The Argosy — page 220: what you’re looking at

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

206 Letters from Majorca. A. undertook to organise the excursion. There was not very much to be done, but that little was important. We should require a mule and a boy, paniers well laden with luncheon, wine to make up for the wear and tear to the constitution caused by so much undue exertion. We were in good hands. A. is one who will never allow the citadel to starve so long as there is corn in Egypt. The next morming we were up early. I cannot quite say that we rose with the sun, for we did not see the sun. He was not visible throughout the day, and I am not sure that he rose at all, <A hasty glance at the Puig Major showed it capped and clouded. It wasa grey morning ; almost the first in our experience of Mallorca ; but in England we should have called it very fair weather. A. therefore laughed to scorn any suggestion of deferring the expedition. In our case it would have meant giving it up altogether, for we had put off our departure by only one day. It was the utmost we could do without interfering very much with our future plans. So the hampers were packed with a goodly store, and the mule at the door looked at them with a patient protest. In truth he was not lightly laden. The paniers themselves are formidable. In addition to the commissariat supplies, our camera and tripod and all the etceteras were stowed away in their capacious dimensions. For we intended to take photographs from the summit, not only of the world below but of that above. We should be so much nearer the sun, it was just possible that if he condescended to shine upon us we might make solar discoveries and revolutionise our present system. Then great coats and ulsters were added to the burden of the mule, which felt that it was very nearly approaching the last straw. Over all was thrown the thick rug, white and woolly, which is ordinarily used in Mallorca on such occasions. On this and between the paniers anyone might mount during the transit from earth to the top of the Puig Major. The mule probably would object to the extra burden, but like most oppressed races, it would have to submit. There was a great deal of small excitement, both inside and outside the fonda. A party of five Englishmen starting from Soller to make the ascent of the mountain (I like to put it as importantly as possible) was unprecedented. The fifth Englishman consisted of A’s servant, James, the most useful member of the small community. Rosita was in her element: so active that she seemed ubiquitous ; so anxious for one’s welfare, that she appeared a veritable ministering spirit. Whether her affections were directed towards A. or lavished upon H. C. I could not be quite certain, but I had my opinion. I was quite sure that as soon as we were gone, she would rush off to church and pray to her favourite saint for our safe return. She would have done better to pray for a fine day. Even Mariquita came a little out of her shell, and stood with her knitting in the doorway, looking on at the lading of the mule, smiling comicbooks.com