty years, you will be surprised. His wife was a +princess of some few years less than his own, and of<!-- Page 175 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +a beauty unequalled in the kingdom. Her wedding +ring, the gift of her husband, was a single ruby in a +plain gold band, and this ring she was never known +to remove from her wedding-finger for a single moment. +She was blessed with three beautiful children, +two boys and a girl, the oldest of whom was nearly +nine years of age.</p> + +<p>"When the prince, our present King, was thirty +years old, his father the King, who was then alive, +gave a great ball at the palace, and at this ball the old +King declared to the assembled court that he desired +to build a tower; a mighty tower, higher than any +other in the world, where he might seek repose from +time to time; a tower so tall that it would reach the +cloud that hangs perpetually on the mountain. To him +who should build such a tower in the shortest time +the King would give any reward which the fortunate +bidder might ask. The old King laughed as he made +his offer, and it was plain that he was only half serious; +but many of the richest of his nobility desired the prize, +and contended for it earnestly. One proposed to erect +the tower in ten years, another in eight, and one was +found who was willing to promise it in six years and +a half; but these terms were all too long. The King +was old, and he would not wait so long.</p> + +<p>"'Is there no one,' said the old King at last, 'who +will build me my tower in less than six years and a +half?'</p> + +<p>"'I will build it in one night,' said a voice from the +rear of the ball-room.</p> + +<p>"An old man came forward and stood before the +King; an old man, dressed in a short gown tied in with +a cord about the middle, with sandals on his feet, a +lantern with a lighted candle in one hand, and a staff +in the other. No one in that place had ever seen him +before, and no one knew how he had gotten in amongst +that glittering company.<!-- Page 176 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'I will build your tower in one night,' said the old +man.</p> + +<p>"The old King laughed outright, but he accepted the +offer then and there. 'In the morning,' said he, 'if we +find the tower finished, you shall have any gift which +may be in my power to give.'</p> + +<p>"The old man bowed, and made his way slowly out +of the palace. A great shout of laughter went up from +the company, and in this the King himself joined +heartily; but the joke was, as I must tell you, my friends, +that in the morning when the King rose, there stood +the tower in fact, behind the palace, so tall that its top +could not be seen in the cloud that hung upon the mountain; +and there, my friends, the tower stands to this +day.</p> + +<p>"That evening the old man returned for his reward. +He stood before the King, and on the King's right and +left stood the prince and the prince's wife and children. +The King asked the old man what reward he desired.</p> + +<p>"'I ask nothing,' replied the other, with a sly smile, +'except the ruby ring upon the finger of the Princess.'</p> + +<p>"The Princess turned pale, and hid her hand behind +her. She would not give up her wedding-ring; nothing +the King could say could move her. He offered the +old man anything else he might demand; a dozen ruby +rings; a box of ruby rings; anything; but the old man +would have nothing but the ring upon the Princess's +finger. The Princess grew paler still, as if with fear; +but she would not give up the ring. The old man +smiled his sly smile again, and went away.</p> + +<p>"The next morning the Princess and her three children +were gone. Search was made everywhere, but +they were not to be found. The King and the Prince, +mounting the winding stair of the tower, stopped at +last when they were all but exhausted, and at that moment +heard a sound of weeping from above. They +climbed higher, and on the stair they found the children<!-- Page 177 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +sitting, huddled together and weeping bitterly. Their +mother was gone, they knew not where; and they did +not know how they came to be in the tower. The +strongest climbers in the city mounted as far as they +could ascend, but the top of the tower was far beyond +their reach; they found no Princess. She has never +been seen from that day.</p> + +<p>"Soon after, the old King died, and his son came to +the throne. As for him, our present King, and his +three children, time stopped for them from the day on +which the Princess disappeared. They are no older +now than when she left them. It is supposed that they +are awaiting her return unchanged, in order that she +may not find them old on her return, if she should still +be young. There are those who say that she has lived +all these years, and still lives, somewhere, in some +strange form, perhaps far from here, bewitched by the +old man, and waiting for release from her enchantment. +I do not know."</p> + +<p>"And what was her name?" said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"She was named," said the Third Vice-President, +"the Princess Miranda."</p> + +<p>"And what are all those other towers in the city?" +said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"It was the fashion, after the King's Tower was +built, to build towers. The King, as you may suppose, +sets the fashion in all things. But no more pleasure-towers +are built nowadays; the thing had its day, and +died out. There is a fashion now in pleasure-domes. +They are modeled after the pleasure-dome built by +Kubla Khan in Xanadu."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Toby, "I don't see what we've got to +do with all this. The party I want to see is Shiraz +the Rug-Merchant."</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 178 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>SHIRAZ THE RUG-MERCHANT</h3> + +<p>The wayfarers came to a halt before the Wanderers' +Gate. The wall of the city stood before +them, and stretched away to a great distance +on either hand. People were going in and out at the +gate; some on foot, driving donkeys before them, some +on horseback, some in wagons, and all brisk and talkative. +The Third Vice-President received a respectful +greeting from several of those on horseback. He +turned to his companions with a wave of the hand, +and said:</p> + +<p>"The Wanderers' Bazaar!"</p> + +<p>On each side of the open gate, at the foot of the +high thick wall, was what appeared to be a fair. As +far as the eye could see, the base of the wall was lined +with booths, each with an awning over it from the +wall behind, gaily striped in orange and blue and +yellow and brown. In these booths was spread out in +disorderly profusion a mass of merchandise of all +kinds; gold and silver ornaments, brass and copper +vessels, rugs and carpets, spectacles and clocks, toys +and games, herbs and ointments, fish-nets and sailors' +instruments, canes and crutches, ribbons and laces, perfumery, +precious stones—things innumerable; even parrots +and monkeys, in cages; in one booth was a potter, +twirling his potter's wheel; in another a fortune-teller, +laying little sticks down in curious patterns on his table; +in another a man pasting on cards bits of coloured +feathers, in the form of tiny birds and fowls, most life-like;<!-- Page 179 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +in another a glass-blower, delicately twining a +thread of spun glass for the rigging of a ship; in +another a man sitting on a rug with a snake before +him, whose flat head stood stiffly up from his coil, and +waved a little to the motion of his master's finger; in +another, a man was bending over a flower-pot with a +wand in his hand, and as he moved the wand a stalk +grew from the pot and at its end a bud appeared and +unfolded into a flower before the very eyes of his audience; +in another a great ape was marking down figures +with chalk as his master called them; in another a +shuttle was weaving back and forth in a loom; there +seemed to be no end to the curious and diverting things +to be seen in those booths. The people in them were +apparently of all the nations of the earth; there were +brown men and yellow men and black men, as well as +white; men with slant eyes, with round eyes, with flat +noses, with beak-noses, with wooly hair, with straight +hair; there were turbans, and fezzes, and hoods, and +white gowns, and coloured robes, and velvet jackets, +and cotton blouses; and from all the venders rose such +a hubbub as Freddie had never in his life heard before, +except once in the Gaunt Street Theatre at home. A +lively crowd chaffered with the venders and walked in +the paved street before their booths. It was a scene +full of life and colour, and Freddie was transported +with delight.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" he said, "can't we get down here and see all +those sights? I should like to spend the whole day +here!"</p> + +<p>"We've got other fish to fry just now, Freddie," +said Toby. "We'll have to see this some other time."</p> + +<p>"It is a precious thought," said the Sly Old Fox, +"that we have here with us on our mules enough treasure +to buy this whole bazaar, if we wished to do it. +It is a beautiful thought."</p> + +<p>"Six 'undred paces to the right!" said Mr. Punch.<!-- Page 180 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Shiraz the Rug-Merchant!" said Toby. "By the +looks of it, there must be about five hundred rug-merchants +along there."</p> + +<p>"What was the number we were to find him by?" +said Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"It's 3103101," said Toby.</p> + +<p>"You are quite mistaken," said Mr. Punch. "Hit's +3013101."</p> + +<p>"That's exactly what I said," said Toby.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," said the Old Codger with the Wooden +Leg, "it seems to me that it is—er—3101301."</p> + +<p>"My recollection is," said the Churchwarden, "that +it is 3031010."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to differ," said the Sly Old Codger, +"but I am perfectly sure it is 3013010."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you look at the paper?" said Aunt +Amanda, in an exasperated tone.</p> + +<p>Everyone looked at everyone else to produce the +paper, but no one produced it.</p> + +<p>"I regret to confess it," said the Third Vice-President, +placidly, "but I have a distinct recollection of +having left it on the table at Low Dudgeon. Never +mind, it is perfectly safe."</p> + +<p>"Well!" said Aunt Amanda. "Isn't that a perfect +shame! Whatever are we going to do? And where's +the map? Freddie, have you got the map?"</p> + +<p>Freddie looked in all his pockets. "No'm," said he. +"It isn't here."</p> + +<p>"I recall distinctly," said the Third Vice-President, +without any sign of worry, "that the map was left on +the table at Low Dudgeon with the other paper."</p> + +<p>"Merciful fathers!" exclaimed Aunt Amanda. "And +you've left the map behind too! I never yet see a man +that had a head on him worth a—Now listen to me; is +there anyone that remembers the words the paper said +we had to say to the——"</p> + +<p>"Ah! madam," said the Third Vice-President.<!-- Page 181 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +"There I can be of assistance, I fancy. The words are +derived from the Persian, and I am accordingly familiar +with them. 'Shagli Jamshid Shahriman.' Am +I right, gentlemen?"</p> + +<p>The Daft Committee nodded their heads in assent.</p> + +<p>"Then I see no reason," said the Third Vice-President, +"why we should not proceed."</p> + +<p>"Come on then," said Toby. "I'll get down and +pace off the six hundred steps, and see where we come +to."</p> + +<p>The party moved slowly through the crowd, along +the booths, while Toby walked beside them, carefully +counting his steps.</p> + +<p>"Five hundred and eighty," said he. "Five hundred +and ninety. Ninety-five. Six hundred"; and stopped. +The procession stopped also, and all of the riders got +down from their mules. Many of the passers-by gazed +curiously at them, and some paused for a moment before +going on; but no one seemed to take more than +a passing interest. One of the Committee led the mules +to the open side of the street, where they would be out +of the way, and stood guard over them. The others +joined Toby in front of the booth at which he was +now standing.</p> + +<p>It was not the kind of booth they were seeking at +all. There were no rugs nor carpets of any kind; only +clocks and watches, a great number of them, and a +few sundials and hour-glasses. Behind the counter +stood a lad of about twenty, very dark of skin, with +snapping black eyes and shining white teeth which +showed as he now bowed and smiled; a white turban +on his head, and a loose white robe hanging from his +shoulders. He was slim and sleek, and his fingers were +very long and delicate. He rubbed his hands together +as the riders dismounted, and commenced to chatter to +them in an unknown tongue, bowing and smiling the +while. His wares were displayed about him on shelves<!-- Page 182 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +and boxes and tables, as well as on the counter, and +the clocks and watches, as usual in such places, showed +all hours of the twelve. A striped awning of orange +and blue, fastened at the rear to the side of the city +wall, shielded him and his booth from the sun. Behind +him in the wall was a closed iron door.</p> + +<p>"We're in the wrong shop," said Toby to his companions. +"Some mistake. Anyway, here goes." And +addressing the young man behind the counter, he said: +"Good-afternoon. We are looking for Mr. Shiraz +the Rug-Merchant. This don't look much like a rug +shop, but maybe you can tell us. Shiraz; that's his +name."</p> + +<p>"No understand," said the young man, rubbing his +hands and bowing pleasantly.</p> + +<p>"Shiraz," said Toby. "Think. Shiraz. Easy +word, Shiraz. You understand?"</p> + +<p>"Clocks and watches," said the young man. "Sundials. +You buy?"</p> + +<p>"No, no," said Toby. "We no buy. Want Shiraz. +Confound it, that's an easy word, ain't it? Shiraz! +Can't you understand that?"</p> + +<p>"No sell Shiraz," said the young man. "Clocks and +watches."</p> + +<p>"Look here," said Toby, "what's the number of this +place?"</p> + +<p>"No number," said the young man, looking puzzled +and shaking his head. "Clocks and watches."</p> + +<p>"By crackey," said Toby, "we're in the wrong place +sure enough."</p> + +<p>Now while this talk was going on, Freddie had made +a discovery. He had noticed, on a box at the rear, +against the wall, a row of seven old clocks. They were +battered and broken, and were evidently long since +out of repair; two of them had no hands. Like most +of the clocks in the place, they were stopped, and had +probably, from the looks of them, ceased many years<!-- Page 183 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +before to keep time. He noted idly the time shown by +each of these clocks, and started in surprise. The hour +shown by the first clock at the left was three o'clock. +That shown by the next was one o'clock. The next +had no hands, and showed no time at all. The next +showed one o'clock, the next three o'clock, the next one +o'clock, and the seventh had no hands. He ran his +eye over them again, and the numbers which resulted +were 3101310.</p> + +<p>"Come along," said Toby. "We might as well ask +at some of these other shops. There ain't no use wasting +time here."</p> + +<p>He moved away, and the others followed him +towards the adjoining booth. The teeth of the dark +young man shone white, and he bowed politely to the +departing strangers.</p> + +<p>Freddie pulled at Toby's coat, and whispered in his +ear. Toby listened, and without a word led the party +back to the booth.</p> + +<p>"Now see here, young feller," said he, "I've got +your number, and I don't want no nonsense. I reckon +you can understand numbers, if you can't understand +anything else." He fixed his eyes on the row of old +clocks at the rear. "Listen to this, my young friend: +3-1-0-1-3-1-0."</p> + +<p>The smile left the young man's face. He seemed a +trifle uneasy. His long fingers rested on the counter, +and he leaned forward intently.</p> + +<p>"No understand," said he.</p> + +<p>"By crackey," said Toby, "this beats all. Where's +Shiraz? We're in the right place, and we want Shiraz. +Out with him!"</p> + +<p>"Clocks and watches," said the young man, but this +time somewhat nervously. "You buy?"</p> + +<p>"Buy nothing!" cried Toby. "We want to see +Shiraz the Rug-Merchant. Professor," said he, turning<!-- Page 184 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +round, "what's the words to bring out Shiraz the +Rug-Merchant?"</p> + +<p>"Shagli Jamshid Shahriman!" said the Third Vice-President, +in a loud voice.</p> + +<p>Instantly the manner of the young man changed. +Crossing his arms upon his breast, he made a low +salaam, and spoke with the utmost deference.</p> + +<p>"I trust you will pardon," said he, "my seeming lack +of courtesy. It is necessary to exercise a certain caution. +There are wicked spirits, assuming from time to +time the most unlikely forms, who seek to gain access +to my great-great-grandfather. His life is continually +in danger, for he possesses secrets which enable him +constantly to interfere with their designs. By reason +of this danger, he was obliged many years ago to retire +from the rug business, and he has lived ever since in +deep seclusion. It is your wish to see Shiraz the Persian?"</p> + +<p>"You seem to speak English pretty good," said Toby.</p> + +<p>"Perfectly, my lord. And twelve other tongues as +well. You desire to see my great-great-grandfather?"</p> + +<p>"That's the exact idea," said Toby.</p> + +<p>"Then I will beg your indulgence for a few moments."</p> + +<p>The young man bowed again, and disappeared +through the doorway in the wall, closing the door behind +him. After a considerable absence he returned.</p> + +<p>"If you will follow me," said he, "I will conduct +you to my great-great-grandfather."</p> + +<p>"We will await your return here," said the Third +Vice-President to Toby and his companions. "It is +unnecessary for us to pursue this adventure further."</p> + +<p>The Third Vice-President and his friends returned +to the mules, and the others followed the young man +to the door behind him in the wall. The door was +closed and locked behind them, and they found themselves<!-- Page 185 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +in darkness. "If you will come to me here," +said the voice of the young man, a little in advance, +"I will show you the way down." When they felt +themselves near him, they heard his voice again. "Be +good enough to step carefully forward, until you feel +the first step of a descending stair. Then descend cautiously, +if you please." Each one put out a foot, and +in a moment they were all going down a stairway, of +which the treads were evidently of stone, much worn.</p> + +<p>When they had gone down some thirty steps, they +were aware that the stair had ended, and that they +were on a landing. "You will now cross the bridge, +one by one, holding on to the railing," said the voice +of the young man. One by one the party stepped forward, +feeling the way cautiously, and as each in turn +found with his hand a slight wooden railing, a breath +of fresh air blew upon his face and the sound of rushing +water came from below. Instead of the firm stone +they had just been treading, they were conscious of +wooden planking under their feet, and it gave beneath +their pressure most uneasily. The bridge was a long +one, and the sound of rushing water followed them its +entire length. They walked again, however, on firm +ground, and heard the young man's voice before them. +"Be good enough to follow the right hand wall," it +said, "and turn with the wall."</p> + +<p>Each right hand touched the surface of a wall, and +in a moment the wall made a turning to the right. In +another moment their progress was barred by a wall +in advance, and the voice of the young man spoke +from their midst. "You will kindly stoop as you go +in," said he, and at the same moment a round opening +appeared before them, dimly lit from within. It was +only large enough to admit a single person, stooping. +The young man entered first, and the others followed, +one by one. When they were all on the other side of<!-- Page 186 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +the door, the young man swung it noiselessly to, on its +hinges, and it was seen that it fitted accurately, so that +it was impossible to distinguish it from the wall.</p> + +<p>They were in a small room, unfurnished except for +a table in the center, on which burned an oil lamp of +silver, in shape like a boat; the walls were bare, except +for certain shelves containing bottles of coloured +liquids, other bottles of coloured powders, mortars, +retorts, gas-burners, and huge dusty books. There appeared +to be no outlet from the room, but the young +man pressed his finger on a spot behind one of the +bottles on a shelf, and a circular door, like the one by +which they had entered, swung slowly open in the +opposite wall.</p> + +<p>"We have arrived," said the young man. "Please +to follow."</p> + +<p>He stooped and entered the circular doorway, and +the others, one by one, followed. They found themselves +in a rich and luxurious apartment, softly lighted +by a hanging lamp; in the center was a table, littered +with open books and scrolls of paper, and bearing +notably a great round globe of solid crystal.</p> + +<p>Beside the table, on a divan, reclined what appeared +to be a dry and shriveled mummy.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 187 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>SIX ENCHANTED SOULS</h3> + +<p>"This is my great-great-grandfather," said the +young man.</p> + +<p>The room in which they stood was hung +about on all the walls with rare and beautiful rugs, and +similar rugs covered the floor. Richly embroidered +cushions and delicate silk and cashmere shawls lay on +the few easy chairs that were disposed about the +room. The bowl of the hanging lamp, above the table, +was of bits of amber and orange and ruby glass, +through which shone a subdued and mellow light. Near +the ceiling were three or four small openings, covered +with iron gratings, and the air in the apartment was +pure, except for the odour of tobacco. The figure on +the divan was smoking a pipe; a water-pipe, whose long +flexible stem reached to the floor, where its bowl rested.</p> + +<p>Shiraz the Rug-Merchant looked at his visitors with +little beady black eyes. His skin was very dark, and +shriveled and wrinkled like the skin of a dried apple. +His cheek-bones seemed as if about to break through +his cheeks, and his lips were stretched back from his +teeth, which were black and broken. His hands were +like the claws of a bird. Thin white hair straggled +over his tight dark scalp. He wore a robe of some +soft material, harmoniously mottled upon a ground of +maroon, and on his feet were slippers of red morocco, +pointed upwards at the toes. His turban lay upon the +table beside him.</p> + +<div style="height: 0"> + <a id="image04"></a> +</div> +<div class="figcenter"> + <!-- Page 188 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> + <img src="images/i004.png" alt="Shiraz the Rug-Merchant looked at his visitors with little beady black eyes." /> + <p class="caption">Shiraz the Rug-Merchant looked at his visitors with little beady black eyes.</p> +</div><p><!-- Page 189 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> + +<p>He was the smallest man the strangers had ever seen. +After a searching look at them with his beady eyes, +he rose from the divan, laid down the stem of his pipe, +and stood up. He was not taller than Freddie. As he +stood by the divan, looking up at his visitors, he seemed +indeed a mere mummy of a man, likely to fall to pieces +at a breath of air.</p> + +<p>"You are welcome," he said, in a voice surprisingly +strong. "I perceive that you have come from a great +distance. Permit me to inquire what errand has +brought you to your servant's poor habitation."</p> + +<p>"I reckon we want to buy something," said Toby. +"I don't know what, exactly, but a chap by the name +of Higginson, Captain Reuben Higginson, he give us +the direction, as you might say."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes," said Shiraz the Persian. "I remember +him very well. I was sorry to learn of his misfortune. +An excellent man; a member of some strange sect——"</p> + +<p>"A Quaker," said Toby. "The paper he left said +we might buy something here, and here we are, ready +to buy."</p> + +<p>"I have long since retired from the rug business," +said Shiraz, "but I have brought with me here, as you +may see, some of my choicest treasures, as a slight +solace in my seclusion." He glanced towards the rugs +on the walls. "I am reluctant to part with any of them, +but I am willing to make an exception, in view of your +having made so long a journey to see me. My son," +said he to the young man, "bring hither the Omar +prayer-rug."</p> + +<p>The young man took from one of the walls a small +rug, and laid it at the feet of Shiraz.</p> + +<p>"You will immediately perceive," said the Persian, +"the extreme beauty of this rug. It is one of my rarest +treasures. It is a prayer-rug from the mosque of Omar +at Isfahan; a Kalicheh of cut-pile fabric, with the Sehna +knot, as I need not tell you; made in Kurdistan three<!-- Page 190 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +hundred years ago; observe, if you please, the delicacy +of the design and the harmony of the colouring. Its +possession is as a spring of water to the desert Bedouin; +as a palm with dates on the road to Mecca; as a word +to the believer from the mouth of the Prophet. Its +price, to those who have journeyed across the sea to +buy it, is twelve copper pennies."</p> + +<p>The Sly Old Fox stooped down and examined it. His +eyes lit up with pleasure. "Beautiful!" said he. "I +have never seen a rug more beautiful; it is a real work +of—of—I will take it. At twelve pennies. It is mine."</p> + +<p>"No, no!" said Aunt Amanda. "You'll do nothing +of the kind. It is certainly the finest piece of carpet +I have ever seen, and the price is low enough, in all +conscience. But we are not going to buy it. I am +sorry, sir, but we can't buy your rug. Show us something +else."</p> + +<p>Shiraz displayed his teeth more plainly than ever +in a sly smile.</p> + +<p>"Your servant is desolated," he replied. "I crave +your pardon for showing a trifle so far beneath your +notice. My son, take it away. If your excellencies +will deign to overlook my error, I will produce an +article more worthy of your attention. This time I +promise myself the ecstasy of your approval."</p> + +<p>"Pretty good line of talk," whispered Toby in Mr. +Punch's ear.</p> + +<p>"My son," continued Shiraz, "bring hither the +Wishing Rug."</p> + +<p>The young man took away the prayer-rug, and +brought another from the wall; a much larger one, +large enough, indeed, for twenty people to stand on. +It was dingy and frayed, and in no way beautiful like +the other.</p> + +<p>"A rug of the Tomb of Rustam," said Shiraz, +"gained by the hero in battle from the genie Akhnavid.<!-- Page 191 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +It is the last of the Wishing Rugs. Its property is, +that it will transport to the farthest regions of the +earth, in the twinkling of an eye, those who sit upon it +and but name aloud the place of their desire. Excellencies," +he said, addressing his visitors very earnestly, +"if it is your wish to return home, the moment has +arrived; you have only to sit upon this rug and wish +yourselves at home, and you will find yourselves there, +safe and sound, before the words shall have well left +your lips. And the price is only twenty pennies."</p> + +<p>Every one of the party hesitated. A vision of the +Old Tobacco Shop entered each mind. It had never +seemed so cozy, so quiet, so secure as at that moment. +How or when they would ever get there, in the natural +course of events, no one knew. If they did not seize +this opportunity, they might be lost forever. It was +a chance such as they could scarcely have hoped for.</p> + +<p>"Could we take our belongings with us?" said the +Sly Old Fox.</p> + +<p>"All that can be piled on the rug," said Shiraz.</p> + +<p>"Then I will buy it," said the Sly Old Codger. "I +do not consider twenty pennies too much for such a rug. +The rug is mine."</p> + +<p>"It's nothing of the sort," said Aunt Amanda, waking +from deep thought. "Nobody's going to buy the +rug. I'm captain of this expedition, and my orders is, +to wait and see what's going to happen next. I'm +sorry, sir, but the rug ain't exactly what we want. You +must show us something else."</p> + +<p>The Rug-Merchant appeared greatly mortified. "I +do not know how I could have made such a mistake," +he said. "I should have known that these little trifles +could not interest you. I trust you will believe that I +meant no offense. I fear there is nothing in my poor +collection which merits your notice. Permit me to wish +you a safe journey. Do you intend to remain long in +the City of Towers?"<!-- Page 192 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That won't do," said Toby. "You must show us +something else."</p> + +<p>The Rug-Merchant looked intently at Aunt Amanda. +"You command it?" said he.</p> + +<p>"I do," said she.</p> + +<p>"To hear is to obey," said Shiraz. "I tremble to +think how contemptible are the baubles I shall now +offer you, but I trust you will not be angry with your +servant." He turned to the young man, and spoke to +him in an unknown tongue. "Be not offended, excellencies," +he went on, "by your poor servant's ignorance +in the art of pleasing."</p> + +<p>The young man disappeared behind one of the hanging +rugs, and in a moment returned with certain small +objects, which he stood upon the table in a row. They +were eight hour-glasses, of a very ordinary kind, much +like those already seen in the booth outside. The sand +in each one was wholly in the upper glass, and was just +beginning to trickle down into the lower. The strangers +were obviously disappointed.</p> + +<p>"I fear your displeasure," said Shiraz, "but apart +from my trifling rugs, these are all I have to offer."</p> + +<p>"And what," said the Sly Old Fox, "what may be +the price of these interesting objects?"</p> + +<p>"The price," said Shiraz, fixing his beady eyes on +Aunt Amanda, "the price is this and nothing less: your +treasure on the mules outside; your share of the treasure +on the mules."</p> + +<p>Everyone gasped. The treasure which they had +gone through so many perils to secure, for these indifferent +trinkets! A life of ease and plenty for an hour-glass!</p> + +<p>"Ahem!" said the Old Codger with the Wooden +Leg. "Excuse me for saying it, but the—er—price +appears to be a little bit high."</p> + +<p>"It is too high for me," said the Sly Old Fox, positively. +"I regret to say it, but I am compelled to withdraw;<!-- Page 193 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +I cannot go on at such a figure. Please consider +me out of it."</p> + +<p>"And—er—me too," said the Old Codger with the +Wooden Leg.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Toby, doubtfully, "it's a blamed hard +thing to give up all that treasure for one of these here +little toys. I don't see my way clear to doing it. What +do you say, Aunt Amanda?"</p> + +<p>"I'll do it," said Aunt Amanda, looking at Shiraz, +whose eyes were still on her. "I've come all this way +to do it, and I'll do it. I ain't going to back out now +at the last minute. My mind's made up. Mr. Shiraz, +I'll buy an hour-glass."</p> + +<p>"By crackey," said Toby, "then I will too. What +about you, Freddie?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, indeed," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Hi'll 'ave one myself," said Mr. Punch.</p> + +<p>"After due consideration," said the Churchwarden, +"I think I will buy one also."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hanlon nodded a vigorous assent.</p> + +<p>The two Old Codgers, however, were firm in their +refusal. They could not be persuaded. They retired +from the enterprise then and there.</p> + +<p>Under the conduct of the young man, the two Old +Codgers left the room, and returned to the Committee +who were waiting with the mules outside; and with +them went Toby and Mr. Punch and Mr. Hanlon, to +bring back that portion of the treasure which was to +pay for the six hour-glasses.</p> + +<p>This was a work of much difficulty, and occupied a +great deal of time. While it was going on, the Rug-Merchant, +having first asked permission, reclined again +on the divan and resumed his pipe, while Aunt Amanda, +Freddie, and the Churchwarden seated themselves, at +his invitation, and watched him in silence.</p> + +<p>The treasure was at length piled, complete, in a corner +of the room. Toby, Mr. Punch, and Mr. Hanlon<!-- Page 194 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +returned for the last time, and without the great-great-grandson +of the Rug-Merchant.</p> + +<p>"The others will wait outside for an hour," said +Toby. "If we don't come back by that time, they'll +go on into the city without us."</p> + +<p>Shiraz the Rug-Merchant laid down the stem of +his pipe, and rising bowed to Aunt Amanda with great +deference.</p> + +<p>"Permit me, most gracious lady," said he, "to see +the fingers of your left hand."</p> + +<p>He took in his own right hand the third finger of +Aunt Amanda's left, and bent his eyes close over it. He +straightened himself up with a long breath, and crossing +his arms upon his breast, made a low salaam.</p> + +<p>"It is as I thought," said he. "The mark is here, +on the third finger of the left hand. Highness," said +he, bowing lower, "I pray you accept your servant's +salutation on your return." And raising her hand to +his lips, he kissed it in a very courtly manner.</p> + +<p>"Goodness alive!" said Aunt Amanda, turning as +red as a rose, "you make me feel too foolish for anything."</p> + +<p>"You have been away a long time," said Shiraz, "but +you have returned. Happy am I to be the first to greet +you on your return. You and the others have all been +enchanted. You are six enchanted souls, and in your +present shapes not one of you is himself. I suppose +you do not know that you are enchanted; you think +that you are yourselves; is it not so? I assure you it +is a mistake; but I can put you in the way of correcting +your errors, and restoring yourselves to your true +shapes, if you desire it. Madam," said he, bowing +again to Aunt Amanda, "I await your commands."</p> + +<p>"I reckon we all want to be corrected," said Aunt +Amanda. "It's what we've come here for. We've +come a long way to this island, and for nothing on<!-- Page 195 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +earth but to be corrected, if there's any way to do it. +If you can do it, go ahead."</p> + +<p>"Hearing is obedience," said Shiraz. "Please to +take the hour-glasses."</p> + +<p>Each one took up an hour-glass from the table and +held it in his hand.</p> + +<p>"It is necessary," said Shiraz, "to destroy the sands +in the glasses. If they can be destroyed, the enchantment +will be over. There is no power on earth which +can destroy the sands but one, and that is the White +Fire of the Preserver. Will you risk the fire?"</p> + +<p>"I will," said Aunt Amanda, now somewhat pale; +and the others nodded assent.</p> + +<p>"Then I will give you the White Robes," said +Shiraz. "Without them you can not withstand the +Fire."</p> + +<p>He went to a wall and drew from behind the hangings +a box, which he opened on the table. From +this box he took six white linen gowns, and at his direction +each put on one of the gowns. Freddie's was +much too long, and he was obliged to hold it up.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Toby, "I always did look ridiculous in +a night-gown, but this beats—"</p> + +<p>"Peace," said Shiraz. "The Fire will not harm you +now. Two things only are necessary: to fear nothing, +and to hold tight to the hour-glasses."</p> + +<p>With these words he clapped his hands, and from +behind the hangings on the rear wall stepped a black +man, clad in a robe similar to the others. To this +man the Persian spoke in some strange tongue, and +the man bowed.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Shiraz, "you will follow my servant. +Farewell, and peace be with you."</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 196 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>FROM THE FIRE BACK TO THE FRYING PAN</h3> + +<p>The white-robed figures, having left the +room by a small circular door behind the hangings, +followed the black servant along a pitch-dark +passage, and in a few moments came to a bridge, +similar to the one they had crossed before. As they +felt their way over it cautiously one by one, the sound +of rushing water came to them from below, and a +cold breeze fanned their cheeks. A little further on +they touched the first step of a stair, and began to ascend +its worn stone treads. They mounted some thirty +steps, and touching the wall with their hands, moved +onward along a passage. This passage made an +abrupt turn to the left, and when they had cleared the +corner they saw in its sides before them a gleam of +light here and there.</p> + +<p>"The Master's work-rooms," said the black servant. +"Please to follow."</p> + +<p>They passed now and then beneath a lighted window, +too high to be seen through, and at the end of +the passage the servant paused before a closed iron +door. He opened this door with a key, and led them +forth.</p> + +<p>Before them was a garden, the most beautiful that +any of them had ever seen. High over it was a dome +of pale green and amber glass, through which the sunlight +streamed in mild and parti-coloured rays. The +walls which supported the dome were so high that it +was impossible to see beyond. In the center was a<!-- Page 197 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +fountain, dropping in a sparkling shower into a marble +basin; around it spread a well-ordered carpet of flowers, +of all the colours, as it seemed, of the rainbow; +along the walls were cocoa palms, banana trees, and +the feathery bamboo; white cockatoos sailed across +from palm to palm; the air was heavy with a warm +odour of moist earth and blossoms. The whole party +drew a deep breath of pleasure. The dark place from +which they had come seemed to fade away like a dream +before the soft beauty of the garden.</p> + +<p>The servant led them to the opposite side, and unlocked +a door in the wall, making way for them to +pass in before him. They entered, and heard the +door locked behind them; the servant was no longer +with them; they were alone in a small square room, of +stone walls and an earthen floor; there was no opening, +but in the opposite wall was a closed door. A +pale light pervaded the place, from what source they +could not discover. In the earthen floor from wall +to wall grew a thicket of stiff stalks, higher than Freddie's +head, and clustered closely around each stalk from +bottom to top were flowers of a waxen whiteness.</p> + +<p>"It seems a real pity," said Aunt Amanda, "to break +those pretty plants, but I reckon we've got to wade +into them. I'm mighty curious to see what's on the +other side of that door. Probably the fire the old man +was talking about. Oh, dear, I don't like fire. But +we've got to get to that door, so come along."</p> + +<p>The whole party moved in a body into the thicket of +waxen stalks.</p> + +<p>As they stepped in, the stalks broke around them +with sharp reports. They moved on again, and the +reports, as the stalks broke, became louder and +louder; and now each one felt the hour-glass in his +hand being tugged at, and found that wherever his +hand touched a flower, the petals flattened themselves +on the hand and the glass, and clung so tight that it<!-- Page 198 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +took a hard jerk to get them loose. There was danger +of losing the glasses, and with one accord they +held the glasses high above their heads. The moment +they did so, the conduct of the stalks became terrifying +indeed.</p> + +<p>As if in anger, the broken stalks spouted forth, +with a hiss and a rush, blinding jets of liquid white +fire, which tore at the ceiling angrily and roared and +crackled. From the broken stalks it spread to the +others, and in a moment jets of liquid white fire were +blazing and crackling upward from all the stalks in +the room, and the terrified captives were in the very +midst of it.</p> + +<p>It ran up their robes and showered on them from +the ceiling; it became denser and angrier; it was all but +unbearable, though they felt it in only a tiny fraction of +its real strength; in another instant the frail white +gowns must surely be consumed. But in some strange +way the gowns shed off the liquid fire, and remained +unscorched.</p> + +<p>For a moment the sufferers were stupefied. They +were unable to move. Freddie tried to scream, but +he could make no sound; he almost fainted away; but +he felt, through it all, the sturdy arm of Mr. Toby +tight about him.</p> + +<p>They pushed on in a close body and passed the center +of the room; the white glare became more blinding, +the roar and crackle more deafening; they were surrounded, +cut off, in the midst of destruction; they were +bewildered; they stopped again; there was no use in +going back; they must get forward through the furnace +at any cost; they made a new start; and in a frenzy +of terror, their hands before their eyes, with a rush +they gained the door. They crowded against it; they +pushed and beat upon it; it gave way before them; +they rushed through, and it closed behind them of its +own accord.<!-- Page 199 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> + +<p>They were standing in broad daylight on the sidewalk +of a city street, under a high blank wall, with +shops on the opposite side; each with an hour-glass, +empty of sand, in his right hand, and each clad only +in a long white night-gown.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 200 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>DISENCHANTMENT COMPLETE</h3> + +<p>They looked behind them. A high stone wall +rose at their backs, and in it was no sign of a +door.</p> + +<p>They looked across the street. It was a narrow +street, paved with cobble-stones; on the opposite side, +where a row of little low shops stretched away on +either hand, a few people were going in and out at the +doors, and a few others were walking at some distance, +before the shop-windows. An ox-cart was coming slowly +down the street.</p> + +<p>Freddie had sometimes dreamed of being out among +people in broad daylight in his night-gown, and he now +felt the same terror he had felt in those dreams; he +looked anxiously at the shops for a place in which to +hide. No one appeared to observe them yet, but they +would soon be seen, and it would be dreadful, unless +they could find shelter without a moment's delay.</p> + +<p>"We had better run into one of those shops," said +he, breathlessly, "and ask them to hide us until we +can get some clothes."</p> + +<p>"Ah, no," said a soft voice beside him, at his right. +"It is not a shop that I must go to now. I must +hurry home."</p> + +<p>Freddie looked around at his right for Aunt +Amanda. There was no Aunt Amanda. In her place, +holding an empty hour-glass in her right hand, was +a lady, the fairest whom Freddie had ever seen. She +was young; her eyes were of the blue of summer skies;<!-- Page 201 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +her hair was golden yellow; on her soft white cheek +was a tinge of pink; two heavy braids of hair hung +almost to her knees; her eyes were sparkling with +happiness, and a tender and wistful smile curved her +lips. As Freddie gazed at her, he thought that there +could not be in the world another so radiantly beautiful. +She looked about her as one who sees familiar things +after a long absence.</p> + +<p>Freddie's eyes fell to the hand which was nearest +him, her left. On the third finger of her left hand +was a ruby ring.</p> + +<p>"Are you," he faltered, "are you—Aunt Amanda?"</p> + +<p>"I think," she said, smiling on him, "I think I was, +once. I think I can remember that name. And you +are—let me see; what was your name? Ah, yes, your +name was Freddie. But we must hurry; we must not +keep them waiting."</p> + +<p>Freddie turned, and saw beside him four strange +men, all gazing at the beautiful lady in amazement. +In the right hand of each was an empty hour-glass.</p> + +<p>Freddie looked down on the two men who stood +nearest him; he looked <i>down</i> on them; he was suddenly +aware that he was not looking up. They were +short, for full-grown men, and of precisely the same +height; their faces were square, their cheek-bones prominent, +and their noses hooked; the head of one was +bald, and the hair of the other's head lay flat down +on his forehead where it curved back like a hairpin; +except for their heads, they were in all respects twins. +There was no hump on the back of either of them.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Punch and Mr. Toby!" said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"The wery same," said the bald-headed one.</p> + +<p>"That's me," said the other.</p> + +<p>Behind Mr. Toby stood a lean man in spectacles. +His night-gown hung upon him very loosely, and he +was very spare indeed. His smooth-shaven cheeks +were somewhat hollow; his eyes behind his glasses were<!-- Page 202 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +deep and solemn; his frame was the frame of one who +subdues the flesh by fasting; snow-white hair, curling +inward at the back of his neck, made a kind of aureole +around his thin face; he looked for all the world as +he stood barefoot in his long white gown, like one of +those saints you see in painted glass windows in a +church.</p> + +<p>"Is it," said Freddie, hesitating, "is it—the Churchwarden?"</p> + +<p>"I have reason to believe," said the saintly looking +man, "that I have been known by that name. But +I am in reality, and always have been, in reality, something +far more lowly than a churchwarden; I am, and +always have been, at heart, a meek and humble follower +of the holy Thomas à Kempis, whose life of +serene and cloistered sanctity I have always wished to +imitate. Now that I am myself, it is my ambition to +be known, if it is not too presumptuous to say so, +as Thomas the Inferior. Pax vobiscum."</p> + +<p>"I ain't got the least idea what that means," said +Toby, "but anyway it's the Churchwarden's voice, +whether he calls himself Thomas the Inferior or Daniel +the Deleterious. You're heartily welcome, Warden, +and I hope you won't mind my saying that a +good meal wouldn't do you any harm, from the looks +of you. I'm pretty near starved to death myself. +Mr. Punch, we've got rid of our humps, as sure as +you're born. We're as straight in our bodies as we've +always been in our minds, and that's as straight as a +string. By crackey, I never felt so fine in my life; +blamed if I couldn't lick my weight in wildcats."</p> + +<p>"Hi 'ave no wish to do so," said Mr. Punch. "Hi +do not desire to engage in any conflict whatever; Hi +should regard such conduct as wery reprehensible; +wery. But one cannot but admit, harfter one's back +'as been so long out of correct proportion, as one may +s'y, that one enjoys a wery pronounced satisfaction<!-- Page 203 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +when one feels one's self restored to one's rightful +position as a hupright person, in common with one's +fellow—"</p> + +<p>"What about Mr. Hanlon?" said Toby, turning +around.</p> + +<p>"Michael Hanlon, prisent!" said a cheerful voice.</p> + +<p>Behind the Inferior Thomas stood a tall and handsome +man, the picture of an athlete in the prime of +condition. Short curling black hair clustered on his +head; his eyes were of a humorous dark blue; his +cheeks were like red apples; his shoulders were muscular, +his back was straight, his figure slim; and he +wore his night-gown as a Greek runner in ancient +times might have worn his robe after the games.</p> + +<p>"What!" said Freddie. "Can you talk?"</p> + +<p>"Faith," said Mr. Hanlon, "I've a tongue in me +head that can wag with anny that iver come off the +blarney stone, and it's no lies I'm tellin' ye. For an +Irish gintleman to have to listen and listen, and kape +his tongue still in his head and say niver a worrd +at all, at all, 'tis a hard life, me frinds, a hard life, +and it's plaised I am to be mesilf at last, and the nate +bit of tongue doin' his duty like a thrue son of Erin—I +could tell ye a swate little shtory that comes to me +mind, of a dumb Irishman that could not spake at +all, at all, and the deaf wife of him that could not +hear, and their twelve pigs all lyin' down in the mud +with wan of thim standing up and crying out that the +wolf was comin' in through the gate, and the good +wife unable to hear and the good man unable to +spake—"</p> + +<p>"I reckon you've got your tongue, all right," said +Toby. "I wish we had time to hear that story, but we +haven't. Now, Freddie, what do you think we'd better—Why, +Freddie! What's that you've got on your lip?"</p> + +<p>Freddie put his hand to his upper lip. What he felt +there was a tiny silken mustache. He blushed.<!-- Page 204 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And 'e's taller than any of us except Mr. 'Anlon!" +exclaimed Mr. Punch. "My word!"</p> + +<p>Freddie looked down at Mr. Punch, and realized +his own height. He looked at his hands, and they +were almost as large as Mr. Hanlon's. His night-gown +came to his ankles, and he realized that he was +no longer holding it up.</p> + +<p>"Why," he said, "I must be grown up!"</p> + +<p>"Grown up is the word," said Toby, "but I'd 'a' +known you anywhere. Twenty-one years old, I should +say."</p> + +<p>"Twenty-two," said Mr. Punch.</p> + +<p>Everyone now fell silent. The young and lovely +lady, who had said nothing during their talk, was +smiling from one to another. She seemed to feel no +embarrassment nor concern, nor anything indeed but +happiness. She looked at Toby with a smile, and all +the men looked at her.</p> + +<p>"Do you know me?" she said to Toby.</p> + +<p>"You are changed," said he, "that's a fact. But I +always knew that Aunt Amanda was like that, down +deep inside of her. If she could only have looked like +what she was, that's the way she would have looked, +and I always knew it. I'm glad you've come to look +like yourself at last."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said the beautiful lady. "I am glad you +don't feel that I am strange to you. I know you +all now, better than I have ever known you. You +have been with me a long while, under disguise. I +don't seem to remember very well what your disguises +were, for I seem to have known you always as you +are: my loyal knight," (turning to Freddie), "my +body-guard," (turning to Mr. Toby and Mr. Punch), +"my confessor," (turning to Thomas the Inferior), +"and my courier," (turning to Mr. Hanlon). "In +my exile you have been with me, and in my homecoming +you shall be with me still."<!-- Page 205 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We hope to be with you always," said the tall +young knight who used to be Freddie. "But we are +beginning to be noticed. I have seen one or two +people stare from the shop windows. We had better +hurry to one of those shops and seek refuge until +we can find proper clothes."</p> + +<p>"Ah, no!" said the lady, with a radiant smile. "I +must hasten home. They have been waiting a long +time, and I must not lose a moment. I know the way! +This street is changed since I was here, but I know +it! I know the way! Come with me! I am going +home!"</p> + +<p>She placed her empty hour-glass in Freddie's hand, +and led the way up the street. Her bare feet trod +the pavement swiftly; she walked as if she had never +known what it was to be lame; she went swimmingly, +with a motion of infinite grace. The others looked +about them, uneasily, as they followed, but she seemed +to care nothing for the eyes of the people. The ox-cart +stopped as it came to them, and the driver who +was walking beside it stopped also, and gazed at them +with his mouth open. Faces appeared at shop-windows +as they went by, and figures appeared at shop-doors. +Two or three foot-passengers passed them, and after +they had gone, went to the nearest shop-door and +stood there for a moment in talk with the shop-keeper. +They then began to follow the strange white-clad group +up the street. In a few moments others joined them. +Freddie looked behind, and wished to run; but the +lady who was leading paid no attention.</p> + +<p>A little further on she turned a corner, and the party +found themselves in a much busier street. The sidewalks +were alive with people. In a moment there +was a great silence. When the six figures first appeared, +some of the people began to laugh. Then +they looked at the face of the lady who swept along +in advance of her attendants, and they laughed no<!-- Page 206 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +more. They began to whisper one to another. They +fell apart, and made way for her and her attendants. +They stopped; they forgot their own affairs; some ran +into the shops and called out the persons who were +within; they gaped, and whispered, and nodded, and +held up their hands, and with one accord began to +follow.</p> + +<p>Further on, heads appeared from the windows of +pleasure-towers and pleasure-domes; doors opened; all +who could walk joined themselves to the crowd which +was following the wondrous lady and her five strange +companions.</p> + +<p>Deeper and deeper into the city; on past the region +of shops into the region of gardens and mansions; up +by a gradual ascent to the place of the largest and tallest +towers and domes; on they went, the six white-gowned +and bare-footed figures before, and the crowd behind; +and the further they went, the greater became +the crowd; and still there was no sound from the +people, except the sound of an awestruck whispering.</p> + +<p>The dark cloud on the mountain-top was now plainly +in view before them between the towers and domes, +and they could see the great mass of the King's Tower +where it rose to the cloud and lost itself within it. At +the end of the street which they were now following +a majestic gateway could be seen, and beyond it a park.</p> + +<p>Behind them the street was choked from wall to wall +with a vast multitude. From every house, as the multitude +passed, its people poured forth and joined the +throng; business was forgotten; shops and houses were +deserted; it seemed as if the whole city was in the +street, following the lady and her five attendants. She +looked not behind her once. She seemed to be unaware +of anything in the world about her; her eyes +shone like stars; she had forgotten even her companions; +she spoke not a word, but looked forward to +the stately gateway and the park beyond. Still no<!-- Page 207 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +sound came from the multitude, except a sound of whispering.</p> + +<p>They reached the gateway. On each side was a +great stone pillar, supporting a gate of massive bronze. +The gates were open. Without an instant's hesitation +she led the way within, and as she did so placed her +left hand on her heart. The throng seemed to waver +a moment, and then as the six barefoot and white-gowned +figures moved swiftly up the driveway into the +park, it flowed in silently between the gates, and followed +at a respectful distance.</p> + +<p>Before them, at a distance, on a knoll from which +terraces of velvet grass descended, stood the palace +of the King; white and broad and flat-roofed.</p> + +<p>Passing a grove of trees, the lady left the roadway +and stepped into the smooth grass of a lawn, and +sped across it directly towards the terraces before the +palace of the King. She mounted the gentle slope, +her five friends following her; and the vast throng, +filling the park to the gates, came on behind. She +reached the first terrace; her hand was still on her +heart. A dog barked.</p> + +<p>Windows in the palace front began to go up, and +faces to appear. From an archway sprang a pack of +beautiful tall white curly-haired dogs, and rushed on +the lady, barking. Freddie made as if to protect her, +but she waved him back with a smile. The dogs +sprang up as if to devour her, but they did no harm; +they barked as if their throats would burst; they +leaped and gambolled about her; they thrust their noses +into her hand; they almost spoke; and in the midst of +it there appeared upon the wide steps before the palace +door a noble-looking man, and beside him three +children.</p> + +<p>At sight of this man and the children, the lady covered +her eyes for an instant with her hands, and gave +a sob; but she quickly looked up, and sped on more<!-- Page 208 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +swiftly than before, her hands hanging beside her, and +a bright misty look in her eyes.</p> + +<p>The man upon the palace steps shaded his eyes with +his hands, and gazed upon her and the multitude spread +out across the park behind her. One of the children, +a tiny boy, he took by the hand, and another, a girl +a little older, he grasped with his other hand; and +with the third, a boy of something over nine, beside +them, they all four came down the steps and crossed the +terrace to meet the radiant lady.</p> + +<p>On the next terrace they met. He dropped his children's +hands, and stopped. He was a man of some +thirty years, richly clad, and handsome beyond measure. +As he stopped, the multitude found its voice. +A mighty shout went up.</p> + +<p>"Long live the King! Long live the King!"</p> + +<p>He paid no attention. His eyes were on the fair +lady before him. A cry from the oldest boy rang +out clear and sharp in the silence.</p> + +<p>"Mother!"</p> + +<p>The King held out his arms.</p> + +<p>"My darling!" he cried. "At last! At last!"</p> + +<p>"Beloved!" she cried, and rushed into his arms, and +buried her face in his shoulder.</p> + +<p>The children clung to her, weeping, and with one +arm she pressed them close against her side.</p> + +<p>The multitude found its voice again.</p> + +<p>"Long live Queen Miranda! Long live Queen +Miranda!"</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 209 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN</h3> + +<p>"There's an Old Man," said Robert to Freddie. +"He lives on the mountain. I saw +him once."</p> + +<p>They were sitting on the palace lawn, looking up +at the mountain which rose behind the King's tower. +The sun was directly overhead, and was accordingly +hidden by the cloud. The lower slopes of the mountain +were easy and gradual, but they grew steeper as +they ascended, and at the point where the mountain +entered the cloud it was a straight and smooth wall +of granite, plainly impossible to climb. The King's +eldest child fixed his big eyes on the tall young man +beside him.</p> + +<p>"I like you," said he. "I wish you would take me +up the mountain some time for blackberries. Will +you?"</p> + +<p>"If the Queen permits," said Freddie, "we will go +tomorrow."</p> + +<p>A long time had passed since the Queen's return; +a happy time, during which the five who had come +with the Queen were made to feel as if they had lived +all their lives in a palace. The two Old Codgers +were found by Toby, comfortably established in a +double shop of their own, on one side of which the +Old Codger with the Wooden Leg sold tobacco, and +on the other side of which the Sly Old Fox sold +jewelry; each of them entirely contented with his fortune, +and settled down for life. The Third Vice-President<!-- Page 210 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +had paid his respects at the palace, and was +unable to talk of anything but his Museum, for which +he was devising many plans, including a method whereby +the late Mr. Matthew Speak might be assured +against ever being blown out of the window.</p> + +<p>The saintly person who had once been the Churchwarden +was occupied nowadays, in a little room in +the basement of the palace, in copying in beautiful letters +an ancient book belonging to the King.</p> + +<p>Mr. Punch and Mr. Toby spent their time in exploring +the city, arm in arm, very inquisitive, very +talkative, and making friends with everybody.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hanlon's work in life was, it appeared, the +climbing of the King's Tower. Every day he disappeared +within, and every day he declared that he +would mount to the top before he finished; but he +had not yet got to the top, and there did not seem +much prospect of his ever doing so.</p> + +<p>As for Freddie,—not that he was called Freddie +now; the King had given him a high-sounding name,—the +Chevalier Frederick; and by that name he was +spoken of by everybody, except that Toby sometimes +forgot and called him the Chandelier. As for the +Chevalier Frederick, his interest was mainly in the +Queen's three children, Robert, Genevieve, and James; +and at the present moment the oldest, Robert, was +sitting with the Chevalier on the palace lawn, gossiping.</p> + +<p>"We will go tomorrow," the Chevalier was saying, +and then the little boy Robert went on about the old +man he had seen on the mountain.</p> + +<p>"I saw him once," said Robert. "Just before Mother +went away. I ran away from home, I did, and I was +gone all day. Mother was terribly worried. I ran +away to the mountain, and I was muddy all over when +I got back, and it was dark, too! Mother was terribly +worried. I was gone all day, I was; and I didn't +get back until after dark, I didn't; and I was muddy<!-- Page 211 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +all over. Oh, but it was dark. Mother, she was +terribly worried." He stopped to think it over, and +then went on again. "There wasn't any Tower then. +It was just before the old chap came and built the +Tower in a night; you know about that, don't you? +I ran away and didn't come home until after dark, +I didn't; Mother was worried; and Jenny—I never +call her Genevieve, because Jenny's shorter—and Jenny +wouldn't go because she was afraid, and James was +too little, so I went all by myself; and it was getting +pretty dark, and I was starting home down the mountain, +because I knew Mother would be worried, and +I saw the Old Man coming down the mountain, and +he didn't see me, and he had a pack on his back and +a long stick in his hand, and a gown belted in about +the middle, and he was kind of fat and bald-headed; +and he didn't see me but I saw him, and pretty soon he +went down into a gully and I didn't see him any more, +and I came on home, because it was getting dark, and +I knew Mother would be worried."</p> + +<p>"Then perhaps we had better not go up there," said +Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Oh no," said Robert. "It's a grand place to climb +and gather berries and flowers. And I'd like to see +the Old Man again. Will you take me there today?"</p> + +<p>"Tomorrow," said Freddie, "if the Queen will +permit."</p> + +<p>At this moment Mr. Hanlon appeared, somewhat +out of breath, and he and Freddie went into the palace +together. He was quite jubilant.</p> + +<p>"Faith," said he, "'tis a tower indade, that tower, +and a swate little bit of a journey to the top of it, if +there's iver a top at all. But it's Michael Hanlon +will do it, by the bones of St. Patrick, and don't ye +forget what I'm tellin' ye, me b'y. I've been up +there this day, so high, so high—! I'll niver tell ye +how high. It's comin' better; me wind and me legs<!-- Page 212 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +are better; in a wake, or two wakes, 'tis meself will +be fit for the grand ascent, and then there'll be news +from the top, and a proud look in the eye of Michael +Hanlon, Esquire! Wait and see, me b'y!"</p> + +<p>The next morning, Queen Miranda having given her +consent, Freddie and Robert left the palace for their +day on the mountain. All day they wandered up the +trails, and in the afternoon, when their luncheon was +all gone and they were tired, they began to descend. +It was growing dark; they had had a glorious day, and +they were sorry it would soon be over. They stretched +themselves on the ground beneath a mountain oak, and +looked below them, past the Tower, across the roof +of the palace to the city. There was no living thing +in sight, except a bird which sailed across their view +and disappeared. "Well, Robert," said Freddie, "I +suppose the Old Man who used to be here is gone. +Come; we must go; your mother will be worried."</p> + +<p>They got to their feet. As they did so, a kind of +groan startled them. They listened. It came again, +from some point near by. Freddie thought he could +make out a weak human voice, trying to call for help. +Drawing Robert after him, he climbed over a number +of boulders and mounted to the top of a rise in the +ground, and looked down into a deep gully, covered +on its sides with rocks and bushes. What he saw there +gave him a start of alarm.</p> + +<p>At the bottom was an old man, lying on his back, +with one leg doubled under him, his face up to the sky. +From his lips came a groan, followed by a faint cry +for help. His head was bald, he was rather stout, he +wore a long white beard, and he was clad in a short +dark gown, belted about the middle. His legs were +bare, and on the foot which was visible he wore a +sandal.</p> + +<p>Robert looked over Freddie's shoulder, and whispered<!-- Page 213 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +in his ear. "That's him! He's fallen down +and hurt himself."</p> + +<p>It was true. The old man had evidently fallen, and +he was plainly suffering. Freddie clambered down to +him, and knelt beside him. The old man looked into +the young man's eyes, and said, in a feeble whisper:</p> + +<p>"My leg. Broken. Help me home."</p> + +<p>Freddie assisted him into a sitting position, and then +lifted him up and held him.</p> + +<p>"I cannot walk," said the old man. "Unless you +can carry me, I must die here."</p> + +<p>Freddie was properly proud of his new strength, +and he believed that he could carry the old man.</p> + +<p>"Where do you live?" said he.</p> + +<p>"Up the mountain. I will show you. I beg you +to carry me home."</p> + +<p>"I will do my best," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>He turned his back to the old man, and supporting +him at the same time put the old man's arms about +his neck, and by a great effort got the poor creature +on his back. Carrying him thus, he began to go haltingly +up the side of the gully. The little boy watched +them wonderingly.</p> + +<p>It was a terrible journey. The old man directed +Freddie from moment to moment, and the way led +steadily up the mountain, by a course which Freddie +had not seen that day. The burden on Freddie's back +became heavier and heavier; he panted harder and +harder under it; he stumbled from time to time, and +every instant told himself that he could go no further. +The old man seemed to think of nothing but of getting +home. The little boy followed, staring with big +eyes.</p> + +<p>Freddie had gone but a short way up the mountain-side +when he felt through all his back, where it +touched the old man, a chill; his shoulders and throat, +where the arms of the old man touched them, became<!-- Page 214 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +cold; as he struggled on, the chill increased; he felt +as if he were hugging to his back a burden of ice.</p> + +<p>"Are we nearly there?" he asked, trying to wipe a +cold perspiration from his forehead.</p> + +<p>"No, no," said the old man. "Go on. A long way +yet. You can't be tired so soon."</p> + +<p>The cold upon Freddie's back and shoulders and +throat became a dead numbness; he was too cold to +shiver; his arms too were now becoming numb, and +he felt that he could hold his burden no longer. He +stopped.</p> + +<p>"I must put you down," he said. "I must rest a +moment. I don't know what makes me so cold."</p> + +<p>"No, no," said the old man. "Too soon! too soon! +Keep on!"</p> + +<p>"I cannot," said Freddie. "I am freezing. My +strength is gone. I must rest."</p> + +<p>With these words he let the old man carefully +down, and laid him on the ground. He stood there +panting and rubbing his frozen hands together.</p> + +<p>"Stupid weakling," said the old man, staring up at +him, "go and search upon the mountain-side and bring +me hither seeds of the fennel which you will there find, +and be quick; for I perish."</p> + +<p>Freddie and the little boy hastened away together, +and at a distance on the mountain-side found, after +a long search, a few plants of the fennel, with which +they hurried back to the old man.</p> + +<p>He was gone.</p> + +<p>They looked far and near; they examined every +nook and cranny; the mountain was steep at this +point, and difficult for any sound man; for an old +man, crippled, it seemed impossible, but he was nowhere +to be found; he was gone.</p> + +<p>Freddie and Robert turned homeward, and made +hard work of it. The little boy became extremely +heated with his labor; but Freddie remained as cold<!-- Page 215 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +as ever. It is true that he perspired, but the beads +upon his forehead were like the beads upon ice-cold +glass. His hands were so numb that when he cut +them slightly on a rock he felt no pain. His back, +where the old man had clung to it with his body, was +coldest of all; he was so stiff that he could scarcely +bend his arms or body; many times the little boy had +to help him down; the chill spread; at the foot of +the mountain his legs were nearly as cold as his +arms; when they passed the Tower, his knees were +as if frozen, and would not bend; the little boy put +his arm about him and tried to help him walk; he +began to lose knowledge of his whereabouts; he held +out a stiff arm before him, like a blind man, and +dragged one foot after the other like a man whose +legs are made of stone. The little boy, weeping to +himself, took his icy outstretched hand, and led him +home.</p> + +<p>The palace door was thrown open. The little boy +rushed in with a cry, and turned around to his companion. +The white-faced rigid creature which was +Freddie stood in the doorway, staring vacantly, and fell +slowly forward on its face upon the floor.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 216 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + +<h3>THE KING'S TOWER</h3> + +<p>Freddie was very ill. He was so ill that +after a week the King gave up all hope, +and believed he would die. The Queen wept +bitterly; she scarcely left his side; at night she did +not sleep for weeping, and by day she sat by his bed +and watched his cold white face. His friends were +not allowed to see him, and of these it appeared that +Mr. Hanlon had been gone for some days up the +Tower.</p> + +<p>All that the best doctors in the city could do had +been done, but the Chevalier was no better. He lay +under the blankets, cold as ice and motionless as stone; +and his eyes, big round eyes like the eyes of a child, +stared up strangely out of deep sockets. They looked +up at the King, who was bending down over the bed +and smiling encouragingly. The Queen and her three +children, Robert, Genevieve, and James, were standing +close by, but they could not smile.</p> + +<p>"Come, Chevalier," said the King, "you will be well +soon, I am sure."</p> + +<p>A faint voice came from the pale lips; not the voice +of a grown man, but the voice of a child.</p> + +<p>"That isn't my name," it said, "my name is—Fweddie."</p> + +<p>The King went away, and took his children with +him; and after they had gone the Queen heard the +childish voice again from the bed.</p> + +<p>"I want to see Aunt Amanda."<!-- Page 217 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Queen went to him, and stood beside the bed. +He looked up at her.</p> + +<p>"You aren't Aunt Amanda," he said. "I want to +see Aunt Amanda."</p> + +<p>"I think that was my name once," said the Queen. +"Will you talk to me?"</p> + +<p>He looked at her again, and she saw that he did +not know her.</p> + +<p>"My farver sent me," he said. "Mr. Toby has +gone to the barber-shop, and my farver he wants a +pound of Cage-Roach Mitchner."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Toby is here in the palace now, and I'm sure +he—"</p> + +<p>"I don't know about any palace. I can't wait long. +My farver told me to hurry."</p> + +<p>The Queen said no more, and Freddie appeared to +go to sleep. The night came on, and the Queen still +sat by his side. It grew very late; her children had +long since gone to bed, and even the King was asleep +in his own apartments. The palace was silent, and +there was scarcely a light anywhere in the great place +except the light of a taper on a table in Freddie's room. +The Queen was bending forward, watching the face on +the pillow. The eyes were closed, the lips were together, +and there was no sign of breathing. She knew +that it could not be much longer; she buried her face +in her hands and wept bitterly.</p> + +<p>A gentle tap upon the door aroused her. She rose +and admitted Mr. Toby and Mr. Punch, Thomas the +Inferior, and Mr. Hanlon.</p> + +<p>"Quick, ma'am," said Mr. Hanlon. "There's not +a minute to be lost. If you plase, I'll ask ye to put +on yer bonnet in a hurry, ma'am. We're off on a +journey, and the poor sick young lad's coming along +with us. If you'll just be in a hurry with the bonnet, +ma'am!"</p> + +<p>The Queen, scarcely realizing what she was doing,<!-- Page 218 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +left the room, and went first to the nursery, where +she bent over her three sleeping children and kissed +them each, and murmured a loving good-bye above +them, as if she were going to leave them; and for a +long, long time she gazed at each rosy face, as if to +fix it in her memory forever.</p> + +<p>When she returned to the room, wearing a shawl +over her head and shoulders, she was startled to see +that the sick youth was sitting upright in a chair, thickly +wrapped in blankets. His round childlike eyes were +wide open, and to her surprise a faint smile seemed to +hover about his lips.</p> + +<p>She looked at the others. Each held, in his hand +an empty hour-glass.</p> + +<p>"Plase to get your hour-glass, ma'am," said Mr. +Hanlon, "and Freddie's too."</p> + +<p>Freddie's hour-glass was soon found in a drawer +in the same room; the Queen's she brought in a moment +from another room.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hanlon picked up from the floor, where he had +previously laid it, a small canvas bag, and placed it on +the table under the candle. All of the empty hour-glasses +he placed upon the table, and unscrewed the part +of each by which it was designed to receive its load +of sand. He lifted his bag, and out of it poured into +each glass a quantity of fine white sand. "A little +more or less won't matter a mite," said he, when he +had filled them all. "A foine time I've had getting +the sand, 'tis sure, but it's the true article, straight +from the hand of the old crayture himself, and 'tis +him we're going to this very minute, and the young +lad with us. By the sand in the hour-glasses we'll +get back to the old crayture in one-tinth the time it +took me to find him without it, and by the same +we'll get him to save for us the poor lad's life, or me +name's not Michael."</p> + +<p>Each now took his hour-glass in his hand. They<!-- Page 219 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +were the same hour-glasses they had bought of Shiraz +the Persian, and the sand which was now in them was +the same sort of fine white sand which had been in +them before their ordeal in the fire.</p> + +<p>Mr. Punch and Mr. Toby lifted the sick youth from +his chair, and carried him between them, in a sitting +position, towards the door. Mr. Hanlon looked at +him anxiously, and commanded haste.</p> + +<p>In a moment the whole party were in the hall, and +in a few moments more they were crossing the lawn +towards King's Tower. It was a clear night, and the +sky was spangled with stars.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hanlon opened the door of the Tower, and +when they were all within closed it again.</p> + +<p>"Madam and gintlemen," said he, "we are going +to the top of the Tower. I have been there meself; +and there's wan at the top who can bring back our +young frind to life, if he's a mind to do it."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" gasped the Queen in terror. "I must not +go to the top of this tower. Ah!" she stopped suddenly +and went on in a determined voice. "I will, +though. If it is to be, then it must be. Our young +Chevalier came here for me, and I will go with +him! If my strength holds out, I will go even to the +top of the Tower, whatever evil may befall me +there!"</p> + +<p>"'Tis not strength that's needed, madam," said Mr. +Hanlon, "for the old crayture that give me the sand +was willing to help us up to him, and the sand will +make the travellin' easy, or else the old haythen has +much desayved me. 'Twas all I could do to get to +the top, belave me, and ye'd niver do it without the +sand in the glasses, let alone carry up the young lad +in your arms besides. Now we'll be going up the +stairs, and if the old crayture didn't desayve me, you're +to hold your hour-glasses in your hands, and see what +happens."<!-- Page 220 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Hanlon went up first; then came the Queen, +and after her Mr. Punch and Mr. Toby, bearing between +them in an upright position the stiff cold form +of the young Chevalier; and last of all came Thomas +the Inferior, in his long brown gown and sandals.</p> + +<p>Each climbed slowly, but the steps appeared to flow +downward under their feet with great rapidity. They +were not conscious of selecting any particular tread +to step on; but while a foot was rising from one step +to the next, it seemed as if a thousand steps were +passing downward, until the foot came down and found +itself on a perfectly motionless tread. Undoubtedly +they were mounting, without unusual exertion, a thousand +steps at a time.</p> + +<p>Even at that rate of progress, the journey upward +seemed an endless one. They paused sometimes to go +into one of the rooms on a landing for a moment's +rest, and at those times they looked out of a window. +It was not long before they were so high that on +looking out, the City's lights were no more than a +glowing blur. At the last window on their upward +progress they looked up at the cloud; it was immediately +above their heads. After that there were no +more windows. They went on upward in silence, +aware in the darkness of the swift flow of steps downward +under them as they raised their feet. Each +observed that as he raised his foot the sand in his +hour-glass flowed downward a thousand times more +rapidly, as if time were suddenly running faster than +it was used to running.</p> + +<p>The walls of the tower were by this time coming +closer together, and the stair was even steeper than +before. They were panting for breath, and Mr. Punch +and Mr. Toby seemed to be all but exhausted. "We +are almost at the top," said Mr. Hanlon. "Keep +on. Don't give up."</p> + +<p>It was now, because there were no more rooms nor<!-- Page 221 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> +windows, completely dark. The face of the sick youth +could not be seen, and no one knew whether he was +still living. Even the sand in their hour-glasses they +were now unable to see.</p> + +<p>"We are almost there," said Mr. Hanlon. "Only +another minute or two. 'Tis easy work to what I +had in coming up alone."</p> + +<p>Mr. Punch gave a groan. "Hi carn't go another +step," said he. "Hi'm completely—"</p> + +<p>At this moment Mr. Hanlon stopped upon a landing. +It had been a long while since there had been +a landing, and they were all glad to rest upon it. They +crowded about Mr. Hanlon in the dark.</p> + +<p>"The door is over there," said he. "Keep close +to me."</p> + +<p>He walked a few feet forward across the level floor, +and came to a stop again.</p> + +<p>"'Tis the top of the tower," said he. "I hope +we're not too late to save the young lad's life. Stand +close behind me."</p> + +<p>He moved forward again, and stopped; he was evidently +feeling a wall with his hands.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said he. "'Tis the door itself. Now, thin, +we'll see!"</p> + +<p>He knocked upon the door with his knuckles.</p> + +<p>There was no response.</p> + +<p>He knocked again.</p> + +<p>There was a sound upon the other side of the door, +as of the rattling of a chain and the sliding of a bolt.</p> + +<p>A slit of light appeared up and down in the dark +wall; it became wider; it was apparent that the door +was opening; and in another moment the door was +flung wide, and in the doorway stood an Old Man, +holding up in his right hand a lantern in which glimmered +a candle.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 222 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + +<h3>THE SORCERER'S DEN</h3> + +<p>He was an old man, rather stout, dressed in +a short gown tied in with a cord about the +middle, and wearing sandals on his feet. He +stooped somewhat; a white beard hung to his waist; +his head was bald, except for a forelock of white hair +which drooped over his forehead towards his eyes. +There was a humorous twinkle in his eye, and a smile +overspread his broad round face.</p> + +<p>"'Tis the old parrty who will cure the Chivalier," +said Mr. Hanlon, behind his hand.</p> + +<p>"It's the Old Man of the Mountain," whispered +Toby.</p> + +<p>"It's the Magician who built the Tower," whispered +Queen Miranda, in alarm.</p> + +<p>"Hit's me own father, as ever was!" cried Mr. +Punch, aloud. "Greetings, old dear! 'Ere's a surprise, +what? 'Owever did you come 'ere? Hi'm no +end glad to see you, and the larst person Hi should +'ave thought to see in this—My word, what a lark!"</p> + +<p>"Come in, Punch," said the old gentleman, affably, +"and your friends too. I'm very glad to see you, my +boy. I've had some trouble in getting you here, but +here you are at last, thanks to my good friend Hanlon, +and you are now well out of the hands of Shiraz. +Put the Little Boy down in that chair, and we'll see +what we can do for him!"</p> + +<p>To speak of a grown-up youth with a mustache +as a Little Boy seemed hardly respectful, but Freddie +did not seem to mind it; indeed, his big round childlike<!-- Page 223 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +eyes dwelt fondly on the old man, and there was +something like a smile about his lips. He was seated +gently in a chair within the room, and while Mr. +Punch's father set down his lantern on a table, the +others looked about them.</p> + +<p>They were in a small square room with a low ceiling. +By the dim light of the candle they could see that +it was bare and dusty; cobwebs hung in all the corners; +there seemed to be no windows, but set upright in one +wall was what looked like the back of a clock, as tall +as a man. Opposite the door by which they had +entered was another door. Around the walls were +shelves, from floor to ceiling, crowded with hour-glasses +of all sizes.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman observed the look which Toby +cast at the shelves.</p> + +<p>"One of my store-rooms," said he. "I've got a +good many of 'em, all told, and in fact you'll find a +store-room of mine in the top of nearly every clock-tower +in the world. It takes a deal of space to keep +all the hour-glasses in, I can tell you. If you'll give +me yours, I'll put 'em away for you. Shiraz got 'em +away from me once, but he won't do it again. He +manages to steal one now and then, when I'm away, +but I usually get 'em back, sooner or later."</p> + +<p>He collected the hour-glasses from his visitors, and +put them away on a shelf.</p> + +<p>"Look 'ere, parent," said Mr. Punch, "hif I didn't +know better, I'd s'y as I'd seen this room before. +There's the back of the clock, and the door over there +looks like—"</p> + +<p>"You've a sharp eye, Punch, my boy," said the old +gentleman. "Quite a detective you are, my son. Now, +then, we'd better get busy. Aunt Amanda, do you +want me to cast off your enchantment?"</p> + +<p>"Why do you call me that?" asked Queen Miranda.<!-- Page 224 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Because that's your name. Don't you know who +you are?"</p> + +<p>"I know I was enchanted once, under the name of +Aunt Amanda."</p> + +<p>"No, no. You're enchanted <i>now</i>, under the name +of Queen Miranda."</p> + +<p>"But Shiraz the Persian told us he would disenchant +us, and he did."</p> + +<p>"No, no. You were yourselves before, and <i>now</i> you +are enchanted."</p> + +<p>"My brain is in a whirl," said Queen Miranda. "Are +we ourselves now, or were we ourselves before?"</p> + +<p>"By crackey," said Toby, "it's too much for me, and +I give it up. Anyway, what we want to know is, can +you cure the Chevalier?"</p> + +<p>"I can, and I will," said the old man. "There's +nothing the matter with him, except that he isn't himself. +As soon as he's himself again, he'll be well. +He was given the chance once before, but he didn't +know how to use it; he made a great mistake."</p> + +<p>"What mistake?" said Toby.</p> + +<p>"He made the mistake of carrying the Old Man +of the Mountain on his back. If he had only lifted +him up in his arms before him, the Old Man would +have been as light as a feather, and Freddie would +have been himself again in a flash. But of course he +didn't know. We've got to correct his mistake."</p> + +<p>"Well, by crickets," said Toby, "this is Correction +Island, right enough. Blamed if I know which is the +mistake and which is the correction. It looks to me +as if it was a mistake to be corrected, and we've got +to correct the correction back again."</p> + +<p>"Something like that," said the old man, smiling. +"I'm going to undo the correction of each one of you, +and then you'll all be yourselves once more, instead +of these false things you now are."<!-- Page 225 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span></p> + +<p>Queen Miranda looked at the ruby ring on her +finger, and wept quietly to herself. As for Freddie, +his eyes never left the face of the old man.</p> + +<p>The old man stooped over Freddie, and laid his +cheek against the young Chevalier's pale forehead, and +then against the young man's cheeks; he then threw +aside the blankets and sat himself down on Freddie's +knees. His body pressed the young man's breast, and +his cheek touched the young man's cheeks one after the +other. It was some moments before there was any +change. The others watched anxiously. A red glow +began to appear in Freddie's cheeks, and his eyes became +brighter. He raised his hands; he moved his +head; he looked about him; he smiled into the face of +the old man.</p> + +<p>"You are better?" said the old man.</p> + +<p>"I'm very well," said Freddie, in a clear voice. +"But I think I must have been sick. Have I been +sick?"</p> + +<p>"Rather," said the old man. "But you are going to +be yourself again in another minute. Now, then; put +your arms around me and lift me off. Can you do +that?"</p> + +<p>"Easily," said Freddie, and he lifted the old man in +his arms, and rising to his feet at the same time, tossed +the old man off with an easy gesture.</p> + +<p>As the old man touched the floor, there was no +longer any Chevalier. Freddie was standing before +the chair in his own person; the Little Boy once more, +with sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks. He looked +around in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Where are Aunt Amanda and the others?" said +the Little Boy.</p> + +<p>"Wait just a minute, Freddie," said the old man. +"Now, madam," he said to Queen Miranda, "if you +will be kind enough to lift me up and toss me away—"</p> + +<p>Queen Miranda looked at him doubtfully. He was<!-- Page 226 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +a solid-looking person, and it seemed absurd to think +of lifting him. But she did as he directed, and placing +her hands under his arms she found that he weighed +no more than a baby. She held him up off the floor.</p> + +<p>"Now cast me off," said he.</p> + +<p>She tossed him away with an easy gesture, and he +alighted on his feet with a bound.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Amanda!" cried Freddie, and rushed into her +arms.</p> + +<p>"Land sakes!" said she. "I thought you were never +coming. Where are all the others? I'm glad there's +nobody but this old man to see me in this bedraggled +bonnet. Why don't that Toby Littleback come? Now +ain't it like him to keep me waiting here all night? I +never see such an exasperatin'—"</p> + +<p>"Wait just one moment, Aunt Amanda," said the +old man. "I'll have him here immediately."</p> + +<p>He stood before Toby, and directed him what to +do. Toby seized him in his strong hands and lifted +him up over his head like a feather pillow; and such +a toss did Toby give him as sent him flying across +the room almost to the wall. The old man came down +on his feet with a bound.</p> + +<p>"You Toby Littleback!" said Aunt Amanda. "Ain't +it just like you to keep me and Freddie waiting here +all night, while—And where's Mr. Punch and all the +rest of 'em?"</p> + +<p>Toby stood before her, with his hands in his pockets. +His hump was on his back in its rightful place, and +he looked exactly as he had looked the first time Freddie +had seen him, standing in the doorway of the Old +Tobacco Shop.</p> + +<p>"I ain't been nowhere, Aunt Amanda," said Toby. +"And I don't know where Mr. Punch is, neither. I +ain't his guardian, anyway. The last I seen of him, +as far as I remember, was in Shiraz's garden, lookin' +round at the flowers. By crackey, if he can't take care<!-- Page 227 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +of himself, I ain't a-going to do it for him. Maybe +the old gentleman here can tell you, if you want to +know."</p> + +<p>"Wait just a moment," said the old man. "I'll +have him here immediately."</p> + +<p>Mr. Punch laughed immoderately as he picked up +his own father and tossed him in the air and hurled +him across the room. The old man did not seem to +mind it a bit, but joined in the laugh as he came down +on his feet with a bounce. Mr. Punch was immediately +himself again; his hump was on his back, his +breast stuck out, his long-tailed coat and knee breeches +were as before, and he looked as if he might just have +stepped down from his wooden box beside the Tobacco +Shop's door.</p> + +<p>"Wery glad," said he, "to myke you acquainted +with me old parent; and a wery good parent too, +hif——"</p> + +<p>"That's enough, Punch," said his father. "Now +we'll bring on the Churchwarden."</p> + +<p>In another moment the thin and saintly-looking +Thomas the Inferior was gone, and in his place was +the fat and comfortable Churchwarden, blinking at his +friends through his round spectacles.</p> + +<p>"I have been considering," said he, "that it would +be highly desirable, after all I have passed through +lately, to sit in my chair on the pavement against the +wall of my church with a pipe and a newspaper; and +I have concluded that——"</p> + +<p>"We will now call Mr. Hanlon," said the old man.</p> + +<p>From the time Mr. Hanlon placed his hands under +the old man's arms his tongue was rattling on at a +prodigious speed; and as he tossed the old man lightly +away like a doll he was saying, "And niver once did +the spacheless man and the deaf wife have anny worrds +except once; and 'twas then that——." But he spoke +no more. He was himself again. He was dumb.<!-- Page 228 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +Toby greeted him warmly, but he only nodded his head +vigorously, and smiled his old-time cheerful smile.</p> + +<p>"That's all," said the old man.</p> + +<p>"But the two Old Codgers——" began Toby.</p> + +<p>"They will not be here," said the old man. "No use +waiting. They made their choice some time ago. They +are as much themselves now as they ever were, and they +will remain where they are in perfect contentment. No +need to bother about them. All that remains now is to +bid you farewell, and wish you a pleasant journey."</p> + +<p>"Have we far to go?" said Toby.</p> + +<p>"You'll see," said the old gentleman, going to the +door, that was opposite the one by which they had +entered, and throwing it open.</p> + +<p>He stood aside as they passed, and smiled upon each +with a kind and fatherly smile. He placed his hand +on Freddie's head, and turned the Little Boy's face +up so that he could look down into his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Remember!" he said. "Never carry the Old Man +of the Mountain on your back. Carry him before you +in your hands, and he will be as light as a feather. +Now farewell."</p> + +<p>He gently pushed them out and closed the door behind +them, and they went slowly down a dark stair. +Toby held Freddie's hand, and Mr. Punch helped Aunt +Amanda. They could see very little, and they knew +very little where they were, until they found themselves +after a time on a level floor, and feeling the wall with +their hands came to a pair of swinging doors. Through +these doors they passed, and Toby knocked his knee +against something in the dark.</p> + +<p>"It's a long bench!" said Toby. "And here's a sight +of other long benches! Blamed if they don't seem like +pews in a church!"</p> + +<p>A dim light as of tall windows was visible at some +distance on their left.</p> + +<p>The Churchwarden pushed forward and walked<!-- Page 229 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +swiftly here and there with the step of one who knows +the way. In a moment he returned.</p> + +<p>"It's a church," he said, calmly. "It's <i>my</i> church. +This way, madam and gentlemen."</p> + +<p>He led the way to the left. Under a great round +window which could be dimly seen in the wall was a +wide door, before which they all paused.</p> + +<p>"As captain of this party," said Aunt Amanda, "my +orders is that we open the door and see what will +happen next."</p> + +<p>"Ay, ay, ma'am," said the Churchwarden, and +opened the door.</p> + +<p>In a moment they were standing under the stars on +a brick pavement before a church, and on the pavement +against the church wall was an empty chair.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said the Churchwarden, and sat down in the +chair.</p> + +<p>"Mercy on us!" cried Aunt Amanda. "We're +<i>home</i>!"</p> + +<p>"Blamed if we ain't!" said Toby. "It's our own +street, and I can almost see the Tobacco Shop from +here!"</p> + +<p>"Harfter a life of adventure," said Mr. Punch, "one +will find it wery pleasant to stand quietly on one's little +perch and rest one's legs and see one's old friends go +in and hout at the Old Tobacco Shop once more, watching +for the 'ands of the clock to come together for a +bit of relaxation with one's——"</p> + +<p>"All right, young feller!" cried Toby to Freddie. +"Come with me. Mr. Punch, take Aunt Amanda +home. I'll be with you as soon as I've got Freddie +safe."</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda and Mr. Punch went off together +towards the Old Tobacco Shop. Mr. Hanlon, after +shaking hands all round, departed for the Gaunt Street +Theatre, where he would be no longer troubled by the +imps, who had long since been destroyed by the Odour<!-- Page 230 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +of Sanctity. The Churchwarden preferred to enjoy for +awhile the comfort of his old chair by the Church wall, +and Toby and Freddie left him there, his hands folded +placidly across his stomach.</p> + +<p>Freddie and Toby crossed the street-car track, hand +in hand together. The horse had gone to bed for the +night, and there was no danger. All the houses were +dark. It was very late. No light was to be seen anywhere, +except a gas-lamp at the next corner. The +streets were silent and deserted. Freddie yawned.</p> + +<p>Freddie's house was dark, like all the rest. A narrow +brick passage-way followed a fence to the rear, +between this house and the next, and a gate opened +from the sidewalk into this passage. Freddie and Toby +went through this gate and crept quietly to the backyard +of Freddie's house. The kitchen-door was locked, +but Toby found a window which was unfastened. He +raised it noiselessly, and helped Freddie to climb in. +With a whispered good-night the Little Boy left his +friend and tiptoed into the house and up the back +stairs in the dark to his own room.</p> + +<p>His bed was there in its old place, and the covers +were turned down. He did not stop to say his prayers. +He yawned and stretched his arms. He wanted nothing +now but to lie snug and safe under the cool sheets. He +threw off his clothes and left them on the floor. He +knew where his night-gown was. He crept into bed; +he pulled the covers up to his ears; he nestled his head +into the pillow, and breathed a deep sigh.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<!-- Page 231 --><p class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></p><h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + +<h3>THE OLD TOBACCO SHOP</h3> + +<p>The next morning, when Freddie awoke, his +mother and father were standing over his bed.</p> + +<p>"I think he had better not go there anymore," +his father was saying.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't think it will do him any harm now," +said his mother.</p> + +<p>"It all comes of his staying away so long," said his +father. "I always told him to hurry back, and just +see how long he stayed this time. If he can't come back +in less than six months or six years or heaven knows +how long, he'd better not go at all."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said his mother, "I'm sure he'll come back +promptly after this."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't," said Freddie. "It took such a long +time to get to the Island, and there was all the trouble +with the pirates, and it was a terrible long journey +before we got to the palace, and of course we couldn't +run away from the queen after we'd gone all that long +way with her, and the queen's children didn't want me +to go anyway, and there wasn't any way to get back, +except for finding out how to get to the top of the +tower, and maybe I wouldn't have got back at all if I +hadn't met the Old Man of the Mountain, and got +sick and cured again by Mr. Punch's father, and I +might have got drowned when the ship disappeared, or +I might have had my head cut off by the pirates, and +then you wouldn't have seen me any more, and you'd +have been sorry."<!-- Page 232 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p> + +<p>His father looked at his mother, and nodded his +head.</p> + +<p>"He'd better stay in bed today," said he. "We won't +talk to him about it until tomorrow."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said his mother, "that will be much better. +Poor little Freddie!"</p> + +<p>Freddie did not know why he should be called poor, +but he was still tired from the adventurous life he had +recently lived, and he was very glad to remain in bed +all day.</p> + +<p>The next morning, after his father had said good-bye +for the day, his mother allowed him to get up, +and a little later to go out into the sunshine. He +strolled down the street, enjoying the familiar sights +after his long absence. He found his legs a little weak; +he must have been very ill indeed at the King's palace, +and he could not expect to get over it in one day. He +crossed the street-car track, and on the pavement +before the church he saw a well-known figure.</p> + +<p>The Churchwarden was sitting in his chair tilted +back against the wall, smoking a long pipe and reading +a newspaper. As Freddie approached he put down +his paper and looked at him over his spectacles.</p> + +<p>"Good morning," said he. "I'm glad to see you +back again. I hear you've been away." And he +winked his eye at Freddie in a very knowing manner.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie. "I guess I must have +been pretty sick."</p> + +<p>"No doubt about it, my son. But of course I knew +all the time you'd pull through."</p> + +<p>Freddie did not believe it for a moment; obviously +the Churchwarden was bragging.</p> + +<p>"The street looks pretty good," said Freddie, "after +being away so long. Would you rather sit here on the +pavement than do anything else?"</p> + +<p>"I believe you, son. I'd rather sit here on a sunny<!-- Page 233 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +day with a pipe and a newspaper than have all the +treasure of the Incas."</p> + +<p>Freddie was glad to hear that the Churchwarden +did not regret the loss of his share of the treasure, +though whether Captain Lingo belonged to the Incas +he did not know.</p> + +<p>"I don't care anything about the treasure myself," +said he. "I'm too glad to be well again and back in +our own street."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad I'm here myself, son. And if you happen +to see Toby Littleback this morning, tell him I'm alive +and resting well, considering."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie, and continued his stroll.</p> + +<p>The Old Tobacco Shop, when he arrived, looked as +it had looked on the fateful day when he had last seen +it. He paused before the door, and gazed at Mr. +Punch. He half expected the little man to step down +and shake hands with him; but Mr. Punch did not +move a muscle; he did not even look at Freddie; he +held out in one hand a packet of black cigars, and his +wooden face, if it expressed anything at all, showed +the great calm which he must have felt when he got +back to his little perch. Freddie looked up at the +clock in the tower, with some thought that the hands +might be together; but it was a quarter past ten, and +anyway Mr. Punch's father was probably by this time +far away in some other of his store-rooms about the +world.</p> + +<p>Freddie entered the shop. Mr. Toby was behind +the counter, opening a package of tobacco.</p> + +<p>"Aha! young feller!" he cried. "Back again, sure +enough! Blamed if it don't seem as if you'd been away +from here for a year. And a mighty sick chap you +were, that's a fact. I reckon we all thought you were +going to die, maybe; by crackey, I never seen anyone +so pale in my life. Are you all right now?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Freddie. "And I'm glad to be back.<!-- Page 234 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +Are you glad to be here in the shop, the same as ever?"</p> + +<p>"Me? You bet I am. You couldn't buy me to +leave this shop, not if you offered me all the money +that Captain Kidd ever buried. No, sir. And look +here, young man; I reckon you ain't surprised to see +that the Chinaman's head is gone; eh?"</p> + +<p>Freddie looked at the shelf behind Toby, and sure +enough, the Chinaman's head was gone. He knew, of +course, that it was lying at the bottom of the ocean.</p> + +<p>"I kind of lost it one day," said Toby, winking his +eye. "Mislaid it, you know, or lost it, one or the +other, I don't know which,—but, anyway, I reckon it +won't never be found. It's gone. I hope you don't +mind it now, do you?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said Freddie. He was glad to know that +Mr. Toby was not still feeling disturbed because he +had left it on board The Sieve.</p> + +<p>"All right, then," said Toby. "You'd better go in +and see Aunt Amanda."</p> + +<p>Freddie opened the door at the rear of the shop and +went into the back room. Aunt Amanda was sitting +by the table, sewing.</p> + +<p>On the table were the wax flowers and the album +and the double glasses through which you looked at the +twin pictures. The room was just as if they had never +left it.</p> + +<p>"Eshyereerilart," said Aunt Amanda, taking a handful +of pins from her mouth. "Bless your dear little +heart, I'm glad you're back again. Are you well? Sit +down on the hassock."</p> + +<p>Freddie took his customary place on the hassock at +her feet. He looked up at her and wondered if she +were sorry she had been a queen once and was a queen +no more.</p> + +<p>"Yes'm," said he. "I'm all well now."</p> + +<p>"And glad to be back here in the shop again?"</p> + +<p>"Yes'm; I cert'n'y am."<!-- Page 235 --></p> + +<div style="height: 0"> + <a id="image05"></a> +</div> +<div class="figcenter"> + <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> + <img src="images/i005.png" alt=""Ah, yes," said Aunt Amanda, "there's no place like the Old Tobacco Shop, after all."" /> + <p class="caption">"Ah, yes," said Aunt Amanda, "there's no place like the Old Tobacco Shop, after all."</p> +</div><p><!-- Page 236 --><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah, yes," said Aunt Amanda, "there's no place like +the Old Tobacco Shop, after all. I wouldn't exchange +it for a palace if you'd give it to me."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't you?" said Freddie, a little surprised at +this.</p> + +<p>"I should say not. I wouldn't be myself in a palace. +I'm pretty well satisfied here."</p> + +<p>"But what about the children?" said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"The children?" asked Aunt Amanda.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Robert and Jenny and James. <i>You</i> know."</p> + +<p>Aunt Amanda looked at him for a moment, and then +nodded her head and sighed.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said. "You know about them, don't you? +I forgot that you knew. Yes, I miss them a good deal, +and I suppose I even cry sometimes because I haven't +got them. But I love to think about them. I'm happy +thinking about them, even if I can't have them."</p> + +<p>"James was the littlest," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Aunt Amanda, nodding her head to herself +as if at a gentle memory.</p> + +<p>"He was too little to go out much with the others," +said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Aunt Amanda, "he was too little."</p> + +<p>"And Jenny," said Freddie, "she wouldn't go with +Robert the day he ran away. He wanted her to, but +she wouldn't."</p> + +<p>"No," said Aunt Amanda, "she wouldn't."</p> + +<p>"He was gone all day," said Freddie.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Aunt Amanda, "he was gone all day, +and he didn't get back until after dark. I didn't know +where he was. When he got back it was dark, and +he was muddy all over. I was terribly worried."</p> + +<h2>THE END.</h2> + +<div class="trnote"> +<p><b>Transcriber's Note</b></p> + +<p>Archaic and variable spelling preserved as printed.<br /> +Author's punctuation style preserved.<br /> +Hyphenation standardized. +</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Old Tobacco Shop, by William Bowen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OLD TOBACCO SHOP *** + +***** This file should be named 26977-h.htm or 26977-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/6/9/7/26977/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Katie Ward and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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