按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he new Rectory and there saw working in the garden a tall； thin old man； who reminded me strangely of one whom I remembered over thirty years before。
“Is your name Quatermain？” I asked。
He answered that it was。 Further inquiry revealed the fact that he was a younger brother of my old friend； whom I was able to describe to him so accurately that he exclaimed in delight：
“That’s him！ Why； you do bring him back from the dead； and he gone so long no one don’t think of him no more。”
To this Garsington period of my childhood I find some allusions in letters received from the wife of my tutor； Mrs。 Graham。 Like so many ladies’ epistles they are undated； but I gather from internal evidence that they were written in the year 1886； a quarter of a century ago。 I quote only those passages which give Mrs。 Graham’s recollections of me as I appeared to her in or about the year 1866。 She says； talking of one of my books； “I could scarcely realize that the little quiet gentle boy who used to drive with me about the Garsington lanes could have written such a very clever book。” In this letter she adds an amusing passage： “I was told the other day that you had never been abroad yourself but had married a Zulu lady and got all your information from her。”
I suppose it was before I went to Mr。 Graham’s that we all migrated abroad for a certain period。 Probably this was in order that we might economise； though what economy my father can have found in dragging a tumultuous family about the Continent I cannot conceive。 Or perhaps I used to join them during the holidays。
One of the places in which we settled temporarily was Dunkirk； where we used to have lively times。 Several of my elder brothers； particularly Jack and Andrew； and I； together with some other English boys； among whom were the sons of the late Professor Andrew Crosse； the scientist； formed ourselves into a band and fought the French boys of a neighbouring lycee。 These youths outnumbered us by far； but what we lacked in numbers we made up for by the ferocity of our attack。 One of our stratagems was to stretch a rope across the street； over which the little Frenchmen； as they gambolled joyously out of school； tripped and tumbled。 Then； from some neighbouring court where we lay in wait； we raised our British war…cry and fell upon them。 How those battles raged！ To this day I can hear the yells of “Cochons d’Anglais！” and the answering shouts of “Yah！ Froggie； allez a votre maman！” as we hit and kicked and wallowed in the mire。
At last I think the police interfered on the plaints of parents； and we were deprived of this particular joy。
Another foreign adventure that I remember； though I must have been much older then； took place at Treport。 There had been a great gale； and notices were put up forbidding anyone to bathe because of the dangerous current which set in during and after such storms。 Needless to say； I found in these notices a distinct incentive to disobedience。 Was a British boy to be deterred from bathing by French notices？ Never！ So I took my younger brother Arthur； and going some way up the beach； where I thought we should not be observed； we undressed and plunged into the breakers。 I had the sense； I recollect； to tell him not to get out of his depth； but for my part I swam through or over the enormous waves and disported myself beyond them。 When I tried to return； however； I found myself in difficulties。 The current was taking me out to sea。 Oh！ what a fight was that — had I not been a good swimmer I could not have lived through it。
I set out for the shore husbanding my strength and got among the huge rollers； fighting my way inch by inch against the tide or undertow。 I went under once and struggled up again。 I went under a second time； and； rising； once more faced that dreadful undertow。 I was nearly done； and seemed to make no progress at all。 My brother Arthur was within hailing distance of me； and I thought of calling to him。 Then — for my mind kept quite clear all this time — I reflected that as there was no one within sight to whom he could go or shout for assistance； he would certainly try to help me himself； with the result that we should both be drowned。 So I held my tongue and fought on。 Just as everything was ing to an end — for the breakers broke over me continually — my foot struck upon something； I suppose it was a point of rock； and on this something I rested a while。 Then； waiting a favourable opportunity； I made a last desperate effort and struggled to the shore； where I fell down exhausted。
As I lay there panting； some coastguards； or whatever they are called； who had observed what was happening through their spy…glasses； arrived at a run and very properly expressed their views in the most strenuous language。 Recovering myself at length I sat up and said in my best or worst French：
“Si je noye； qu’est ce que cela vous fait？”
The answer； that even then struck me as very appropriate； was to the effect that my individual fate did not matter twopence to them； but “how about the reputation of Treport as a bathing…place？”
I do not recollect that I dilated upon this little adventure to my relatives； and I am not sure that even my brother； who was four years younger than myself； ever realised how serious had been the crisis。
I suppose that it must have been earlier than this — for as to all these youthful experiences my memory is hazy — that we stayed for a while at Coblentz。 I remember being taken on a trip up the Rhine that I might study the scenery； and retiring to the cabin to read a story…book。 Missing me； my father descended and dragged me out by the scruff of the neck； exclaiming loudly； to the vast amusement of the other passengers：
“I have paid five thalers for you to improve your mind by absorbing the beauties of nature； and absorb them you shall！”
Of Coblentz I recall little except the different colours of the waters of the Moselle and the Rhine。 What remains fixed in my memory； however； is the scene of our departure thence by boat。 In those days my father wore some false teeth； and； when the steamer was about to start； it was discovered that these teeth were still reposing in a glass upon his dressing…table a mile or more away。
A tumult followed and in the end Hocking； my mother’s maid； whom I have already mentioned； was despatched to fetch them in spite of the remonstrances of the captain。 Off she went like a racehorse； and then ensued a most exciting time。 The captain shouted and rang his bell； the steam whistle blew； and my father shouted also； much more loudly than the captain； whilst I and the remainder of the family giggled in the background。 A crisis supervened。 The captain would wait no longer and ordered the sailors to cast off。 My father in manding tones ordered them to do nothing of the sort。 The steam whistle sent up one continual scream。 At last the ropes were loosed； when suddenly bounding down the street that led to the quay； her dress well above her knees and waving the false teeth in her hand； appeared Hocking。 Then the captain and my father congratulated each other with a courtly flourish； the latter arranged the false teeth in their proper home； the boat started and peace reigned for a little while。
I think that it was at Cologne that we had a supper party； a considerable affair — for wherever we went there seemed to be a large number of people whom we knew。 Among them was an aunt of mine； Mrs。 Fowle； my father’s sister； who is still living today at a great age； although her husband； the Rev。 Mr。 Fowle； who was then with her； has long been dead。 To her I am indebted for the following story of which personally I have no recollection。 It appears that when the preliminary party or whatever it may have been was over； and at the appointed time the pany trooped in to supper； they were astonished to find a single small boy； to wit myself； seated at the end of the table and just finishing an excellent meal。
“Rider；” said my father in tones of thunder； “what are you doing here？ Explain； sir！ Explain！”
“Please； father；” I answered in a mild voice； “I knew that when you all came in there would be no room for me； so I had my supper first。”
My uncle Fowle was a very humorous man； and the followi