The Argosy — page 392: what you’re looking at

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

Under Northern Skies. PAI Our little guide was astonished at our interest in the market. But in truth it was not only amusing, it was the only sign of life and small excitement we had found in this veritable Dead City of the Baltic. He was a neat little guide, with a sunny face, amiable and honest looking, who conversed rapidly with E., and resorted to signs when he particularly wished to impress the unfortunate Englishman, who had no Swedish, and was evidently an object of compassion. The rough pavement seemed a delight to him; his feet flew over the sharp stones, in search of keys or information, as if they had been softest lawn. He led us to the sea walks, and showed us where the mulberries grew in abundance, on trees like currant bushes. But the fruit was not yet ripe. ‘‘ Before I come or after I am gone, the roses always bloom.” ‘There were chestnut trees also, and fruit-laden vines growing in the open air, of which the people are very proud. The keys of the ruins—for they are kept locked—are in the custody of the hospital porter. Of course he was not to be found. His vrouw thought he might be in the market, or he might be else- where. ‘This seemed probable. He was certainly playing truant, for evidently he was not at his post. Should we like to go over the hospital? But we had had experiences of hospitals in remote places ; sights that remained unfading : especially one of Santiago recollection : and declined the offer. Why harrow one’s feelings when no good is to come of it? Our nimble little guide at last found the errant door-keeper ina house not far off. ‘The walls bore a sign, and the windows an intima- tion that beer and wine were dispensed there. ‘The good man had been innocently enjoying himself. The care of the hospital and the contemplation of the ruins were depressing influences. He came out in the best of humours, quite at our service. The keys were in his possession. Like a wise man, he never parted with them. Nota weighty bunch, but two small duplicates, at whose touch, like an Open- Sesame, all gates flew back. Some of the gates were already open, and the ruins in the hands of the restorers: those despoilers of the beautiful that are sometimes necessary. One ruin, especially, was being thoroughly overhauled, and from a height there came down a huge bit of stone so close to our heads that, accompanied by a far off demoniacal laugh, it looked very much as if chance had not had much to do with the adventure. Another inch or two, and not possessing Irishmen’s skulls, we should certainly have been conveyed to the hospital, forever unconscious to all its inner sights and sounds. The mason evidently meant to give us a fright, but he might have done more. We beat a wholesome retreat, but the overseer, coming in at the very moment, administered such a wordy castigation to the unseen Vulcan, that for some time to come his evil propensities must have had rest. Our older guide pointed out all the beauties of the ruins, which, CoOnnicboooks (S©) an