"Over my boots, but my feet can't get any wetter," he remarked. "I don't know that this is a judicious5 amusement after being invalided6 home from the tropics; but it looks a likely place for a mallard."
Allinson had met Murray for the first time that morning, and noticed that the man, a government official in a West African colony, looked at him rather intently when they were introduced. They had, however, spent a pleasant day, and Andrew was going to Olcott's to dinner.
"I'm afraid the plover7 will put up any ducks there are about," he said. "They're a nuisance and you're not allowed to shoot them here. It will be bad to keep our line over this rough ground."
[Pg 258]Four or five lapwings, screaming shrilly8, wheeled in wide circles overhead, showing sharply black and white as the light struck them, and fading into indistinct gray patches as they turned in erratic9 flight. The men advanced cautiously, searching the ground with eager eyes, and keeping their positions as closely as possible. This was needful for the safety of the party in case a bird got up and crossed their line of march, when the right to first shot would be determined10 by the code of shooting etiquette11.
Andrew was plodding12 through a belt of rush with a plover circling close above his head when the setter, after creeping slowly forward for a few paces, suddenly stopped. Then a small gray object sprang up from a drain and Andrew threw his gun to his shoulder. He dropped it the next moment, with a low call to Murray:
"Your bird!"
The snipe had swung a little to the right in its swift flight, swerving13 in sharp corkscrew twists, and Murray's gun twice flashed. The bird, however, held on and faded against the dusky background of the river bank. Murray stopped and turned to Andrew with a laugh.
"I'm afraid I'm hardly up to snipe," he said. "It's a pity you were generous enough to give me the shot."
"It was yours by right."
"That," Murray disputed, "is an open point. If I had been in your place and could have hit the bird, I wouldn't have let it go. However, if the firing hasn't made them wild, you may get another chance."
The sun had sunk behind the tall bank and the pale yellow light that lingered was confusing when the setter flushed a second snipe, which went away at long range in front of Andrew. During a part of each quick gyration14 he could not see it, but when it was outlined[Pg 259] for a second, black against the light, his gun flashed and the bird fell among the reeds. When the setter had found it Murray looked surprised.
"Considering the bad light and the distance, it was a remarkably15 clean shot," he said. "I expected to see that you had hit it with only a stray pellet or two."
"I used the left barrel," Andrew explained, smiling. "It's a half-choke; an old gun. That accounts for the charge hanging together."
"It doesn't account for your killing16 your bird at a long range with shot which wouldn't spread. But it's getting dark and we've had enough."
They turned back to the nearest road, and an hour or two after reaching home Andrew walked across to Olcott's. Ethel Hillyard was there, and when they went into dinner Murray, sitting next to her, glanced at Andrew near the other end of the table.
"I was out with Mr. Allinson to-day," he said. "As he's a neighbor of yours, I've no doubt you know him pretty well. He struck me as a particularly straight man."
"He is so," declared Ethel warmly. "I don't know a straighter. Still, I don't see how you came to that conclusion by watching his shooting."
"It doesn't seem very obvious," Murray responded with a smile. "However, so far as my experience goes, a man who's scrupulous17 in one thing is very apt to prove the same in another. When we were out this afternoon, a snipe got up in front of him and he let me have the shot."
"But how does that prove his general honesty?"
"I'm not sure I was entitled to the shot, though as the bird headed slightly toward me there was some doubt about the matter. Allinson gave me the full benefit,[Pg 260] though I think he must have known that I would miss."
"Is it a great sacrifice to give up a shot?"
"A snipe," said Murray, "is very hard to hit, though Allinson showed us afterward18 that he is capable of bringing one down. Now when you know you can do a difficult thing neatly19, it's not easy to refrain."
"Perhaps that's true," Ethel agreed. "No doubt the temptation's stronger when you have an appreciative20 audience."
"Mine," said Murray, "was too polite to laugh."
Mrs. Olcott asked him a question and they changed the subject, but after dinner Murray found an opportunity for a word with Andrew, whom Olcott had left alone in his smoking-room.
"Perhaps it's hardly correct to talk to you on business here, and I won't press you, but there's some information you may be able to give me," he said.
Andrew looked at the man more carefully than he had hitherto done. Murray's face was thin and rather haggard, but it bore the stamp of authority. His manner was grave but pleasant.
"I am at your service," he replied.
"Then I want to ask about the Rain Bluff21 mine. A little time ago a stock-jobbing friend told me it ought to turn out a good thing. He said that whatever Allinson's took up could be relied on, and it was clear that he had a high opinion of your house. On the strength of it, I put some money into the venture." He paused with a smile. "Now, you are wondering why a man with means enough to speculate should go to West Africa?"
"Something like that was in my mind."
"Well, I learned that I'd the knack22 of getting on[Pg 261] with primitive23 peoples; in fact, it's my only talent, and I felt that I had to make use of it. Then it's a mysterious country, that gets hold of one, and perhaps is hardly so bad as it's painted. As a rule, I don't have fever more than half a dozen times a year. What's more to the purpose, part of the money was lately left to me. But I'm getting away from the point."
Andrew was favorably impressed by the man. They had something in common, for both were imbued24 with a sense of responsibility. Murray had lightly indicated this, and Andrew knew that West Africa is far from a desirable place to live.
"You have a reason for feeling anxious about those shares?"
"Yes. In my district, the risk of getting permanently25 disabled by the climate or shot by an ambushed26 nigger has to be considered. Stipend27 and pension are small, and I felt that I needed something to fall back on. That was why I bought the Rain Bluff stock. Now my friend tells me that the shares are being quietly sold in small lots, which he seems to think ominous28. If you can tell me anything about the matter, I'll be grateful."
Andrew was silent for a minute or two, feeling troubled. He did not pity the regular stock-jobbers and speculators who had bought Rain Bluff stock, for they were accustomed to playing a risky29 game. It was, however, different with such investors30 as Murray—men of small means, who had carefully saved something to provide for old age, and women left with just enough to keep them from want. These, he thought, formed a numerous class and demanded his sympathy. They had, no doubt, avoiding ventures which offered a larger return, been influenced by a desire for security,[Pg 262] which would seem to be promised by Allinson's connection with the mine.
"Well," he said at last, "I believe it is true that shares have been parted with by a man who has a say in the management of the company."
"That sounds discouraging. If I sell out, I'll lose three or four shillings on every share."
"Yes; and if others follow your example, it will weaken the Company's position. However, I think you can venture to keep your stock."
"You can't expect me to take the risk of holding, in order to support a concern in which I'm badly disappointed. I must ask you frankly31 what is wrong at the mine?"
"In strict confidence, I may say that the ore we are working does not promise well."
Murray looked at him in astonishment32.
"Here's a better one," said Andrew. "We have another mine in view; but whether it turns out rich or not, no holder34 of Rain Bluff stock shall lose a penny by his confidence in Allinson's."
"Though I don't know much about stock-jobbing, that strikes me as an extraordinary promise."
Murray looked up sharply.
"I believe your word is good enough. You have taken a load off my mind, Mr. Allinson. I'll hold those shares. May I add that if my proxy36 is likely to be of any value at your meetings, you may count on it?"
"Thanks! And now, did I tell you that Olcott[Pg 263] promised to bring you out again to-morrow? There's a cover I want to beat and the pheasants ought to be plentiful37."
They went down together and Murray joined Ethel Hillyard in the drawing-room.
"I've had a talk with Mr. Allinson which confirms your opinion of him," he said. "But I must say that he doesn't fit in with my idea of a Company director."
Ethel laughed.
"Andrew's new to the business, and undertook it with reluctance38 from a sense of duty. For all that, though his ignorance of commercial matters must be a handicap, I expect him to make a success of it."
"One would imagine that a desire to make money is the more usual object, but I think you're right. In fact, you have touched upon a pet idea of mine."
The girl turned and studied him. There was a trace of gravity in his manner, and she understood that he had done with credit difficult and dangerous work.
"What is the idea?" she asked.
"To put it roughly, something like this—more depends on character than specialized39 training; determination and strong sincerity40 often carry one farther than a knowledge of the rules of the game. One sees people who rely on the latter come to grief."
"Even in Company floating?"
"That," said Murray, smiling, "is a subject about which I'm ignorant. I was speaking of the general principle."
"Do you mean that right must prevail?"
"One would like to think so. But as we seem to be getting serious, isn't the question whether it prevails[Pg 264] or not another matter from an altruistic42 point of view?"
Murray pondered this and then looked up with a twinkle.
"So long as I'm not priggish, I don't mind being serious. You see, I'm fresh from the shadowy bush, where life is solemn enough, and when I came home not long ago after a three years' absence I felt strangely out of place. You're at a disadvantage when you can't talk about the latest musical comedy or popular dancer, and it's as bad not to know the favorite for an approaching steeplechase. However, to stick to our subject, I see what you mean. One must do one's work and not worry about the result?"
Olcott was passing and he stopped beside them.
"Murray seems to be moralizing," he laughed. "I must warn you that he spends his evenings in Africa sitting behind a mosquito-netting studying the early Victorian philosophers. It's some excuse for him that when the niggers are quiet he has nothing else to do and nobody to talk to except a colored official."
"Don't you get any newspapers?" Ethel asked.
"They're often too wet and pulpy43 to read, and now and then the sporting natives bag the mail-carrier. I've known them try to stalk the white officer responsible for too drastic reforms."
Ethel regarded Murray with heightened interest. There was something that both amused and touched her in the thought of the lonely man, shut in by the black, steamy forest, spending his evenings reading philosophy.
"I wonder," she said, "whether you find any practical application of the great thinkers' theories?"
[Pg 265]"One old favorite of mine strikes me as rather grim and singularly hard to please; but so far as I can judge, he hits the mark now and then. It's a pet theme of his that only that which stands on justice, and is better than what it displaces, can endure. You see that worked out in a primitive country like West Africa."
"But isn't the progress of civilization assisted by machine-guns and followed by gin?"
"A fair shot!" laughed Olcott. "Our rule's often faulty, but it's a good deal better than the natives had before. Murray knows a creek44 that mutilated corpses45 used to drift down after each big palaver46 and celebration of Ju-Ju rites47."
"I suppose he had some trouble in putting a stop to it?"
Olcott broke into a grim smile.
"One would imagine so, from what I heard of the matter. An army of savages48 with flintlocks took the bush on the other side; there were about two dozen colored Mohammedan soldiers, a white lieutenant49, carried in a hammock because he was too ill to walk, and a civil officer who wasn't authorized50 to fight, to carry out the reforms. Though it didn't look encouraging at the start, they were effected."
"Ah," said Ethel, "one could be proud of things like that! After all, Mr. Murray's philosopher may be right. It's cheering to find a man ready to put his belief in justice to the test."
"There's one," said Olcott, indicating Andrew. "I shouldn't wonder if it costs him something."
The group broke up and some time later Andrew walked home with Ethel. The distance was not great, the road was dry, and a half moon threw down a[Pg 266] silvery light. Thin mist filled the hollows, the murmur51 of the river rose from a deep valley, and the air was soft.
"It's very open weather," Ethel remarked. "I suppose it's different in Canada?"
"In the part I'm best acquainted with the thermometer is now registering forty degrees below zero, and it would need a charge of dynamite52 to break the ice on the lakes."
"Prospecting53 must be stern work," said Ethel speculatively54. "It's curious that you haven't thought it worth while to give me an account of your adventures. Won't you do so?"
"Well, you mustn't blame me if you find them tedious. As a matter of fact, I haven't said much about them to anybody yet."
He began with a few rather involved explanations, but his style became clearer as he followed up the main thread of the tale, and Ethel listened with close interest.
"So it was the Frobishers who saved you by sending off a rescue party!" she exclaimed when he had finished. "But how did they know you were in danger?"
"That's more than I can tell. Of course, we were behind our time, but that doesn't account for all. I've a suspicion that Miss Frobisher had some means of finding out the most serious risk we ran."
Ethel thought this indicated that Geraldine took a marked interest in the man. She wondered if it had occurred to him.
"And you believe the fellow really meant to starve you?" she said.
"He didn't intend us to find the food. It comes to the same thing."
"But his conduct seems so inhuman55! Surely, he[Pg 267] would not have let you die of hunger with no better reason than to prevent you from interfering56 with his contract?"
Andrew hesitated. He could not tell her that Mappin might have been actuated by jealousy57; modesty58 prevented his doing so.
"The fellow is greedy and unscrupulous enough for anything," he replied evasively.
"But you hinted that he was clever," Ethel persisted. "Only a fool would commit a serious crime for a small advantage."
"It's certainly puzzling," Andrew admitted.
Then he was surprised and disconcerted when Ethel turned on him a searching glance.
"Andrew," she said, "the man must have been given a hint by some one more powerful. His is not the strongest interest you are opposed to."
The color crept into Andrew's face. He suspected Leonard, but it was unthinkable that he should declare his brother-in-law's infamy59. This was a matter that lay between the culprit and himself.
"It's an unpleasant topic and the fellow's a rascal," he answered. "It's hard to say what might influence such men. They're not quite normal; you can't account for them."
"But you're going back to look for the lode60, aren't you?" Ethel laid her hand on his arm. "Be careful; you have had a warning. I suppose you must do what you have fixed61 your mind on and, knowing you are right, I dare not dissuade62 you."
"I'll run no risks that can be avoided and, in particular, trust no outsider to look after the supplies for our next trip," Andrew said grimly. "One experience like the last is enough."
[Pg 268]For a few minutes they walked on in silence. Ethel knew her companion's character and admired it; and now she had met Murray, who in some respects resembled him, as did Olcott. All were men of action, and there was the same indefinite but recognizable stamp on them. They were direct, simple in a sense which did not imply foolishness, free from petty assumption and incapable63 of suave64 diplomacy65; but one could rely on them in time of stress. Leonard was a good example of the opposite type; but she found the other more pleasant to think about. When she reached the gate she gave Andrew her hand.
"You know you have my good wishes," she said.
[Pg 269]
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boggy
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| adj.沼泽多的 | |
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clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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mire
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trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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invalided
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| 使伤残（invalid的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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plover
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shrilly
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| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
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erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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plodding
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| a.proceeding in a slow or dull way | |
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swerving
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的现在分词 ) | |
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gyration
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remarkably
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killing
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scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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afterward
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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appreciative
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| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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knack
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| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
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primitive
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imbued
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permanently
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ambushed
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stipend
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| n.薪贴；奖学金；养老金 | |
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ominous
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risky
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investors
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frankly
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astonishment
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candid
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holder
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judgment
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proxy
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| n.代理权，代表权；（对代理人的）委托书；代理人 | |
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plentiful
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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specialized
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| adj.专门的，专业化的 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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altruistic
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| adj.无私的，为他人着想的 | |
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pulpy
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| 果肉状的，多汁的，柔软的； 烂糊； 稀烂 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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palaver
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| adj.壮丽堂皇的；n.废话，空话 | |
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rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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authorized
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| a.委任的，许可的 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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dynamite
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| n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破) | |
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prospecting
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| n.探矿 | |
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speculatively
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| adv.思考地，思索地；投机地 | |
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inhuman
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| adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的 | |
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interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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infamy
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| n.声名狼藉，出丑，恶行 | |
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lode
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| n.矿脉 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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dissuade
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| v.劝阻，阻止 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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suave
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diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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