第7章
[WANTS]
REQUIREDIMMEDIATELY，FOREastAfrica，athoroughlycompetentPlaneandDirigibleDriver，acquaintedwithPetrolRadiumandHeliummotorsandgenerators。Low-levelworkonly，butmustunderstandheavy-weightdigs。
MOSSAMEDESTRANSPORTASSOC。
84PalestineBuildings，E。C。
MANWANTED-DIGDRIVERforSouthernAlpswithSaharansummertrips。Highlevels，highspeed。highwages:
ApplyM。SIDNEY
HotelSanStefano。MonteCarlo。
FAMILYDIRIGIBLE。ACOMPETENT，steadymanwantedforslowspeed，lowlevelTangyedirigible。Nonightwork，noseatrips。MustbememberoftheChurchofEngland，andmakehimselfusefulinthegarden。
M。R。
TheRectory，Gray"sBarton，Wilts。
COMMERCIALDIG，CENTRALandSouthernEurope。Asmart，activemanforaL。M。T。Dig。Nightworkonly。HeadquartersLondonandCairo。Alinguistpreferred。
BAGMAN
CharingCrossHotel，W。C。(urgent。)
FORSALE——ABARGAIN——SinglePlane，narrow-gaugevans，Pinkemotor。Restayedthisautumn。Hansenair-kit，58in。chest，153
collar。Canbeseenbyappointment。
N。2650Thisoffice。
TheBEE-LINEBOOKSHOP
BELT"SWAY-BOOKS，givingtownlightsforalltownsover4，000
pop。aslaiddownbyA。B。O。
THEWORLD。Complete2vols。ThinOxford，limpback。12L6d。
BELT"SCOASTALITINERARY。ShortLightsoftheWorld。7s。6d。
THETRANSATLANTICANDMEDITERRANEANTRAFFICLINES。
(ByauthorityoftheA。B。C。)Paper，1s。6d。；cloth。2s。6d。Ready，Jan。16。
ARCTICAEROPLANING。SiemensandGait。Cloth，bds。Ss。6d。
LAVALLE"SHEARTOFTHECYCLONE，withsupplementarycharts。4s。
6d。
RIMINGTON"SPITFALLSINTHEAIR，andTableofComparativeDensities3s。6d。
ANGELO"SDESERTINADIRIGIBLE。Newedition，revised。5s。9d。
VAUGHAN"SPLANERACINGINCALMANDSTORM。2s。6d。
VAUGHAN"SHINTSTOTHEAIRMATEUR1s。
HOFMAN"SLAWSOFLIFTANDVELOCITY。Withdiagrams，3s。6d。
DEVITRE"STHEORYOFSHIFTINGBALLASTINDIRIGIBLES。2s。6d。
SANGERSWEATHERSOFTHEWORLD。4s。
SANGER"STEMPERATURESATHIGHALTITUDES。4s。
HAWKIN"SFOGANDHOWToAVOIDIT。3s。
VANZUYLAN"SSECONDARYEFFECTSOFTHUNDERSTORMS。4s。6d。
DAHLGREN"SAIRCURRENTSANDEPIDEMICDISEASES。5s。6d。
REDMAYNE"SDISEASEANDTHEBAROMETER。7s。6d。
WALTON"SHEALTHRESORTSOFTHEGOBIANDSHAMO。3s。6d。
WALTON"STHEPOLEANDPULMONARYCOMPLAINTS。7s。ad。
MUTLOWSHIGHLEVELBACTERIOLOGY。7s。6d。
HALLIWELL"SILLUMINATEDSTARMAP，withclockworkattachment，givingapparentmotionofheavens，boxed，completewithclampsforbinnacle，36inchsize，onlyL2。2。0。
Invaluablefornightwork。)WithA。B。C。certificate。L3。10s。
0d。Zalinski"sStandardWorks:
PASSESOFTHEHIMALAYAS，5s。
PASSESOFTHESIERRAS，5s。
PASSESOFTHEROOKIES。5s。
PASSESOFTHEURALS，5s。
Thefourboxed，limpcloth，withcharts，15s。
GRAY"SAIRCURRENTSatMOUNTAINGORGES，7s。6d。
A。C。BELT&SON，READING
SAFETYWEARFORAERONAUTS
Fickers!Flickers!Flickers!
HIGHLEVELFLICKERS
"Hethatisdownneedfearnofall，"
Fearnot!Youwillfalllightlyasdown!
Hansen"sair-kitsaredowninallrespects。Tremendousreductionsinpricesprevioustowinterstocking。Pureparakitwithcelluloseseatandshoulder-pads，weightedtobalance。Unequalledforalldrop-work。
Ourtreblyresilientheavykitistheneplusultraofcomfortandsafety。
Gas-buoyed，waterproof，hail-proof，nonconductingFlickerswithpipeandnozzlefittingalltypesofgenerator。Graduatedtaponlefthip。
Hansen"sFlickersLeadtheAerialFlight197OxfordStreetThenewweightedFlickerwithtweedorcheviotsurfacecannotbedistinguishedfromtheordinarysuittillinflated。
Fickers!Flickers!Flickers!
APPLIANCESFORAIRPLANES
What"SKID"
wastoourforefathersontheground，"PITCH"
istotheirsonsintheair。
Thepopularityofthelarge，unwieldy，slow，expensiveDirigibleoverthelightswift，Planeismainlyduetotheformer"simmunityfrompitch。
Collison"sforward-socketedAirVanrendersitimpossibleforanyplanetopitch。TheC。F。S。isautomatic，simpleasashutter，certain\asapowerhammer，safeasoxygen。Fittedtoanymakeofplane。
COLLISON
186BromptonRoadWorkshops，ChiswickLUNDIEdoMATTERS
SoleAgtsforEast"nHemisphere
STARTERSANDGUIDES
Hotel，club，andprivatehouseplane-starters，slipsandguidesaffixedbyskilledworkmeninaccordancewithlocalbuildinglaws。
Rackstraww"sforty-footcollapsiblesteelstarterswithautomaticreleaseatendoftravel——pricesperfootrun，clampsandcramponsincluded。Thesafestonthemarket。
Weaver&DenisonMiddleboro
AIRPLANESANDDIRIGIBLEGOODS
REMEMBER
Planesareswift——soisDeathPlanesarecheap——soisLifeWhydoestheplanebuilderinsistonthesafetyofhismachines？
Methinksthegentlemanproteststoomuch。
TheStandardDigConstructionCompanydonotbuildkites。
Theybuild，equipandguaranteedirigibles。
StandardDigconstructionCo。
MillwallandBuenosAyres
HOVERS
POWELL"S
WindHoversfor"planeslying-toinheavyweather，savethemotorandstrainontheforebody。Willnotsendtoleeward。"Albatross"
wind-hovers，rigid-ribbed；accordingtoh。p。andweight。
Wefitandtestfreeto40eastofGreenwichVillageL。&W。POWELL
196VictoriaStreet，W。
REMEMBER
Weshallalwaysbepleasedtoseeyou。
Webuildandtestandguaranteeourdirigiblesorallpurposes。
Theygoupwhenyoupleaseandtheydonotcomedowntillyouplease。
Youcanpleaseyourself，but——youmightaswellchooseadirigible。
STANDARDDIRIGIBLECONSTRUCTIONCO。
MillwallandBuenosAyres
GAYERANDHUNT
BirminghamandBirminghamEng。Ala。
Towers。LandingStages，SlipsandLiftspublicandprivateContractorstotheA。B。C。，South-WesternEuropeanPostalConstructionDept。SolepatenteesandownersoftheCollisonanti-quakediagonaltower-tie。OnlygoldmedalKyotoExhibitionofAerialAppliances，1997。
AIRPLANESANDDIRIGIBLES
C。M。C。
OurSyntheticalMineralBEARINGS
arechemicallyandcrystallogicallyidenticalwiththemineralswhosenamestheybear。Anysize，anysurface。Diamond，Rock-Crystal，AgateandRubyBearings-cups，capsandcollarsforthehigherspeeds。Fortractorbearingsandspindles-Imperative。
Forrearpropellers-Indispensable。Forallworkingparts-Advisable。
CommercialMineralsCo。
107Minories
RESURGAM!
IfyouhavenotClothedYOURSELFinaNORMANDIERESURGAM
YOUWILLPROBABLYNOTBEINTERESTEDINOURNEXTWEEK"SLISTOF
AIR-KIT。
RESURGAMAIR-KITEMPORIUM
HYMANS&GRAHAM
1198LowerBroadway，NewYork
REMEMBER!
*Itisnownearly，agenerationsincethePlanewastosupersedetheDirigibleforallpurposes。*TO-DAYnoneofthePlanet"sfreightiscarriedenplane。*LessthantwoperrentofthePlanet"spassengersarecarriedenplane。
Wedesign，equipguaranteeDirigiblesforallpurposes。
StandardDigConstructionCompanyMILLWALLandBUENOSAYRES
BAT-BOATS
FLINT&MANTEL
SOUTHAMPTON
FORSALE
attheendofSeasonthefollowingBat-Boats:
GRISELDA，65knt。，42ft。，430(nom。)MaginnisMotor，under-rakerudder。
MABELLE，50knt。，40ft。，310HargreavesMotor，Douglas"lock-steeringgear。
IVEMONA，50knt。，35ft。，300Hargreaves(Radiumaccelerator)，Millerkeelandrudder。
TheabovearewellknownontheSouthCoastassound，wholesomeknockaboutboats，withamplecruisingaccommodation。GriseldacarriessparesetofHofmanracingvansandcanbeliedthreefootclearinsmoothwaterwithballast-tankswungaft。Theothersdonotlift，clearofwater，andarerecommendedforbeginners。
Also，byprivatetreaty，racingB。B。Tarpon(76winningflags)
120knt。，60ft。；Long-Davidsondoubleunder-rakerudder，newthisseasonandunstrained。850nom。Maginnismotor，RadiumrelaysandPondgenerator。Bronzebreakwaterforward，andtreblereinforcedforefootandentry。Talfourdrockeredkeel:TriplesetofHofmanvans，givingmaximumliftingsurfaceof5327sq。ft。
Tarpon-hasbeenliftedandheldsevenfeetfortwomilesbetweentouchandtouch。
OurAutumnListofracingandfamilyBatsreadyonthe9thJanuary。
AIRPLANESANDSTARTERS
HINKSMODERATOR
Monorailoverheadstarterforfamilyandprivateplanesuptotwenty-fivefootoverallAbsolutelySafeHinks&Co……Birmingham
J。D。ARDAGH
IAMNOTCONCERNEDWITHYOURPLANEIAFTERITLEAVESMYGUIDES，BUTTILLTHENIHOLDMYSELFPERSONALLYRESPONSIBLEFORYOURLIFE，SAFETY，ANDCOMFORT。MYHYDRAULICBUFFER-STOPCANNOTRELEASE
TILLTHEMOTORSAREWORKINGUPTOBEARINGSPEED，THUSSECURING
ASAFEANDGRACEFULFLIGHTWITHOUTPITCHING。
Rememberourmotto，"UpwardandOutward，"
anddonottrustyourselftoso-called"rigid"guide-barsJ。D。ARDAGH，BELFASTANDTURIN
ACCESSORIESANDSPARES
CHRISTIANWRIGHT&OLDIS
ESTABLISHED1924
ACCESSORIESandSPARES
HoodedBinnacleswithdip-dialsautomaticallyrecordingchangeoflevel(illuminatedface)。
Allheightsfrom50to15，000feetL2100
WithAerialBoardofControlcertificateL3110
FootandHandFoghoms；Sirenstonedtoanyclubnote；withair-chestbelt-drivenhornmotorL680
WirelessinstallationssyntonisedtoA。B。C。requirements，inneatmahoganycase，hundredmilerangeL330
Grapnels，mushroom——anchors，pithing-irons，winches，hawsers，snaps，shacklesandmooringropes，forlawn，city，andpublicinstallations。
Detachableunder-cars，aluminumorstampedsteel。
Keeledunder-carsforplanes:single-actiondetaching-gear，turningcarintoboatwithonemotionofthewrist。Invaluableforseatrips。
Head，side，andridinglights(bysize)Nos。00to20A。B。C。
Standard。Rocketsandfog-bombsincoloursandtonesoftheprincipalclubs(boxed)。
AselectionoftwentyL2176
Internationalnight-signals(boxed)L1116
Sparegeneratorsguaranteedtoliftingpowermarkedoncover(pricesaccordingtopower)。
Wind-nosesfordirigibles——Pegamoid，cane-stiffened，lacqueredcaneoraluminumandfluxforwinterwork。
Smoke-ringcannonforhailstorms，swivelmounted，boworstern。
Propellerblades:metal，tungstenbacked；paper-machewirestiffened；ribbedXylonite(Nickson"spatent)；allrazor-edged(pricebypitchanddiameter)。
Compressedsteelbow-screwsforwinterwork。
FusedRubyorCommercialMineralCo。bearingsandcollars。
Agate-mountedthrust-blocksupto4inch。
Magniac"sbow-rudders——(Lavalespatentgrooving)。
Wovesteelbeltingsforoutboardmotors(nonmagnetic)。
Radiumbatteries，allpowersto150h。p。(inpairs)。
Heliumbatteries，allpowersto300h。p。(tandem)。
Stun"slebrakesworkedfromupperorlowerplatform。
Directplunge-brakesworkedfromlowerplatformonly，loadedsilkorfibre，wind-tight。
CATALOGUESFREETHROUGHOUTTHEPLANET
THEFOURANGELS
AsADAMlaya-dreamingbeneaththeAppleTree，TheAngeloftheEarthcamedown，andofferedEarthinfee。
ButAdamdidnotneedit，Northeploughhewouldnotspeedit，Singing:——"EarthandWater，AirandFire，Whatmorecanmortalmandesire？"
(TheAppleTree"sinbud。)
AsAdamlaya-dreamingbeneaththeAppleTree，TheAngeloftheWatersofferedalltheSeasinfee。
ButAdamwouldnottake"em，Northeshipshewouldn"tmake"em，Singing:——"Water，EarthandAirandFire，Whatmorecanmortalmandesire？"
(TheAppleTree"sinleaf。)
AsAdamlaya-dreamingbeneaththeAppleTree，TheAngeloftheAirheofferedalltheAirinfee。
ButAdamdidnotcraveit，Northeflighthewouldn"tbraveit，Singing:——"AirandWater，EarthandFire，Whatmorecanmortalmandesire？"
(TheAppleTree"sinbloom。)
AsAdamlaya-dreamingbeneaththeAppleTree，TheAngeloftheFireroseupandnotawordsaidhe。
Buthewishedafireandmadeit，AndinAdam"shearthelaidit，Singing——"Fire，fire，burningFire，Standupandreachyourheart"sdesire!"
(TheAppleBlossom"sset。)
AsAdamwasa-workingoutsideofEden-Wall，HeusedtheEarth，heusedtheSeas，heusedtheAirandall；
AndoutofblackdisasterHearosetobethemasterOfEarthandWater，AirandFire，Butneverreachedhisheart"sdesire!
(TheAppleTree"scutdown!)
ADEALINCOTTON
Longandlongago，whenDevadattawasKingofBenares，IwrotesometalesconcerningStricklandofthePunjabPolice(whomarriedMissYoughal)，andAdam，hisson。StricklandhasfinishedhisIndianService，andlivesnowataplaceinEnglandcalledWeston-super-Mare，wherehiswifeplaystheorganinoneofthechurches。Semi-occasionallyhecomesuptoLondon，andoccasionallyhiswifemakeshimvisithisfriends。Otherwiseheplaysgolfandfollowstheharriersforhisfigure"ssake。
IfyourememberthatInfantwhotoldataletoEustaceCleeverthenovelist，youwillrememberthathebecameabaronetwithavastestate。Hehas，owingtocookery，alittlelosthisfigure，butheneverloseshisfriends。Ihavefoundawingofhishouseturnedintoahospitalforsickmen，andthereIoncespentaweekinthecompanyoftwodismalnursesandaspecialistin"Sprue。"Anothertimetheplacewasfullofschoolboys——sonsofAnglo-IndianswhomtheInfanthadcollectedfortheholidays，andtheynearlybrokehiskeeper"sheart。
Butmylastvisitwasbetter。TheInfantcalledmeupbywire，andIfellintothearmsofafriendofmine，ColonelA。L。
Corkran，sothattheyearsdepartedfromus，andwepraisedAllah，whohadnotyetterminatedtheDelights，norseparatedtheCompanions。
SaidCorkran，whenhehadexplainedhowitfelttocommandanativeInfantryregimentontheborder:"TheStricksarecomingforto-night-withtheirboy。"
"Irememberhim。ThelittlefellowIwroteastoryabout，"I
said。"IsheintheService？"
"No。StrickgothimintotheCentro-Euro-AfricaProtectorate。
He"sAssistant-CommissioneratDupe——whereverthatis。
Somaliland，ain"tit，Stalky？"askedtheInfant。
Stalkypuffedouthisnostrilsscornfully。"You"reonlythreethousandmilesout。Lookattheatlas。"
"Anyhow，he"sasrottenfulloffeverastherestofyou，"saidtheInfant，atlengthonthebigdivan。"Andhe"sbringinganativeservantwithhim。Stalkybeanathlete，andtellIppstoputhiminthestableroom。"
"Why？IsheaYao——likethefellowWadebroughthere——whenyourhousekeeperhadfits？"StalkyoftenvisitstheInfant，andhasseensomeoddthings。
"No。He"soneofoldStrickland"sPunjabipolicemen——andquiteEuropean——Ibelieve。"
"Hooray!Haven"ttalkedPunjabiforthreemonths——andaPunjabifromCentralAfricaoughttobeamusin"。"
Weheardthechuffofthemotorintheporch，andthefirsttoenterwasAgnesStrickland，whomtheInfantmakesnosecretofadoring。
Heisdevoted，inafatman"splacidway，toatleasteightdesigningwomen；butshenursedhimoncethroughabadboutofPeshawurfever，andwhensheisinthehouse，itismorethanallhers。
"Youdidn"tsendrugsenough，"shebegan。"Adammighthavetakenachill。"
"It"squitewarminthetonneau。Whydidyoulethimrideinfront？"
"Becausehewantedto，"shereplied，withthemother"ssmile，andwewereintroducedtotheshadowofayoungmanleaningheavilyontheshoulderofabeardedPunjabiMohammedan。
"Thatisallthatcamehomeofhim，"saidhisfathertome。TherewasnothinginitofthechildwithwhomIhadjourneyedtoDalhousiecenturiessince。"
"Andwhatisthisuniform？"StalkyaskedofImamDin，theservant，whocametoattentiononthemarblefloor。
"TheuniformoftheProtectoratetroops，Sahib。ThoughIamtheLittleSahib"sbody-servant，itisnotseemlyforuswhitementobeattendedbyfolkdressedaltogetherasservants。"
"And——andyouwhitemenwaitattableonhorseback？"Stalkypointedtotheman"sspurs。
"TheseIaddedforthesakeofhonourwhenIcametoEngland，"
saidImamDinAdamsmiledtheghostofalittlesmilethatI
begantoremember，andweputhimonthebigcouchforrefreshments。Stalkyaskedhimhowmuchleavehehad，andhesaid"Sixmonths。"
"Buthe"lltakeanothersixonmedicalcertificate，"saidAgnesanxiously。Adamknithisbrows。
"Youdon"twantto——eh？Iknow。Wonderwhatmysecondincommandisdoing。"Stalkytuggedhismoustache，andfelltothinkingofhisSikhs。
"Ah!"saidtheInfant。"I"veonlyafewthousandpheasantstolookafter。Comealonganddressfordinner。We"rejustourselves。Whatflowerisyourhonour"sladyshipcommandingforthetable？"
"Justourselves？"shesaid，lookingatthecrotonsinthegreathall。"Thenlet"shavemarigoldsthelittlecemeteryones。"
Soitwasordered。
Now，marigoldstousmeanhotweather，discomfort，parting，anddeath。Thatsmellinournostrils，andAdam"sservantinwaiting，wenaturallyfellbackmoreandmoreontheoldslang，recallingateachglassthosewhohadgonebefore。Wedidnotsitatthebigtable，butinthebaywindowoverlookingthepark，wheretheywerecartingthelastofthehay。Whentwilightfellwewouldnothavecandles，butwaitedforthemoon，andcontinuedourtalkintheduskthatmakesoneremember。
YoungAdamwasnotinterestedinourpastexceptwhereithadtouchedhisfuture。Ithinkhismotherheldhishandbeneaththetable。ImamDin——shoeless，outofrespecttothefloors——broughthimhismedicine，poureditdropbydrop，andaskedfororders。
"Waittotakehimtohiscotwhenhegrowsweary，"saidhismother，andImamDinretiredintotheshadowbytheancestralportraits。
"Nowwhatd"youexpecttogetoutofyourcountry？"theInfantasked，when——ourIndialaidasidewetalkedAdam"sAfrica。Itrousedhimatonce。
"Rubber-nuts-gums-andsoon，"hesaid。"Butourrealfutureiscotton。IgrewfiftyacresofitlastyearinmyDistrict。"
"MyDistrict!"saidhisfather。"Hearhim，Mummy!"
"Ididthough!IwishIcouldshowyouthesample。SomeManchesterchapssaiditwasasgoodasanySeaIslandcottononthemarket。"
"Butwhatmadeyouacotton-planter，myson？"sheasked。
"MyChiefsaideverymanoughttohaveashouk(ahobby)ofsorts，andhetookthetroubletorideadayoutofhiswaytoshowmeabeltofblacksoilthatwasjustthethingforcotton。"
"Ah!WhatwasyourChieflike？"Stalkyasked，inhissilkiesttones。
"Thebestmanalive——absolutely。Heletsyoublowyourownnoseyourself。Thepeoplecallhim"——Adamjerkedoutsomeheathenphrase——"thatmeanstheManwiththeStoneEyes，youknow。"
"I"mgladofthat。BecauseI"veheardfromotherquarters"
Stalky"ssentenceburnedlikeaslowmatch，buttheexplosionwasnotlongdelayed。"Otherquarters!"Adamthrewoutathinhand。
"Everydoghashisfleas。Ifyoulistentothem，ofcourse!"TheshakeofhisheadwasasIremembereditamonghisfather"spolicementwentyyearsbefore，andhismother"seyesshiningthroughtheduskcalledonmetoadoreit。IkickedStalkyontheshin。Onemustnotmockayoungman"sfirstloveorloyalty。
Alumpofrawcottonappearedonthetable。
"Ithoughttheremightbeaneed。ThereforeIpackeditbetweenourshirts，"saidthevoiceofImamDin。
"DoesheknowasmuchEnglishasthat？"criedtheInfant，whohadforgottenhisEast。
WealladmiredthecottonforAdam"ssake，and，indeed，itwasverylongandglossy。
"It"s——it"sonlyanexperiment，"hesaid。"We"resuchawfulpauperswecan"tevenpayforamailcartinmyDistrict。Weuseabiscuit-boxontwobicyclewheels。Ionlygotthemoneyforthat"——hepattedthestuff——"byapurefluke。"
"Howmuchdiditcost？"askedStrickland。
"Withseedandmachinery——abouttwohundredpounds。Ihadthelabourdonebycannibals。"
"Thatsoundspromising。"Stalkyreachedforafreshcigarette。
"No，thankyou，"saidAgnes。"I"vebeenatWeston-super-Marealittletoolongforcannibals。I"llgotothemusic-roomandtryovernextSunday"shymns。"
Sheliftedtheboy"shandlightlytoherlips，andtrippedacrosstheacresofglimmeringfloortothemusic-roomthathadbeentheInfant"sancestors"banquetinghall。Hergreyandsilverdressdisappearedunderthemusicians"gallery；twoelectricsbrokeout，andshestoodbackedagainstthelinesofgildedpipes。
"There"sanabominableself-playingattachmenthere!"shecalled。
"Me!"theInfantanswered，hisnapkinonhisshoulder。"That"showIplayParsifal。"
"Ipreferthedirectexpression。Takeitaway，Ipps。"
WeheardoldIppsskatingobedientlyalloverthefloor。
"Nowforthedirectexpression，"saidStalky，andmovedontheBurgundyrecommendedbythefacultytoenrichfever-thinnedblood。
"It"snothingmuch。Onlythebeltofcotton-soilmychiefshowedmeranrightintotheSheshahelicountry。Wehaven"tbeenabletoprovecannibalismagainstthattribeinthecourts；butwhenaSheshahelioffersyoufourpoundsofwoman"sbreast，tattoomarksandall，skeweredupinaplantainleafbeforebreakfast，you——"
"Naturallyburnthevillagesbeforelunch，"saidStalky。
Adamshookhishead。"Notroops，"hesighed。"ItoldmyChiefaboutit，andhesaidwemustwaittilltheychoppedawhiteman。
HeadvisedmeifeverIfeltlikeitnottocommita——abarrenfelodese，buttolettheSheshahelidoit。Thenhecouldreport，andthenwecouldmop"emup!"
"Mostimmoral!That"showwegot——"Stalkyquotedthenameofaprovincewonbyjustsuchasacrifice。
"Yes，butthebeastsdominatedoneendofmycotton-beltlikeanything。TheychiviedmeoutofitwhenIwenttotakesoilforanalysis——meandImamDin。"
"Sahib!Isthereaneed？"Thevoicecameoutofthedarkness，andtheeyesshoneoverAdam"sshoulderereitceased。
"None。Thenamewastakenintalk。"Adamabolishedhimwithaturnofthefinger。"Icouldn"tmakeacasusbelliofitjustthen，becausemyChiefhadtakenallthetroopstohammeragangofslavekingsupnorth。DidyoueverhearofourwaragainstIbnMakarrah？HepreciousnearlylostustheProtectorateatonetime，thoughhe"sanallyofoursnow。"
"Wasn"theratheraperniciousbrute，evenastheygo？"saidStalky。"Wadetoldmeabouthimlastyear。"
"Well，hisnicknameallthroughthecountrywas"TheMerciful，"
andhedidn"tgetthatfornothing。Noneofourpeopleeverbreathedhispropername。Theysaid"He"or"ThatOne，"andtheydidn"tsayitaloud，either。Hefoughtusforeightmonths。"
"Iremember。Therewasaparagraphaboutitinoneofthepapers，"Isaid。
"Webrokehim，though。No——theslaversdon"tcomeourway，becauseourmenhavethereputationofdyingtoomuch，thefirstmonthafterthey"recaptured。Thatknocksdownprofits，yousee。"
"Whataboutyourcharmingfriends，theSheshahelis？"saidtheInfant。
"There"snomarketforSheshaheli。Peoplewouldassoonbuycrocodiles。Ibelieve，beforeweannexedthecountry，IbnMakarrahdroppeddownon"emonce——totrainhisyoungmen——andsimplyhewed"eminpieces。Thebulkofmypeopleareagriculturistsjusttherightstampforcotton-growers。What"sMotherplaying？——"Onceinroyal"？"
Theorganthathadbeencrooningashappilyasawomanoverherbaberestored，steadiedtoatune。
"Magnificent!Oh，magnificent!"saidtheInfantloyally。Ihadneverheardhimsingbutonce，andthen，thoughitwasearlyinthetolerantmorning，hismesshadrolledhimintoalotuspond。
"Howdidyougetyourcannibalstoworkforyou？"askedStrickland。
"TheygotconvertedtocivilizationaftermyChiefsmashedIbnMakarrah——justatthetimeIwanted"em。YouseemyChiefhadpromisedmeinwritingthatifIcouldscrapeupasurplushewouldnotbagitforhisroadsthistime，butImighthaveitformycottongame。Ionlyneededtwohundredpounds。Ourrevenuesdidn"truntoit。"
"Whatisyourrevenue？"Stalkyaskedinthevernacular。
"Withhut-tax，traders"gameandmininglicenses，notmorethanfourteenthousandrupees；everypennyofitear-markedmonthsahead。"Adamsighed。
"AlsothereisafinefordogsstrayingintheSahib"scamp。Lastyearitexceededthreerupees，"ImamDinsaidquietly。
"Well，Ithoughtthatwasfair。Theyhowledso。Wewereratherstrictonfines。Iworkedupmynativeclerk——BulakiRam——toaferociouspitchofenthusiasm。Heusedtocalculatetheprofitsofourcotton-schemetothreepointsofdecimals，afteroffice。I
tellyouIenviedyourmagistratesherehaulingmoneyoutofmotoristseveryweekIhadmanagedtomakeourordinaryrevenueandexpenditurejustaboutmeet，andIwascrazytogettheoddtwohundredpoundsformycotton。Thatsortofthinggrowsonachapwhenhe"salone——andtalksaloud!"
"Hul-lo!Haveyoubeentherealready？"thefathersaid，andAdamnodded。
"Yes。UsedtospoutwhatIcouldrememberof"Marmion"toatree，sir。Wellthenmyluckturned。OneeveninganEnglish-speakingniggercameintowingacorpsebythefeet。(Yougetusedtolittlethingslikethat。)Hesaidhe"dfoundit，andpleasewouldIidentify，becauseifitwasoneofIbnMakarrah"smentheremightbeareward。ItwasanoldMohammedan，withastrongdashofArab——asmallboned，bald-headedchap，andIwasjustwonderinghowithadkeptsowellinourclimatewhenitsneezed。Yououghttohaveseenthenigger!Hefetchedahowlandboltedlike——likethedogin"TomSawyer，"whenhesatonthewhat"s-its-namebeetle。Heyelpedasheran，andthecorpsewentonsneezing。I
couldseeithadbeensarkied。(That"sasortofgum-poison，pater，whichattacksthenervecentres。Ourchiefmedicalofficeriswritingamonographaboutit。)SoImamDinandIemptiedoutthecorpseonetime，withmyshavingsoapandtradegunpowder，andhotwater。
"I"dseenacaseofsarkiebefore；sowhentheskinpeeledoffhisfeet，andhestoppedsneezing，Iknewhe"dlive。Hewasbad，though；laylikealogforaweekwhileImamDinandImassagedtheparalysisoutofhim。ThenhetoldushewasaHajji——hadbeenthreetimestoMecca——comeinfromFrenchAfrica，andthathe"dmettheniggerbythewayside——justlikeacaseofthuggee，inIndia——andtheniggerhadpoisonedhim。ThatseemedreasonableenoughbywhatIknewofCoastniggers。"
"Youbelievedhim？"saidhisfatherkeenly。
"TherewasnoreasonIshouldn"t。Theniggernevercameback，andtheoldmanstayedwithmefortwomonths，"Adamreturned。"YouknowwhatthebesttypeofaMohammedangentlemancanbe，pater？
Hewasthat。"
"Nonefiner，nonefiner，"wastheanswer。
"ExceptaSikh，"Stalkygrunted。
"He"dbeentoBombay；heknewFrenchAfricainsideout；hecouldquotepoetryandtheKoranalldaylong。Heplayedchess——youdon"tknowwhatthatmeanttome-likeamaster。WeusedtotalkabouttheregenerationofTurkeyandtheSheik-ul-Islambetweenmoves。Oh，everythingunderthesunwetalkedabout!Hewasawfullyopen-minded。Hebelievedinslavery，ofcourse，buthequitesawthatitwouldhavetodieout。That"swhyheagreedwithmeaboutdevelopingtheresourcesofthedistrictbycotton-growing，youknow。"
"Youtalkedofthattoo？"saidStrickland。
"Rather。Wediscusseditforhours。Youdon"tknowwhatitmeanttome。Awonderfulman。ImamDin，wasnotourHajjimarvellous？"
"Mostmarvellous!ItwasallthroughtheHajjithatwefoundthemoneyforourcotton-play。"ImamDinhadmoved，Ifancy，behindStrickland"schair。
"Yes。Itmusthavebeendeadagainsthisconvictionstoo。HebroughtmenewswhenIwasdownwithfeveratDupethatoneofIbnMakarrah"smenwasparadingthroughmyDistrictwithabunchofslaves——intheFork!"
"What"sthematterwiththeFork，thatyoucan"tabideit？"saidStalky。Adam"svoicehadrisenatthelastword。
"Localetiquette，sir，"hereplied，tooearnesttonoticeStalky"satrociouspun。"IfaslaverrunsslavesthroughBritishterritoryheoughttopretendthatthey"rehisservants。Hawkin"
"emaboutintheFork——theforkedstickthatyouputroundtheirnecks，youknow——isinsolence——sameasnotbackingyourtopsailsintheolddays。Besides，itunsettlestheDistrict。"
"Ithoughtyousaidslaversdidn"tcomeyourway，"Iputin。
"Theydon"t。ButmyChiefwassmoking"emoutoftheNorthallthatseason，andtheywereboltingintoFrenchterritoryanyroadtheycouldfind。Myordersweretotakenonoticesolongastheycirculated，butopenslave-dealingintheFork，wastoomuch。I
couldn"tgomyself，soItoldacoupleofourMakalalipoliceandImamDintomaketalkwiththegentlemanonetime。Itwasratherrisky，anditmighthavebeenexpensive，butitturneduptrumps。
Theywerebackinafewdayswiththeslaver(hedidn"tshowfight)andawholecrowdofwitnesses，andwetriedhiminmybedroom，andfinedhimproperly。Justtoshowyouhowdemoralizedthebrutemusthavebeen(Arabsoftengodottyafteradefeat)，he"dsnappedupfourorfiveutterlyuselessSheshaheli，andwasoffering"emtoallandsundryalongtheroad。Why，heoffered"emtoyou，didn"the，ImamDin？"
"Iwaswitnessthatheofferedman-eaters"forsale，"saidImamDin。
"Luckilyformycotton-scheme，thatlanded，himbothways。Yousee，hehadslavedandexposedslavesforsaleinBritishterritory。ThatmeantthedoublefineifIcouldgetitoutofhim。"
"Whatwashisdefence？"saidStrickland，lateofthePunjabPolice。
"AsfarasIremember——butIhadatemperatureof104degreesatthetime——he"dmistakenthemeridiansoflongitude。ThoughthewasinFrenchterritory。Saidhe"dneverdoitagain，ifwe"dlethimoffwithafine。Icouldhaveshakenhandswiththebruteforthat。Hepaidupcashlikeamotoristandwentoffonetime。"
"Didyouseehim？"
"Ye-es。Didn"tI，ImamDin？"
"AssuredlytheSahibbothsawandspoketotheslaver。AndtheSahibalsomadeaspeechtotheman-eaterswhenhefreedthem，andtheysworetosupplyhimwithlabourforallhiscotton-play。
TheSahibleanedonhisownservant"sshoulderthewhile。"
"Iremembersomethingofthat。IrememberBulakiRamgivingmethepaperstosign，andIdistinctlyrememberhimlockingupthemoneyinthesafe——twohundredandtenbeautifulEnglishsovereigns。Youdon"tknowwhatthatmeanttome!Ibelieveitcuredmyfever；andassoonasIcould，IstaggeredoffwiththeHajjitointerviewtheSheshaheliaboutlabour。ThenIfoundoutwhytheyhadbeensokeentowork!Itwasn"tgratitude。Theirbigvillagehadbeenhitbylightningandburnedoutaweekortwobefore，andtheylayflatinrowsaroundmeaskingmeforajob。
Igaveit"em。"
"Andsoyouwereveryhappy？"Hismotherhadstolenupbehindus。
"Youlikedyourcotton，dear？"Shetidiedthelumpaway。
"ByJove，Iwashappy!"Adamyawned。"Nowifanyone，"helookedattheInfant，"carestoputalittlemoneyintothescheme，it"llbethemakingofmyDistrict。Ican"tgiveyoufigures，sir，butIassure——"
"You"lltakeyourarsenic，andImamDin"lltakeyouuptobed，andI"llcomeandtuckyouin。"
Agnesleanedforward，herroundedelbowsonhisshoulders，handsjoinedacrosshisdarkhair，and"Isn"theadarling？"shesaidtous，withjustthesameheart-rendinglifttothelefteyebrowandthesamebreakofhervoiceassentStricklandmadamongthehorsesintheyear"84。Wewerequietwhentheyweregone。WewaitedtillImamDinreturnedtousfromaboveandcoughedatthedoor，asonlydark-heartedAsiacan。
"Now，"saidStrickland，"telluswhattrulybefell，sonofmyservant。"
"AllbefellasourSahibhassaid。Only——onlytherewasanarrangement——alittlearrangementonaccountofhiscotton-play。"
"Tell!Sit!Ibegyourpardon，Infant，"saidStrickland。
ButtheInfanthadalreadymadethesign，andweheardImamDinhunkerdownonthefloor:OnegetslittleoutoftheEastatattention。
"WhenthefevercameonourSahibinourroofedhouseatDupe，"
hebegan，"theHajjilistenedintentlytohistalk。Heexpectedthenamesofwomen；thoughIhadalreadytoldhimthatOurvirtuewasbeyondbelieforcompare，andthatOursoledesirewasthiscotton-play。Beingatlastconvinced，theHajjibreathedonourSahib"sforehead，tosinkintohisbrainnewsconcerningaslave-dealerinhisdistrictwhohadmadeamockofthelaw。
Sahib，"ImamDinturnedtoStrickland，"ourSahibansweredtothosefalsewordsasahorseofbloodanswerstothespur。Hesatup。Heissuedordersfortheapprehensionoftheslavedealer。
Thenhefellback。Thenwelefthim。"
"Alone——servantofmyson，andsonofmyservant？"saidhisfather。
"TherewasanoldwomanwhichbelongedtotheHajji。ShehadcomeinwiththeHajji"smoney-belt。TheHajjitoldherthatifourSahibdied，shewoulddiewithhim。AndtrulyourSahibhadgivenmeorderstodepart。"
"Beingmadwithfever——eh？"
"Whatcouldwedo，Sahib？Thiscotton-playwashisheart"sdesire。Hetalkedofitinhisfever。Thereforeitwashisheart"sdesirethattheHajjiwenttofetch。DoubtlesstheHajjicouldhavegivenhimmoneyenoughoutofhandfortencottonplays；butinthisrespectalsoourSahib"svirtuewasbeyondbelieforcompare。GreatOnesdonotexchangemoneys。
ThereforetheHajjisaid——andIhelpedwithmycounsel——thatwemustmakearrangementstogetthemoneyinallrespectsconformablewiththeEnglishLaw。Itwasgreattroubletous，but——theLawistheLaw。AndtheHajjishowedtheoldwomantheknifebywhichshewoulddieifourSahibdied。SoIaccompaniedtheHajji。"
"Knowingwhohewas？"saidStrickland。
"No!Fearingtheman。Avirtuewentoutfromhimoverbearingthevirtueoflesserpersons。TheHajjitoldBulakiRamtheclerktooccupytheseatofgovernmentatDupetillourreturn。BulakiRamfearedtheHajji，becausetheHajjihadoftengloatinglyappraisedhisskillinfiguresatfivethousandrupeesuponanyslave-block。TheHajjithensaidtome:"Come，andwewillmaketheman-eatersplaythecotton-gameformydelight"sdelight"TheHajjilovedourSahibwiththeloveofafatherforhisson，ofasavedforhissaviour，ofaGreatOneforaGreatOne。ButI