A Galahad of the Creeks; The Widow Lamport

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Levett Yeats Sidney. A Galahad of the Creeks; The Widow Lamport

A GALAHAD OF THE CREEKS

CHAPTER I. THE COMING OF THE WOON

CHAPTER II. A DINNER À DEUX

CHAPTER III. FATHER FRAGRANCE LIMES A TWIG

CHAPTER IV. RUYS SMALLEY

CHAPTER V "FURIIS AGITATUS AMOR."

CHAPTER VI. ANTHONY POZENDINE SPEAKS UP

CHAPTER VII. THE RUBY BRACELET

CHAPTER VIII. THE SIRKAR'S SALT

CHAPTER IX. HIS LADY'S GAGE

CHAPTER X. AN ATONEMENT

CHAPTER XI. THE PATIENCE OF HABAKKUK SMALLEY

CHAPTER XII. THE EPISODE OF LI FONG

CHAPTER XIII. AN OVERREACH

CHAPTER XIV. PALLIDA MORS

CHAPTER XV. THE PASSING OF THE WOON

THE WIDOW LAMPORT

CHAPTER I. AT THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE

CHAPTER II. A CUP OF TEA

CHAPTER III. A BILLET-DOUX

CHAPTER IV. YES

CHAPTER V. MRS. BUNNY DOUBTS

CHAPTER VI. MASTER EDWARD BUNNY

CHAPTER VII. DUNGAREE'S BELT

CHAPTER VIII. CAST OUT FROM THE FOLD

CHAPTER IX. AT THE DIVAN EXCHANGE

CHAPTER X. EXIT MANUEL

CHAPTER XI. THE HAPPY PAIR

CHAPTER XII. THE DEVIL AT WORK

CHAPTER XIII. HUSBAND AND WIFE

CHAPTER XIV. JOHN GALBRAITH GOES

CHAPTER XV. THE GLORY DEPARTS

CHAPTER XVI. AN ACCOUNT BALANCED

CHAPTER XVII. FROM THE CHOIR OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS

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When a man has taken a first-class degree, when he has won his blue, and has passed high into the Indian Civil Service without the wet-nursing of a crammer, it might be hazarded that he is worth something. One might go further and picture out his future career-how he would be a prop of Israel; how, step by step, he would rise until the Honourable Council enshrouded him; and how, after a life of useful work, he would, like Oliver, desire more, and drop into being the bore of "the House," or into the warmest corner of the "Oriental," and dream over the fire of the time when he was his Honour the Lieutenant Governor; but the lion is very old now-let him doze.

Peregrine Jackson had taken the first steps to qualify for this part in the tragedy of life, for this forging of the links of that mysterious chain of which we know not the beginning and may never know the end until, as to Longinus, the gates of immortality are opened unto us. But the tall, straight, broad-shouldered young Englishman was thinking of none of these things at present. He had elected to serve in Burma, and he was now posted as assistant commissioner, practically Governor of Pazobin, which is in lower Burma, and lies near the sea on a slimy creek of the Irawadi. He leaned over the gunwale of the river steamer that was bearing him to his destination, and the skipper, the sleeves of his gray-flannel shirt rolled up to his elbows, stood beside him and pointed out Pazobin, which lay about two miles off, clinging like a limpet to the river bank. Now, a Burman river steamer can walk, and at twelve knots an hour two miles would not take long to cover-in fact, the Woon had already whistled shrilly to announce her coming-a whistle that found a hundred echoes in the forest which fringed the banks, until it died away in fitful cadences in some unknown swamp. And let it be remembered that this is the country of the creeks. Here the Irawadi, whose source no man knoweth, comes down from its cradle of snow, past the tremendous defiles of Bhamo, through the whole length of that strange land from which the veil has only just been lifted, past cities and temples, until at last the mystery of waters spread out with a hundred thirsty throats toward the sea, and puddles its blue field with a muddy yellow far out, even to where the breakers hiss around Cape Negrais. Between the wide necks that stretch out to the sea the water has made for itself countless cuttings, through which it ebbs and flows sluggishly beneath the shadows of a primeval forest. The whistle of the steamer was answered by the dull boom of a signal gun, and the broad bosom of the creek was almost immediately dotted over with a vast number of small craft making their way toward the incoming mail boat. "There's the pagoda," and the Mudlark, as captains of Burman river steamers are irreverently called, pointed to the gilded cupola which rose high above the feathers of the bamboos that surrounded it. "There's the jetty," he added, "and there's the courthouse. You'll know more about that presently. Wonder how you'll like sitting there ten hours a day? And, by George, there's the nga-pe!" "The what?" But as Jackson spoke, a puff of wind brought a decomposed odour to the steamer. It was overpowering, an all-pervading essence, and for a moment Peregrine forgot everything in a vain effort to beat off the evil with his pocket-handkerchief. "It's all right when you're used to it," mocked the captain, "and you mustn't turn up your nose at it, for that delicate condiment is the main source of revenue of your district. Wait till I take you up some day with a shipload on board! And now, your humble, I must be off."

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After the cramped life of the river steamer, however, the traveller wished to stretch his limbs a little, and begged to be permitted to walk. To this Hawkshawe agreed with an inward curse, for walking exercise is hateful to the Anglo-Burmese. He will ride or drive anywhere, but the climate does not contemplate walking. It is not in the programme. An officious peon opened a huge umbrella over Jackson's head notwithstanding his protests, and a small procession was formed. This was increased to a very respectable size by the time they reached their destination, for most of the inhabitants of the place, having nothing better to do, attached themselves in a semiofficial manner to the party, and there was quite a crowd when, after a final leave-taking, Jackson and his host entered the house. It was a great pleasure to find that there were houses far back from the dreary little town on the river bank. It was disheartening to think that one had to live amid the malodorous mud and slime, and it was equally cheering to find instead of this a trim garden and a fantastically pretty little house, with a breakfast table set out in a shady veranda, which overlooked a lawn as green as emerald, upon which two little fox terriers were chasing each other in joyous play, to the detriment of the turf but to their own great good.

"You may consider yourself fairly installed now," said Hawkshawe, "and after breakfast we will take a run down to the courts. Drage, your predecessor, left only three days ago, but his house, which you have taken, will suit you admirably. You will find yourself very comfortable there, for Drage did himself well."

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