A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

A QUEER RACE, |= | 103 drank our Adam’s wine—Queen Mab offered us nothing stronger—out of goblets of gold. The viands were abund- dant and well cooked. We had soup, fish, and foul, yams and potatoes, savory pies and sweetmeats, with fruit in great variety and abundance; but neither beef, mutton, nor pork. Our hostess took the head of the table; I sat at her right hand, Field at her left, and old Tom sat op- posite young Fane. ‘The boatswain did not seem to be enjoying himself much. He was not used to ladies’ so- ciety, poor fellow, and detested cold water. Iam sure he would have preferred a meal of lobscouse and plum- duff on board the Diana, washed down with a glass of half- water grog, to the finest refection anybody could set before him. ‘The queen tried in vain to set him at his ease and draw him out. She only succeeded in overaw- ing him. But she made one more effort. ‘““Won’t you take an orange, Mr. Bolsover?” she said, offering him one with her own hand. ‘‘It is a very fine one, grown in my own garden, and picked by myself.” “Take it, Tom!” I said, seeing that he hesitated. “Thank you kindly, ma’am,”’ he exclaimed, stretching out his hand to receive the proffered gift. ‘““My God! What is this?” she exclaimed, dropping the orange and seizing thearm. ‘* Whatisthis? ‘Santa Anna, 1744,’ and the figure of a ship! How, when, where—what means it? ‘ell me, what means it?” All looked at her in blank surprise. Old Tom seemed thunder-struck, and could answer nothing. ‘‘ What means it?” repeated the queen. ‘*‘ How came this inscription on your arm? I want to know.” ‘The boatswain, still speechless, pointed to me. ‘«“This man appears to have lost his senses,” she said, turning to me. ‘* Will you be good enough to tell me, Mr. Erle? at once, if you please.” CHAPTER XVII. A REVELATION. QUEEN MAB evidently intended to be obeyed; and as Tom’s craze and the chaplain’s narrative were no secret, and I found myself in the presence of a mystery which [ was as anxious: to solve as herself, L willingly comphed with her rather peremptory request. ‘boo A com CS (E(0) mm