A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

A QUEER RACE. 89 substance at the end is a mixture of phosphorous and some other chemical substances, which ignites when slightly rnbbed. Do it again, om.” Tom did it again. ‘* Marvelous!” exclaimed the senior, examining a match. ‘“A recent, invention, I presume. ‘The progress of en- lightenment! Ah! ah! Would you kindly let me try?” I said yes, of course, and sent T’om for more matches, as well as vestas and fusees, and showed how they were struck on the boxes; but both Mr. Field and his friend preferred the boatswain’s method, and proceeded to practice it forthwith. ‘They had, however, a slight diffi- culty to contend with in the extreme smoothness of their nether garments, which rendered necessary in the act of striking a rapid movement of the right hand. At the outset they failed somewhat ignominiously. The elder gentleman raised his leg rather too high, and, striking at the same time, lost his balance, and falling against Mr. Fane (who had also his leg in the air), both rolled on the deck together, rather to the discomfiture of the senior; but the younger inan langhed heartily, and they were up again before you could have said ‘‘ Jack Robinson,” springing to their feet without using their hands. After this I gave each of them a box, which they ac- cepted with unaffected delight. Then I produced a re- volver, and fired several shots in rapid succession; but, though the weapon both surprised and delighted them, and they remarked how useful it would be in warfare, they were evidently less impressed with it than they had been by the striking of the match on old T’om’s trous- ers. ‘‘ Have you any other arms on board?” asked Field— as I thought, rather anxiously. ‘“Not many rifles and revolvers—perhaps a dozen of each. They belonged to the captain and passengers. But I think there are a few cases of musketsin the hold. ‘And ammunition?” ‘‘ Well, we have a very miscellaneous cargo, and I be- lieve I heard the captain say there was gunpowder in it. I don’t know how much; but [ can easily find ont by looking at the manifest.” With that I went into the cabin, and returned with the document in question. Eomicboo “Si EO