Genre Fiction. Page - 203

ly. Feeling despondent, I turned and walked sullenly from thelake's edge into the woodland once more, with no definite purpose inmind, only a meandering thought of my dismal situation. My thoughtsmorphed, in succession, from anxiety to despair, to anger, tofrustration, and in my frustration I knelt down and picked up a fallenbranch from the ground, walked to the nearest tree, and eyed a strange,protruding knob that stuck out from the trunk. I held the branch atshoulder's length and swung it at the knob with all the force of mybuilt up emotions. It hit with a crash and a hollow thud, leaving thebranch broken and my arm sore, but the knob undamaged.

But then something unexpected happened: with a grating noise, a smallhole appeared part way up the trunk, coming from what looked to be solidwood, for no sign was seen before of its having an opening. From thenewly opened hole was then thrust out a head, hairy and with a shortsnout-like edifice for a nose and mouth. Its eyes and the furry hairwhich

op yourself, young chap,

you've got to pay the price,
There are many sorts of visions, but none

of 'em is nice."

They found that day at Leonards Lee and

ran to Shipley Wood,
'Ell-for-leather all the way, with scent

and weather good.
Never a check to 'Orton Beck and on

across the Weald,
And all the way the Sussex clay was weedin'

out the field.

There's not a man among them could

remember such a run,
Straight as a rule to Bramber Pool and on

by Annington,
They followed still past Breeding 'ill

and on by Steyning Town,
Until they'd cleared the 'edges and were

out upon the Down.

Full thirty mile from Plimmers Style,

without a check or fault,
Full thirty mile the 'ounds 'ad run and

never called a 'alt.
One by one the Field was done until at

Finden Down,
There was no one with the 'untsman save

young Jeremiah Brown.

And then the 'untsman '_e_ was beat.

return of its victims, and the other by the almost inviolate safeguards with which it surrounded the prisoners. The return to prison indeed resembled nothing less than a triumph.

The trial recommenced. It was at first attended by the same results as the preceding one. The four accused were protected by an alibi, patently false, but attested by a hundred signatures, and for which they could easily have obtained ten thousand. All moral convictions must fail in the presence of such authoritative testimony. An acquittal seemed certain, when a question, perhaps involuntarily insidious, from the president, changed the aspect of the trial.

"Madam," said he to the lady who had been so kindly assisted by one of the highwaymen, "which of these men was it who tendered you such thoughtful attention?"

This unexpected form of interrogation confused her ideas. It is probable that she believed the facts to be known, and saw in this a means of modifying the fate of the man who interested her.

"It w

ct of Madness onthe part of a Waiter,--and took to his bed (leastwise, your motherand family's bed), with the statement that his eyes were devilledkidneys. Physicians being in vain, your father expired, afterrepeating at intervals for a day and a night, when gleams of reasonand old business fitfully illuminated his being, "Two and two isfive. And three is sixpence." Interred in the parochial departmentof the neighbouring churchyard, and accompanied to the grave by asmany Waiters of long standing as could spare the morning time fromtheir soiled glasses (namely, one), your bereaved form was attiredin a white neckankecher, and you was took on from motives ofbenevolence at The George and Gridiron, theatrical and supper.Here, supporting nature on what you found in the plates (which wasas it happened, and but too often thoughtlessly, immersed inmustard), and on what you found in the glasses (which rarely wentbeyond driblets and lemon), by night you dropped asleep standing,till you was cuffed awak

from the Secretary to the Foreign Department, Government of India, confirms the intelligence that Chinese emissaries have for some time past been endeavouring to re-establish the former predominance of their nation over Tibet and Bhutan. In the former country they appear to have met with little success; but in Bhutan, taking advantage of the hereditary jealousies of the Penlops, the great feudal chieftains, they appear to have gained many adherents. They aim at instigating the Bhutanese to attempt an invasion of India through the duars leading into Eastern Bengal, their object being to provoke a war. The danger to this country from an invading force of Bhutanese, even if armed, equipped, and led by Chinese, is not great. But its political importance must not be minimised.

"'For the most serious feature of the movement is that information received by the Political Department gives rise to the grave suspicion that, not only many extremists in Bengal, but even some of the lesser rajahs a

plinters. Antiquarians differrespecting the intent and meaning of this ceremony, which has beenconstrued and interpreted in many different ways. The strong probability isthat it was done "for luck;" and yet Lord Bateman should have been superiorto the prejudices of the vulgar.]

[Footnote 9:

If my own Sophia.

So called doubtless from the mosque of St. Sophia, at Constantinople; herfather having professed the Mahomedan religion.]

[Footnote 10:

_Then up and spoke this young bride's mother,
Who never vos heerd to speak so free._

This is an exquisite touch of nature, which most married men, whether ofnoble or plebeian blood, will quickly recognise. During the whole of herdaughter's courtship, the good old lady had scarcely spoken, save byexpressive smiles and looks of approval. But now that her object is gained,and her daughter fast married (as she thinks), she suddenly assumes quite anew tone, "and never was heerd to speak so free." It would be diff

anding his dissipation, Bottle-nosed Ned was a generalfavourite; and the authorities of Mudfog, remembering his numerousservices to the population, allowed him in return to get drunk inhis own way, without the fear of stocks, fine, or imprisonment. Hehad a general licence, and he showed his sense of the compliment bymaking the most of it.

We have been thus particular in describing the character andavocations of Bottle-nosed Ned, because it enables us to introducea fact politely, without hauling it into the reader's presence withindecent haste by the head and shoulders, and brings us verynaturally to relate, that on the very same evening on which Mr.Nicholas Tulrumble and family returned to Mudfog, Mr. Tulrumble'snew secretary, just imported from London, with a pale face andlight whiskers, thrust his head down to the very bottom of hisneckcloth-tie, in at the tap-room door of the Lighterman's Arms,and inquiring whether one Ned Twigger was luxuriating within,announced himself as the bearer of

at he was in the hands of the police. Garth noticed also as he entered the car that the passengers were not aware of the substitution. He resented the repugnance in the glances they turned on the mask. Simmons' attitude toward life became comprehensible. But, as the journey extended itself interminably, Garth grew restless. He realized he was in the position of a man entering a cavern without a light. He must feel his way step by step. He must walk blindly toward innumerable and fatal pitfalls.

At last the train paused for the change from locomotive to electric motor. Although he knew that normally no passengers would board it at this place, he gazed anxiously from the window. A man stood close to the track with the evident intention of entering the train. Garth saw him elude a brakeman, saw him grasp the railing and swing himself out of sight. A moment later the man walked into the car, stopped dead, and turned sharp, inquisitive eyes on the gray mask.

About the figure was a somber air, accentu

topped more than once, and, loitering along, it was dark when they neared their destination.

As they would have drawn up to the wharf there was a sudden flash of light--gone in a moment--followed by a dark body that swished by them like a flash.

Frank uttered an exclamation of astonishment.

"See that?" he demanded.

"Yes. What could it have been?"

"You've got me, but it's heading toward the open sea. Great Scott! Maybe it's an enemy."

"An enemy?"

"Yes; you know how anxious the Germans are over this submarine business. Maybe this fellow has been spying about. May be going to report to a German submarine out there some place."

"Think we had better follow and have a look?" asked Jack.

"Believe it would be a good idea. Let's go."

Without another word, Jack brought the boat about and headed after the one that had so recently dashed by them. In the darkness ahead there was nothing to be seen.

"Like looking for a needle in a haystack," Jack

ns, anddown the pleasant vale of Argos, and away and out to sea. And awayand out to sea before it floated the mother and her babe, while allwho watched them wept, save that cruel father, King Acrisius.

So they floated on and on, and the chest danced up and down uponthe billows, and the baby slept upon its mother's breast: but thepoor mother could not sleep, but watched and wept, and she sang toher baby as they floated; and the song which she sang you shalllearn yourselves some day.

And now they are past the last blue headland, and in the open sea;and there is nothing round them but the waves, and the sky, and thewind. But the waves are gentle, and the sky is clear, and thebreeze is tender and low; for these are the days when Halcyone andCeyx build their nests, and no storms ever ruffle the pleasantsummer sea.

And who were Halcyone and Ceyx? You shall hear while the chestfloats on. Halcyone was a fairy maiden, the daughter of the beachand of the wind. And she loved a sailor-boy, an