A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 104: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A QUEER RACE. 101 this another time. Your story, Mr. Erle! I want to hear your story. Begin, please. But I am forgetting; you must be hungry. It is a long way from your ship hither.” And with that she crooked her forefinger, put it be- tween her lips, and gave a low, musical whistle. The next moment the door opened, and one of the maidens whom we had seen on the veranda appeared at the threshold. | ‘* Order a refection to be served for these gentlemen an hour hence,” said this queer queen of a queer race. ** Now, Mr. Erle, pray begin; and, if possible, make your tale last until the refection is ready.” I obeyed; and when I saw how much the account of my voyage interested my listeners—above ali the queen, who never took her eyes off me, and Iam sure missed not a word—I told it in full, from start to finish, and as I warmed to my work I think I told it effectively, keep- ing back nothing save the incident of the chaplain’s man- uscript, which, as I thought, belonged rather to ‘l'om’s story than mine. Once or twice the two men made as if they would have interrupted me; but Queen Mab stopped them with an imperious gesture. Until I had finished she would not suffer a word to be spoken, and then I was simply over- whelmed with questions. | What did I mean by an auxiliary screw and getting up steam? How could a ship move when there was no wind? were among the first. I tried to explain; but, as they were absolutely igno- rant of the properties of steam, I had a difficulty in mak- ing my explanation clear. Mab, I could see, fully be- lieved me; but when! spoke of railways, locomotives, steam-engines, and the rest, Field and Fane smiled in- credulously. On this a bright thought struck me. , «©Go with me on board the Diana,” I said, ‘‘ and I will ship the screw and start the engine. ‘There is coal enough in the bunker for arun round the bay. When that is done we must fire up with wood.”’ ‘By all means,” exclaimed Mab. ‘‘ Yes, I will go on — board, and then you can show me all these wonders. Only to think that ships can be made to move and car- | Cl Q) mm @ 20: @) <=) (ee)