"Many Christians1," comments the Revd, "believe Gaming to be a sin. Among Scholars, serious questions arise as to Predestination and the Will of God,— Who notes each detail of each life in a sort of divine Ledger2, allotting3 Fortune bad and good, to each individually, even as He raiseth the storm at sea, lendeth the Weather-gage to the dark Dromonds of Piracy5, provoketh the Mohawk against the Trader's Post. For He is Lord of All Danger. Yet others safe at home wager6 upon His Will, as express'd thro' the doings of these Enterprisers, exactly as upon a fall of Cards, or a Roll of Dice7."
"Why, Wicks. You see us as no more than common 'Spielers'? Para?sites upon the Fortunes of those willing to Risk all? Pray you, setting aside whose Hearth8 you are ever welcome at, tell me all."
"What alarms me most, Wade9," proceeds Revd Cherrycoke, "is the possibility of acquiring such vast sums so quickly. If a sailor may kill a Bully10 over a sixpence, then what disproportionate mischief11, including Global War, may not attend the safekeeping of Fortunes of millions of pounds Sterling12?"
"You're asking the wrong Merchant. I'm lucky if I clear'd a Thousand, this Year."
"Happen they all reach a point where they can't trust their Luck any more...? So they cheat.”
"Bold as you please." Later, in their Rooms, too late the Gamer's Remorse13, Mason working himself up, "He mark'd the cards. The Dice were of cunningly lacquer'd Iron, the playing-surface magnetickally fid-dl'd,— Damme, he owes us twenty pounds,— more! what are we sup-pos'd to do, live upon Roots? 'twas the Royal Society's, belay that, the King's own money,— hey? right out of G. Rex's Purse it came, and don't it make a true Englishman boil!" Tis an Insult to Mason that cannot pass unanswer'd,— this runny-nos'd, titl'd Savage14, tossing their Expedi?tionary Funds as airy Gratuities15 to the Slaves who stood all night with Coals kept ever a-glow, and with Bellows16 clear'd the immediate17 Air of smoke, that a player might see what Cards he held.
Insupportable. "We must take something worth twenty pounds, then...? Let the Rascal18 pursue huz...?" Dixon adjusts the Angle of his Hat. "Let's have a look. Here upon the wall, this Etching,— what's it suppos'd to be? Turkish Scene or something— Wait,— Mason, it's people fucking...? Eeh! And look at thah'...?...Well,— we can't sell that in Philadelphia. What's this? Chamber-pot? Perhaps not. How about the Bed?"
"Might as well be taking that Tub over there," indicating a giant Bathing-tub with Feet, Bear Feet in fact, cast at the Lepton Foundry from local Iron.
"Why aye, that's it! The Tub!"
"Dixon, it's half a Ton if it's a Dram, we're not going to move it...? Even if we could, where would we move it to? And once there,—
Dixon, a-mumble, is over examining the Tub. "Laws of Lever?age... William Emerson taught things no one else in England knows. Secret techniques of mechanickal Art, rescued from the Library at Alexandria, circa 390 A.D., before rampaging Christians could quite destroy it all, jealously guarded thereafter, solemnly handed down the Centuries from Master to Pupil."
Mason's squint19 appears. "You shouldn't be showing these 'Secrets' to me, then, should you? No more than that Watch."
"Oh, thou would have to swear the somewhat ominous20 'Oath of Silence,' of course, but we can do thah' later,— here, look thee." Dixon seems scarcely to touch the pond'rous Fixture,— yet suddenly, as if by Levitation21, one end has rotated upward, and the great Tub now stands precariously22 balanced upon a sort of lip or Flange23 at its other end.
"That's amazing!" cries Mason.
"Simple matters of balance,— Centers of Gravity true and virtual,— Moments of Inertia,— "
"Have 'em all the time,—
"— estimated Mass,—
- the Priest having enjoy'd a merry night before?" tho' yet a-squint. "What's this,— shan't I hear 'Magnetism,' as well? some deliberate omission24?"
Dixon doesn't answer immediately, nor, as it will prove, at all, focus'd as he has become upon gently but fluently tweaking the giant iron Con25?cavity across the room and toward the door,— through which it is not immediately clear how the Tub is going to, actually, fit. So sure is his touch that the floorboards barely creak. "Ah very nice, very nice indeed...? now I'll just have a look out at the stairs. And if thoo don't mind,—
"Um,— ?" inquires Mason.
"This,— " indicating the looming26 Mass above them, "needs to be held at exactly the Angle it's at,— not just the Angle off the floor, do tha see, but also this exact Angle of Rotation27 about the long Axis28? Try not to think of this as two separate Angles, but as One? Thou're following this?"
"I,— you want me to,— wait,— no, why not just lean it against the Wall, here?"
"Thah' Wall? eeh! eeh! it'll go through than' Wall! No,— all I ask, is thah' thoo hold the Tub up, but for a minute, whilst I go reconnoitre."
"That's one minute,— you promise."
"Two minutes. At most. It's perfectly29 stable, so long as tha don't shift
it about too much Good fellow, just slip in here, yes and thy hands
go...there,— a unique resting-place for everything, Friend,— behold30 the Tub, perfectly quiescent31, 's it not...? in maximum self-alignment, and quietly gathering32 Power. 'Twill see us free of this place,— eeh. Ideal. Now,— don't move. I'll be right back."
He vanishes, leaving Mason 'neath the Tub. Soon Mason detects the smell of Pipe-Tobacco,— Dixon's blend, indisputably. He's out there having a leisurely33 Smoke whilst Mason, squinting34 upward nervously35, struggles to keep the Tub upon its Axes. After a while, as if to himself,
lightly vocalizing, "It's gone two minutes and thirty-one seconds." The words gong loudly back and forth36, painfully seeming to enter one ear, pass through his head, and depart out the other ear. In the after-hum he fancies he can hear Dixon's voice, and then another,— Lady Lepton's if he is not mistaken, tho' Words soon lapse38, whilst Sounds continue. An overturn'd chair. Sighs. Fabric39 tearing. A merry Squeal40. All at once, in chiming two-part Harmony and unnaturally41 accelerating Tempo42, unmis?takably, "0 Ruddier than the Cherry." Tis the infamous43 Musickal Bodice, devis'd by an instrument-maker of London, wherein Quills44 sewn into its fastening, when this is pull'd apart, will set a-vibrating, one after another, a row of bell-metal Reeds, each tun'd to a specifick Note,— the more force applied45, the louder the notes. ''Ripping Tune4!" Mason calls out. He has no idea how to disengage from Dixon's blasted Tub, tho' now would hardly seem the best time to do so, unless,— now that he's listening,— there no longer seems to be.. .hmm, quite as much sound from out there...
If, in fact, any. "Well,— fucking insane, wouldn't you agree!"
In the unpromising silence that slowly, gongingly, falls, Mason becomes aware of a measur'd Tapping upon the outside of the Tub, directly over the back of his Head. It progresses 'round the rim47 of the Tub until into sight comes the flush'd Phiz of an individual in an out?dated Wig48 of foreign Manufacture, waving about a fantastickal Compass of Brass49 and Mahogany, rigg'd out with Micrometer Screws, dial-faces, enigmatickally wreath'd coils of Copper50 Wire. "Good day to you," he greets Mason. "Are you the one responsible for this quite astonishing Magnet?"
"What, this? 'tis a Tub, Sir." Hoping the Echo may give him an Edge.
' 'Tis damn' nearly Earth's third Pole," mutters the dishevel'd Philosopher. "Observe." He steps across the room, holds up a Building-Nail, and lets it go. It flies through the Air, in a curious, as it seems directed, Arc, hits the Tub with a solid bong, flattening51 its Point by an eighth of an inch, and fails to drop to the floor,— "Not unlike Hungarian Vampirism," snatching it loose and proceeding52 to dangle53 one by one a gigantick Loop of other Nails from it, "the Ability may be transfus'd from one Mass of Iron to another,— Excuse me. I am Professor Voam, Philo?sophical Operator, just at present scampering54 from the King's Authori-
ties, for electrocuting at Philadelphia one of these American Macaronis who cannot heed55 even the simplest Caution, such as, 'Don't touch the Torpedo56.' Ease of Compliance57 written all over it, not so? yet such is the Juvenility58 abounding59 upon these Shores, that the damn'd Fop must go feel for himself. Poh. Notwithstanding 'twas he who fell'd himself, a number of arm'd Citizens thought it better I depart.... Here,— shall you be much longer under there? Perhaps we could find some Coffee."
"I'm not sure how he got me under here," Mason a bit plaintive62, "and even less sure about how to get out. Your mention of Coffee, withal, intensifies63 my Unhappiness."
"Someone put you beneath this Ferric Prodigy64?"
"My Co-adjutor, Mr. Dixon."
"Of course! The Astronomers65! Dixon and Mason!"
"Actually," Mason says, "That's— "
"Say, I hope you Boys ain't had a falling-out."
"He was demonstrating a Principle of Staticks, and became dis?tracted. Apparently66 this Tub is resting upon some Axis invisible to all but Dixon."
The Professor has a Look-See, waving his Apparatus67 in mystickal tho' regular Curves at the Tub. "Fascinating. The Axis it's on is Mag-netick. Good thing he didn't try to balance this mechanickally. Whoo! you'd be flatter'n a Griddle-Cake." He is carefully adjusting his Grip upon the Rim.
"Excuse me,— to what End? Gazing at it, as it fries? saying, Oh, you're so Circular...your Airr-Bubbles, they're so intrriguing,—
"Than, than,— good, that's got it. Just help me lower it,— Q.E.D. and Amen. Say, pleasant Tub. This could be just the Article to keep Felipe in, now that I look at it."
"That's your...?"
"Torpedo. Lodging68 him in the Arabian-Gardens Pool for the moment, but 'twill soon be time to move on, and then...?"
Mason stretches and twists his Neck and Head about. "Grateful, Sir. Now perhaps may I direct you to Safety,— any number of Refugees hav?ing become attach'd to our Party,— all traveling under the joint69 guaran?tee of the Proprietors70, and their Provincial71 Governments as well. To my knowledge, tho' there be Tailors, Oracles72, Pastrymen, Musicians, Gaming-
Pitches, Opera-Girls, Exhibitors of Panoramic73 Models, bless us all, there is not yet an Electric Eel60."
"You are kind,— yet the publick rooms of Philadelphia offering Insult a-plenty,— I am not sure the Practice would subside74 as we mov'd West."
"Yet, supposing Progress Westward75 were a Journey, returning unto Innocence76,— approaching, as a Limit, the innocence of the Animals with whom those Eolk must inter-act upon a daily basis,— why, Sir, your Torpedo may hold for them greater appeal than you may guess."
"Rural Electrification," the Professor sighs, "Seed-Bed of the unfore?seen. Where is our choice? Come, and you shall meet Felfpe."
After they are join'd by Dixon, emerging coprophagously a-grin from some false Panel in a Wall, exeunt the Premises77, bringing along the Tub. One corridor's branching away from the Arabian Gardens, the Slave who spoke78 to Dixon earlier stands now abruptly79 in Mason's Path, obliging him to pause, quite close, Face to Face with her.
"Leaving me again, Charles?"
"It isn't you."
"I was abducted80 by Malays. Love-Jobbers. Walk thro' the Market with little Fly-Whisks, inspecting the Girls and Boys, striking this one, that one,— sooner or later, each is come for. When I felt the tiny Lashes81, 'twas to be destin'd for Jesuit Masters, in payment of a Debt forever unexplain'd to me,— only then to be remanded, soon as we gain'd Que?bec, to the Sisterhood of the Widows of Christ. Whence, after my Novi?tiate, kind Captain D. and I came to our Rapprochement."
"Your French has improv'd," whispers Mason. "I know who you are, and well before next Midnight, too. Ah, and as for 'kind,' why the man is at least a Flagellant, you Wanton."
She smiles not at all enigmatickally, turns and steps away, shaking those Globes,— too bad, Flagellants in the Region, she's here only on short-term Lease, in a Fortnight she'll be shaking them someplace else, and a glamorous82 International Life it's proving to be for her too, so far at least. Who says Slavery's so terrible, hey?
"Good-bye, Charles," beginning to blur83, receding84 'round the long curve of the Wall. Mason, Dixon and the Professor go poking85 in and out of one secret Panel after the next, but she is no-where to be found— Instead, the Lads now encounter a Dutch Rifle with a Five-pointed Star
upon its Cheek-Piece, inverted86, in Silver highly polish'd, shining thro' the Grain upon the Wrist and Comb that billows there in stormy Intri?cacy, set casually87 above some subsidiary Hearth in a lightly-frequented Room.— A Polaris of Evil..
"As it happen'd," relates Mr. LeSpark, "I was reclining right there, upon a Couch, seeking a moment's Ease from the remorseless Frolick,—
"Alone, of course," his Wife twinkling dangerously.
"As Night after dismal88 night, my green Daffodil, thro' the bleakness89 of that pre-marital Vacuum, Claims of the Trade preempting90 all,— not least the Society of your estimable Sex." In which pitiable state, he dozes91 off and awakens92 into the Surveyor's Bickering93 as to the Rifle's Provenance,— Mason insisting 'tis a Cape94 Rifle, Dixon an American one.
' Tis no Elephant Gun,— haven't we seen enough of these here by now, Dear knoaws? Barrel's shorter, Stock's another Wood altogether."
"Your Faith being famous, of course, for its close Appreciation95 of Weaponry."
"Ev'ry Farmer here has a Rifle by him, 'tis a primary Tool, much as an Ax or a Plow96... ? tha can't have feail'd to noatice... ?
"Surrounded upon all sides, Night and Day, by the American Mob, ev'ry blessed one of them packing Firrearrms,— why, why yes, I may've made some note of that,—
Wade LeSpark slowly arises, to peer at them over the back of the Couch,— "Good evening, Gentlemen. I was just lying here, having a Gaze at this m'self. Handsome Unit's it not? You can usually tell where one was made, from its Patch-Box," reaching for the Rifle, turning the right side of the Butt97 toward the Lanthorn, " - the Finials being each peculiar98 to its Gunsmith, a kind of personal signature...look ye, here it is again, your inverted Star, work'd into the Piercings, as a Cryptogram99...withal, this Brass is unusual,— pale, as you'd say,— high Zinc100 content, despite the British embargo101, and sand-cast rather than cut from sheet—
"Lord Lepton hath an Eye,— Damme." He cannot release his Grasp upon the thing. The octagonal Barrel is Fire-blu'd rather than Acid-brown'd, the Lock left bright, despite its Length pois'd nicely when slung102
from its Trigger-Guard, all brought narrow, focus'd, the Twist upon the Rifling inside a bit faster than one in forty-eight, suggesting in its tighter Vortex a smaller charge, a shorter range.. .a Forest Weapon, match'd to a
single Prey103, heavier than a Squirrel, not quite heavy as a Deer.... In the
Purity as you'd say of its Intent, 'tis as Mr. Dixon surmises104, American, yet not the Work of any Gunsmith known to Mr. LeSpark.
"Might ye be aware, Sir," inquires Mason, "of another such inverted Star,— in Lancaster Town, upon the sign of the Dutch Rifle?"
"Aye, and clearly meant, Sir, to depict105 a local Piece,— its own Finial, 's I recall, being in the form of a Daisy, which the Gunsmiths 'round Lan?caster favor. . .tho' there remains106 a standing61 Quarrel, as to what Rifle may have serv'd as the Model,— that is, if any at all did,— too much, out here, failing to mark the Boundaries between Reality and Representa?tion. The Tavern's Sign was commission'd of an unknown traveling Arti?san, who left Town in the general troubles in 'fifty-five, as mysteriously as he'd come,— perhaps remov'd south, perhaps perish'd. One Story has it, that, lacking a Brush, he went out and shot a Squirrel, with whose Tail, he then painted the Portrait of the very Rifle us'd to obtain it,— that Star may've been put on later, out of simple Whim,— nor perhaps did he ever make a Distinction, between two points up, and two down."
"Again, Sirr,— perrhaps these Occurrences,— " Mason glowering107, "as others, are invisibly connected.— Can you so lightly, Sirr, dismiss the very Insignia of the Devil,— Representations or no, allow'd to appear only by his Agents among us?"
"Many will believe all Firearms to be his Work, no matter how deco?rated," LeSpark replies, with enough Dignity in his voice to suggest to them an intimacy108 with the Trade, "whilst others with equal warmth declare these Pennsylvania Beauties to be about the Work of God,— therefore, a stand-off,— what matter?"
"But that small Devices," interjects Professor Voam, "may command out-siz'd Effects. This Pentacle, if valu'd for no more than the silent acts of Recognition it provokes, has more than earn'd back its Expense."
"As over-ponderous Tubs, Sir," replies Mr. LeSpark, " - may never recoup the Cost of conveying them anywhere. How far were you thinking of taking this one, for Instance?”
"Had we seen this Rifle first...?" Dixon, to appearance forthrightly109, "we might be off with it instead,— that is of course unless our Host, the Sharper, be a partickular Friend of thine... ?"
Mason, his Eyes protruding110 in alarm, tugs111 upon Dixon's Sleeve, hissing112, "Don't you see, there's a Curse upon it, for Heaven's Sake, Dixon,— ?"
In an Exchange of Glances with Mr. Dixon, that Mr. LeSpark will remember even years later, however, each has soon reveal'd so far uncon-fess'd Depths of Admiration114 for the Rifle,— despite all the ill-fortune that might descend115, from no more than touching116 it,— for its brutal117 remote?ness nearly Classickal, as for the sacramental Fidelity118 with which it bod?ies the Grace peculiar to the Slayer,— no Object that fails so to carry Death just inside its Earthly Contours, can elicit119 Desire quite so steeply or immediately—
Mr. LeSpark has bargain'd with many a Quaker,— he knows the word?less Idiom Dixon speaks. The key point is that taking the Rifle will be far more dangerous, than taking the Tub, "— and as for the Tub," grins Mr. LeSpark, at length, "why, what Tub, don't ye know?"
"To accommodate Strangers so, 's it not risky120?" Dixon puzzles. "Sup?pose we were desperate Outlaws121...?"
"You don't know what I see back in this Country. Bribes122, Imperson?ations, Land Fraud, Scalp-stealing, Ginseng Diversion. Each Day brings Spectacle ever more disheartening. You three are but Boys out upon a Frolick."
"Most kind, Sir, ever so kind—" Mason needlessly groveling.
"Then again," chuckles123 Wade LeSpark, "Lepton is an important Cus?tomer— Maybe I should run right to him, with word of this Tub's Alien?ation. Maybe he'll send Dasp out with some Riders after you. Maybe this Rifle here'll belong to one of 'em."
"In that case we'd best be moving along."
"Proceed cheerily, Boys." And Mr. LeSpark, as he will come to tell the Tale, declines back into the Couch, seeking once again the comforts of celibate124 Slumber125.
The last Door out opens to them. They make for the Arabian Gardens, Dixon coaxing126 the Tub slickly along over the Tile-work,— soothe127 the Harem Girls, collect the Torpedo,— who bears an impatient Expression, as if it's been waiting for them,— along with some pool water, and continue on to a convenient Ramp-way, where they transfer Tub and Torpedo to a Conestoga Waggon128 but lately unloaded, with fresh Horses hitch'd up,— "Yee-hah!" the Professor grabbing the Reins,— and Damme, they're off.
Clutching his Hat, swaying violently in his Seat, Mason shouts thro' the Wind of Passage, "Say, Dixon,— Did it seem like Austra to you?"
"If it was, she's chang'd...?"
"Striking Woman. Fancied me, as you must have seen. Not at all like
the old Austra, who couldn't abide129 me Naahhrr,— can't be she, a Man
can tell, for Woman's Distaste is incontrovertible, her clearest Emotion."
They reach the Wood-line without Incident, soon falling in with the Road to the Ferry, listening for Hoof-beats behind them. "A matter of time," mopes Mason.
"Why would they want huz? They've got the twenty pounds... ?"
"Oh, not 'us,' Dixon. No, no. You.— I was under the Tub, remember?"
"A proper Show," cackles Professor Voam.
"Bearing up, Professor?"
"Ev'ry Time, this is how it turns out." He has been traveling Inn to Inn with this Giant Specimen130 of Guyana Torpedo, giving Lectures upon, and Demonstrations131 of, the Electrical Creature's mysterious and often life-altering abilities. " 'Tis styl'd the Torpedo,' tho' Scientifically speaking, the true Torpedo is a kind of Ray or Skate,"— men wearing Hats made of dead Raccoons wait him out, watching the Torpedo in its Tank,— " 'tis also known as the Electric Eel, yet Mr. Linnaeus hath decided132 'tis no Eel, neither, but a Gymnotus. Skate, Eel, or Gymnotus, 'tis ever 'the Torpedo' to me. 'Remember to feed the Torpedo today...wonder if that Torpedo's charg'd up yet'?— never is, o' course,— learn'd how to tell just by look?ing in its Eyes, how the Level is. Sí, sí, Cari?o," as he reaches now into the great Tub and begins gently to sweep his hands close to the Creature's body, tail to head. The Torpedo remains calm, and presently grows appre?ciative, with a faint smile, much observ'd by Torpedo-Fanciers, about the V-shap'd Dimples at the Corners of its Mouth,— as if, in its grim and semi-possess'd life, it has found a moment to relax and let a Nonelec-trickal provide the Thrills for a change.
Sold to the Professor under the Name, "El Peligroso," or, "The Dan?gerous One," Felipe is quite large for a Surinam Eel, Five feet and two inches, and still growing. As he gets larger, the Dimensions of his Elec- trickal Organs change accordingly,— of particular interest being those of the Disks which are Stack'd lengthwise along most of his over-all length, each Disk being a kind of Electrickal Plate, whose summ'd Effect is to charge his Head in a Positive, as his Tail in a Negative, Sense. 'Tis necessary then, but to touch the Animal at both ends, to com?plete the circuit, and allow the Electrickal Fluid to discharge, its Fate thereafter largely contriv'd by the Operator, to provide onlookers133 with a variety of Spectacles Pyrotechnick.
"The Torpedo you see here,— fully37 charg'd, giddy, indeed as if drugg'd by the presence of the Electrickal, saturating134 ev'ry Corpuscle of its Being,— this is the classic El Peligroso," here the giant Eel smoothly135 assumes a new Attitude, as if posing for its Portrait, "the Torpedo the World sees, a strolling Actor, who nightly discharges into his Perfor?mance all the Day's dire46 Accumulation,— tho' the Mysteries of the Elec?trickal Flux136 within him continue to defy the keenest minds of the Philosophickal World, including a Task-Force of Italian Jesuits dedi?cated to Torpedic Study.
"You and I might consider it a repetitive life, routine beyond belief, yet El P. is nothing if not a Cyclickal Creature. Si," to the apparently attentive137 Gymnotus, "una Criatura Cíclica, así eres— Departure and return have been design'd into his life. If he had to live the way we do, worrying about Coach schedules and miss'd appointments and Sheriff Thickley,"— cheers at the local Reference,— "believe me, he'd be one unhappy Torpedo. How do I know? I counted.— As a condition of Life, Felipe needs Rhythm.
"And so I believe do we. Did I see my Banjo somewhere?— ah, there 'tis." Striking up an Accompaniment curiously138 syncopated, he sings,
Lads and Lasses, pass on down,
'Tis the world-renown'd Torpe-do,—
Quite the Toast of London Town,
Admir'd in far-off E-do,—
Na-bobs, Kings and Potentates139 too, all
Gawkin' at the shockin' sort of things he'll do, for
A tuppenny, step up 'n' he will do, you, too,—
The Torpedo, Voo-
-Ly Voo!
Ev'ry Fop clear back to Philadelphia must be in Attendance this Evening, sporting bright glaucous Waistcoats, Suits of staggeringly taste?less Brocade, outlandishly dress'd Wigs140, Shoes with heels higher than the stems of Wine-glasses, Stockings unmatch'd in Colors incompatible141, such as purple and green, strange opaque142 Spectacles in both these shades and many others. They flourish Snuff-boxes and pocket-flasks about, and giggle143 without surcease. As to the Hats,— far better not even to open the subject. Tis as if to cross Schuylkill were to transgress144 as well some Rubicon of style, to fall from Quaker simplicity145 into the Per?plexity, uncounted times broken and re-broken, of the World after Eden. "I can see it'll take a lot to shock a crowd like this!" cries the Professor.
All are pleas'd to hold the same Opinion, and cheer. At a gesture from his Exhibitor, Felipe stands straight up in his Tank and bows right and left. The Professor takes out an Antillean Cigar, bites the end off, produces two Wires, and with a supply of Gum attaches them precisely146 upon the Ani?mal's body. Felipe allows it, though like any train'd beast he will make a half-hearted Lunge now and then toward the busy pair of hands, his Jaws147 stretching wide enough to allow Spectators to marvel148 and shiver at the Ranks of Dirk-sharp Teeth. The Professor moves the free ends of the wires slowly together,— suddenly between them leaps a giant Spark, blindingly white, into which the intrepid149 Operator thrusts one end of his Cigar, whilst sucking furiously upon the other, bringing it away at last well a-glow.
Mason stares, bedazzl'd. He is slow to respond to Dixon's hand upon his shoulder, shaking him. "Not a good idea to be staring directly into that Spark...?— Charles...?"
"Dixon," a passionately150 inflected Hiss113, directed to something just behind his eyelids151, "I saw,— '
"It's all right. It's all right."
"I saw,— "
"The Spark was too bright, Mason. All look'd away, but you."
In the hidden Journal that he gets to so seldom it should be styl'd a "Monthly," Mason writes, "I saw at the heart of the Electrick Fire, beyond color, beyond even Shape, an Aperture152 into another Dispensa?tion of Space, yea and Time, than what Astronomers and Surveyors are us'd to working with. It bade me enter, or rather it welcom'd my Spirit,— yet my Body was very shy of coming any nearer,— indeed wish'd the
Vision gone. Throughout, the Creature in the Tank regarded me with a
personal stare, as of a Stranger claiming to know me from some distant,
no longer accessible Shore,— a mild and nostalgic look, masking, as I
fear'd, Blood or Jungle, with the luminous153 Deep of his great Spark all the
while beckoning154
"I can no more account for it than for the other Episodes. I do not choose these moments, nor would I know how. They come upon me with no premonition. Shall I speak with Dixon? Is it an hallucinatory symp?tom of a Melancholia further advanced than I knew? Should I seek the counsel, God help me, of the cherubick Pest, Cherrycoke? He will take down ev'ry Word he can remember. (Might it prove of use, in any future Claims for Compensation, to be recorded, at what's sure to be impressive Length, as having sought Spiritual Assistance?)
"How can I explain the continuing Fascination155 of the Torpedo? Were I it, I know I should have grown restless with the same set of Tricks night after night, and perhaps even disposed to Annoyance156. But the Eel's facial expression is strangely benevolent157 and wise,— we spend a few minutes each morning sitting together whilst I take Coffee,— the Crea?ture gazing in silence, relax'd, Fins158 a-ripple, enjoying these Quiescent hours of his Electrical Day for as long as he may...."
"For too soon the Charge," as the Professor declaims each night, "growing irresistibly159, will be felt along the line of his Spine160, to be fol-low'd closely by the emergence161, from the great Shade outside the sens'd World, of the Other,— El Peligroso, whose advent162 the mild-manner'd Felipe you see here is quite helpless to prevent."
Meals consist so far mostly of locally caught fish, though Felipe is far from particular, having lately for example acquir'd a liking163 for Salt Beef. "Return to his native Hemisphere,— ' the Professor mumbling164, "strange variations in Salinity165 as in Diet, yet perhaps 'tis magnetickal, for as is lately discover'd, the Needle's Deflexion followeth, like Felipe, a Diurnal166 Cycle...." Yet behind the patter lurks167 the unspoken possibil?ity that outside, perhaps even just outside, the widening sphere of Felipe's food interests, waits human Flesh.
Abandoning the Tub, the Professor builds a larger circular Tank, and mounts it upon wheels, so that daily it may be situated168 directly upon the Line. Felipe then slowly rotates until his head is pointing north.
Presently he has become the camp Compass, as often consulted as the Thermometer or the Clock.
" 'Cordin' to this Torpedo, north's over that way."
"Best keep an eye out tomorrow, next day, see if ol' Felipe changes his heading, we might be able to triangulate us in on to some big iron lode169, quit this slavin', make our Fortunes quicker than loggin', quicker than Hemp-fields,—
"Aye," comments Squire170 Haligast, who has join'd the Party, "for with?out Iron, Armies are but identically costum'd men holding Bows, and Navies but comely171 gatherings172 of wrought173 Vegetation."
"Cap'n, when we're rich, you can write all our business Letters."
"Put you in a sort of Booth, right out in front of the Mine, with a big sign overhead saying QUERIES174."
"Shall I have a Pistol?" the Squire in a playful Tone.
"Why, a Cannon175 if you'd like. Just run you one up straight from the Comp'ny Forge."
"Boys, Boys," rumbles176 the imminent177 Overseer Barnes, "We aren't quizzing with the Squire again are we, we know the consequences of that well enough don't we by now?"
"They are Lads," says the Squire. "Having a dream together. No harm.”
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1
Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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ledger
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| n.总帐，分类帐；帐簿 | |
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allotting
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的现在分词 ) | |
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4
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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5
piracy
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| n.海盗行为，剽窃，著作权侵害 | |
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wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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dice
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| n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险 | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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12
sterling
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| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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14
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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gratuities
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| n.报酬( gratuity的名词复数 )；小账；小费；养老金 | |
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16
bellows
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| n.风箱；发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的名词复数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的第三人称单数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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19
squint
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| v. 使变斜视眼, 斜视, 眯眼看, 偏移, 窥视; n. 斜视, 斜孔小窗; adj. 斜视的, 斜的 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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21
levitation
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| n.升空，漂浮；浮起 | |
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precariously
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| adv.不安全地；危险地；碰机会地；不稳定地 | |
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flange
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| n.边缘，轮缘，凸缘，法兰 | |
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omission
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| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
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25
con
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| n.反对的观点，反对者，反对票，肺病；vt.精读，学习，默记；adv.反对地，从反面；adj.欺诈的 | |
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26
looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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rotation
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| n.旋转；循环，轮流 | |
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28
axis
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| n.轴，轴线，中心线；坐标轴，基准线 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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30
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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quiescent
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| adj.静止的，不活动的，寂静的 | |
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32
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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34
squinting
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| 斜视( squint的现在分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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35
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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38
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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39
fabric
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| n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织 | |
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40
squeal
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| v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音 | |
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41
unnaturally
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| adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地 | |
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42
tempo
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| n.(音乐的)速度；节奏，行进速度 | |
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43
infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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44
quills
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| n.（刺猬或豪猪的）刺( quill的名词复数 )；羽毛管；翮；纡管 | |
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45
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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46
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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47
rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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48
wig
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| n.假发 | |
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49
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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50
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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51
flattening
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| n. 修平 动词flatten的现在分词 | |
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52
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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53
dangle
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| v.(使)悬荡，(使)悬垂 | |
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54
scampering
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的现在分词 ) | |
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55
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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56
torpedo
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| n.水雷，地雷；v.用鱼雷破坏 | |
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57
compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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58
juvenility
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| n.年轻，不成熟 | |
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59
abounding
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| adj.丰富的，大量的v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的现在分词 ) | |
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60
eel
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| n.鳗鲡 | |
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61
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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62
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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63
intensifies
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| n.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的名词复数 )v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的第三人称单数 ) | |
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64
prodigy
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| n.惊人的事物，奇迹，神童，天才，预兆 | |
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astronomers
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| n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 ) | |
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66
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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67
apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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68
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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69
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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proprietors
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| n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
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71
provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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72
oracles
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| 神示所( oracle的名词复数 )； 神谕； 圣贤； 哲人 | |
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73
panoramic
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| adj. 全景的 | |
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74
subside
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| vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降 | |
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75
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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76
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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77
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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78
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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79
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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80
abducted
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| 劫持，诱拐( abduct的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（肢体等）外展 | |
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81
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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82
glamorous
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| adj.富有魅力的；美丽动人的；令人向往的 | |
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83
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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84
receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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85
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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86
inverted
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| adj.反向的，倒转的v.使倒置，使反转( invert的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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87
casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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88
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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89
bleakness
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| adj. 萧瑟的, 严寒的, 阴郁的 | |
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90
preempting
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| v.先占( preempt的现在分词 )；取代；先取；先发制人 | |
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91
dozes
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| n.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的名词复数 )v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的第三人称单数 ) | |
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92
awakens
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的第三人称单数 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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93
bickering
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| v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁 | |
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94
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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95
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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96
plow
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| n.犁，耕地，犁过的地；v.犁，费力地前进[英]plough | |
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97
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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98
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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99
cryptogram
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| n.密码 | |
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100
zinc
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| n.锌；vt.在...上镀锌 | |
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101
embargo
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| n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商） | |
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102
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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103
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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104
surmises
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的第三人称单数 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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105
depict
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| vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述 | |
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106
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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107
glowering
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| v.怒视( glower的现在分词 ) | |
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108
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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109
forthrightly
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| ad.言行坦诚地，直率地 | |
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110
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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111
tugs
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| n.猛拉( tug的名词复数 )；猛拖；拖船v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的第三人称单数 ) | |
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112
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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113
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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114
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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115
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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116
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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117
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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118
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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119
elicit
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| v.引出,抽出,引起 | |
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120
risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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121
outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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122
bribes
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| n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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123
chuckles
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的名词复数 ) | |
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124
celibate
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| adj.独身的，独身主义的；n.独身者 | |
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125
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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126
coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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127
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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128
waggon
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| n.运货马车，运货车；敞篷车箱 | |
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129
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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130
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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131
demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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132
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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133
onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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134
saturating
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| 浸湿，浸透( saturate的现在分词 )； 使…大量吸收或充满某物 | |
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135
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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136
flux
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| n.流动；不断的改变 | |
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137
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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138
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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139
potentates
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| n.君主，统治者( potentate的名词复数 )；有权势的人 | |
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140
wigs
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| n.假发，法官帽( wig的名词复数 ) | |
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141
incompatible
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| adj.不相容的，不协调的，不相配的 | |
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142
opaque
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| adj.不透光的；不反光的，不传导的；晦涩的 | |
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143
giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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144
transgress
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| vt.违反，逾越 | |
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145
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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146
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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147
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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148
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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149
intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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150
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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151
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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152
aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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153
luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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154
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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155
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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156
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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157
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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158
fins
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| [医]散热片；鱼鳍；飞边；鸭掌 | |
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159
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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160
spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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161
emergence
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| n.浮现，显现，出现，（植物）突出体 | |
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162
advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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163
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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164
mumbling
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的现在分词 ) | |
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165
salinity
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| n.盐分；咸度；盐浓度；咸性 | |
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166
diurnal
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| adj.白天的，每日的 | |
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167
lurks
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| n.潜在，潜伏；（lurk的复数形式）vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的第三人称单数形式） | |
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168
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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169
lode
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| n.矿脉 | |
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170
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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171
comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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172
gatherings
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| 聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集 | |
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173
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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174
queries
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| n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问 | |
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175
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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176
rumbles
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| 隆隆声，辘辘声( rumble的名词复数 ) | |
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177
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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