when the world shook-第10节
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words： 〃Go where you seem called to go； far away。 Oh！ the
wonderful place in which you will find me； not knowing that you
have found me。〃
With some variations this dream visited me twice that night。 In
the morning I woke up quite determined that I would go to the
South Sea Islands； even if I must do so alone。 On that same
evening Bastin and Bickley dined with me。 I said nothing to them
about my dream； for Bastin never dreamed and Bickley would have
set it down to indigestion。 But when the cloth had been cleared
away and we were drinking our glass of portboth Bastin and
Bickley only took one； the former because he considered port a
sinful indulgence of the flesh； the latter because he feared it
would give him goutI remarked casually that they both looked
very run down and as though they wanted a rest。 They agreed； at
least each of them said he had noticed it in the other。 Indeed
Bastin added that the damp and the cold in the church； in which
he held daily services to no congregation except the old woman
who cleaned it； had given him rheumatism； which prevented him
from sleeping。
〃Do call things by their proper names；〃 interrupted Bickley。 〃I
told you yesterday that what you are suffering from is neuritis
in your right arm； which will become chronic if you neglect it
much longer。 I have the same thing myself； so I ought to know；
and unless I can stop operating for a while I believe my fingers
will become useless。 Also something is affecting my sight；
overstrain； I suppose； so that I am obliged to wear stronger and
stronger glasses。 I think I shall have to leave Ogden〃 （his
partner） 〃in charge for a while； and get away into the sun。 There
is none here before June。〃
〃I would if I could pay a locum tenens and were quite sure it
isn't wrong；〃 said Bastin。
〃I am glad you both think like that；〃 I remarked； 〃as I have a
suggestion to make to you。 I want to go to the South Seas about
which we were talking yesterday； to get the thorough change that
Bickley has been advising for me； and I should be very grateful
if you would both come as my guests。 You； Bickley； make so much
money out of cutting people about； that you can arrange your own
affairs during your absence。 But as for you； Bastin； I will see
to the wherewithal for the locum tenens； and everything else。〃
〃You are very kind；〃 said Bastin； 〃and certainly I should like
to expose that misguided author； who probably published his
offensive work without thinking that what he wrote might affect
the subscriptions to the missionary societies； also to show
Bickley that he is not always right； as he seems to think。 But I
could never dream of accepting without the full approval of the
Bishop。
〃You might get that of your nurse also； if she happens to be
still alive；〃 mocked Bickley。 〃As for his Lordship； I don't think
he will raise any objection when he sees the certificate I will
give you about the state of your health。 He is a great believer
in me ever since I took that carbuncle out of his neck which he
got because he will not eat enough。 As for me； I mean to come if
only to show you how continually and persistently you are wrong。
But； Arbuthnot； how do you mean to go？〃
〃I don't know。 In a mail steamer； I suppose。〃
〃If you can run to it； a yacht would be much better。〃
〃That's a good idea； for one could get out of the beaten tracks
and see the places that are never； or seldom； visited。 I will
make some inquiries。 And now； to celebrate the occasion； let us
all have another glass of port and drink a toast。〃
They hesitated and were lost； Bastin murmuring something about
doing without his stout next day as a penance。 Then they both
asked what was the toast； each of them； after thought； suggesting
that it should be the utter confusion of the other。
I shook my head； whereon as a result of further cogitation；
Bastin submitted that the Unknown would be suitable。 Bickley said
that he thought this a foolish idea as everything worth knowing
was already known； and what was the good of drinking to the rest？
A toast to the Truth would be better。
A notion came to me。
〃Let us combine them；〃 I said； 〃and drink to the Unknown
Truth。〃
So we did； though Bastin grumbled that the performance made him
feel like Pilate。
〃We are all Pilates in our way；〃 I replied with a sigh。
〃That is what I think every time I diagnose a case；〃 exclaimed
Bickley。
As for me I laughed and for some unknown reason felt happier
than I had done for months。 Oh！ if only the writer of that
tourist tale of the South Sea Islands could have guessed what
fruit his light…thrown seed would yield to us and to the world！
I made my inquiries through a London agency which hired out
yachts or sold them to the idle rich。 As I expected； there were
plenty to be had； at a price； but wealthy as I was； the figure
asked of the buyer of any suitable craft； staggered me。 In the
end； however； I chartered one for six months certain and at so
much per month for as long as I liked afterwards。 The owners paid
insurance and everything else on condition that they appointed
the captain and first mate； also the engineer； for this yacht；
which was named Star of the South； could steam at about ten knots
as well as sail。
I know nothing about yachts； and therefore shall not attempt to
describe her； further than to say that she was of five hundred
and fifty tons burden； very well constructed； and smart to look
at； as well she might be； seeing that a deceased millionaire from
whose executors I hired her had spent a fortune in building and
equipping her in the best possible style。 In all； her crew
consisted of thirty…two hands。 A peculiarity of the vessel was
that owing to some fancy of the late owner； the passenger
accommodation； which was splendid； lay forward of the bridge；
this with the ship's store…rooms； refrigerating chamber； etc。；
being almost in the bows。 It was owing to these arrangements；
which were unusual； that the executors found it impossible to
sell； and were therefore glad to accept such an offer as mine in
order to save expenses。 Perhaps they hoped that she might go to
the bottom； being heavily insured。 If so； the Fates did not
disappoint them。
The captain； named Astley； was a jovial person who held every
kind of certificate。 He seemed so extraordinarily able at his
business that personally I suspected him of having made mistakes
in the course of his career； not unconnected with the worship of
Bacchus。 In this I believe I was right； otherwise a man of such
attainments would have been commanding something bigger than a
private yacht。 The first mate； Jacobsen； was a melancholy Dane； a
spiritualist who played the concertina； and seemed to be able to
do without sleep。 The crew were a mixed lot； good men for the
most part and quite unobjectionable； more than half of them being
Scandinavian。 I think that is all I need say about the Star of
the South。
The arrangement was that the Star of the South should proceed
through the Straits of Gibraltar to Marseilles； where we would
join her； and thence travel via the Suez Canal； to Australia and
on to the South Seas； returning home as our fancy or convenience
might dictate。
All the first part of the plan we carried out to the letter。 Of
the remainder I say nothing at present。
The Star of the South was amply provided with every kind of
store。 Among them were medicines and surgical instruments；
selected by Bickley； and a case of Bibles and other religious
works in sundry languages of the South Seas； selected by Bastin；
whose bishop； when he understood the pious objects of his
journey； had rather encouraged than hindered his departure on
sick leave； and a large number of novels； books of reference；
etc。； laid in by myself。 She duly sailed from the Thames and
reached Marseilles after a safe and easy passage； where all three
of us boarded her。
I forgot to add that she had another passenger； the little
spaniel； Tommy。 I had intended to leave him behind； but while I
was packing up he followed me about with such evident
understanding of my purpose that my heart was touched。 When I
entered the motor to drive to the station he escaped from the
hands of the servant； whimpering； and took refuge on my knee。
After this I felt that Destiny intended him to be our companion。
Moreover； was he not linked with my dead past； and； had I but
known it； with my living future also？
Chapter V
The Cyclone
We enjoyed our voyage exceedingly。 In Egypt； a land I was glad
to revisit； we only stopped a week while the Star of the South；
which we rejoined at Suez； coaled and went through the Canal。
This； however； gave us time to spend a few days in Cairo； visit
the Pyramids and Sakkara which Bastin and Bickley had never seen
before； and inspect the great Museum。 The journey up the Nile was
postpo
