A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

158 A QUMER RACR,. descendant of one of the Heeate’s midshipmen, wonder- fully good-natured, and very devoted to his mistress, with whom he was a great favorite. ‘Whither are you going, Mr. Hrler’’ she asked, as I went toward the companion. ‘“To prepare for our journey. We shall have to provis- ion ourselves for at least a day; and there area few things IT should like to take with us; among others, a couple of rifics and a revolver and some czartridges. It would be a pity to leave them behind. ‘hey might prove very useful—in certain eventualities. ‘So they might. Let us take them, by all means. And the books. I should be very sorry to leave the books.” ‘Well, we will do our best. But books are heavy things to carry.” ‘“Never mind. [can carry them,” put in Buttercup, looking up from his plate. ‘‘I could carry twice as many, and other things too, if you want. They don’t weigh above a hundredweight.”’ «Thank you, George,” said Mab. ‘I know you ure both strong and willing. All the same we must not bur- - den you too heavily; ior we have a long journey before vs. I think I should like to be able to lead aid fire a rifle, Mr. Erle. Will you be my teacher?” I answered, of course, in the affirmative, and fetching orie of the weapons, | explained its mcéchanism, and showed her how to insert the cartridges, take aim, and fire. We then went on deck, and I let her burn a dozen cartridges—I did not think we could afford to waste more. Mab proved herself an exceedingly apt pupil, and I told her—what was, indeed, the truth—that with a lit- tle practice she would make an excellent shot. CHAPTER XXV. SAVED AGAIN. ALL our preparations were completed before we turned in, and so soon as it was light enough to see our way we set out on our journey. Our burdens were pretty equally divided. I carried the cartridges (which were pretty heavy), the revolver, one of the rifles, tools, cooking utensils, and some twine, Eom C JOO CS (E(0) >