The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

eb THE ARGOSY. ‘“But may they not get between the iron deck and the floor? If they were to come through, Mr. Ravensford, I believe I should die of fright.’’ ‘“ Tf you will allow me, I will examine the floor when you go below.’’ I could not help smiling as I thought of any one on the Pulo Way being frightened of a rat. But I knew how women detest all such vermin ; and as she descanted on the extraordinary behavior of these particular rodents, I listened with all the gravity such a recital warranted. And truly, if her terror had not lent wings to her imagination, those rats had certain powers which proved them to be no ordinary rodents. Indeed, she went so far as to declare that they actually signaled to each other in a horribly human man- ner, the result of which caused her some quaking moments during the long watches of the night. . Then from rats we began to talk about our prospects and the disappear- ance of Hayling. Of course, I told her that I had no further information to impart ; at the same time I thought it would have been a cruel kindness to let her hope. Hayling had assuredly gone to that place which every good sailor most cordially loathes—the bottom of the sea. From the romantic point of view it may be an appropriate place for him; but be sure the romance of the thing never appeals to his imagination. I hope I am not sentimental—at least, not sentimental in its worst sense ; but I would give much to know that some one will speak as kindly of me as she did of the dead and gone Hayling. It may be a weakness of mine, and perhaps I ought to be ashamed of it, but candidly I am not ; and what is more, I don’t think much of a man who hasn’t a weakness of some sort. When at last she intimated her intention of going below, I rose and ac- companied her, wishing at once to make my promised investigation. But though I searched every corner of the floor assiduously, I could discover no hole which would give ingress to a rat. She watched me with a comical expression of nervousness, and after I had duly examined the four corners, informed me that the knocking did not come from the corners at all, but from the middle of the floor. I smiled in- wardly as I proceeded to examine that particular portion of the cabin, for I knew now that her imagination had been tricking her. Still, to gratify her, I pulled up the strip of carpet that ran down the middle of the floor, and discovered—nothing. I looked at her and smiled, and she smiled back in a serious sort of way, which showed that she was not yet convinced. So down on my knees I went, and carefully examined each seam, even going so far as to rap loudly with my knuckles. Nor did I content myself with this, for I went all over the floor, kicking with the heel of my boot, listening intently for the ex- pected hollow sound. But nothing coming of it, I rose without speaking, and smiled faintly, not wishing to hurt her feelings. And still I saw that she was not satisfied, for she kept repeating, ‘‘ Strange,”’ ‘“T assure you I was not dreaming ;’’ and then ‘‘Strange,’’ again, and ‘“ Most unaccountable.’’ I inquired if she still wished to move, and if I should ask the captain ; but she blushed a little, and said that, though she liked to know the meaning of a thing, she was not quite the coward I seemed Eomicbooks (E@)