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The Ocean Cat's Paw: The Story of a Strange Cruise, a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 40. The Doctor's Charge |
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_ CHAPTER FORTY. THE DOCTOR'S CHARGE It was very tempting, and, like most lovers of natural history, the deeper he plunged into his pursuit, with its wonders upon wonders, the more infatuated Uncle Paul grew. The nephew was quite as bad, though, boy-like, his was more the natural love of novelty than that of science. Who among you is there who has not revelled in the thought of something new, the eager desire to see something fresh? The country boy to see vast London with all its greatness and littleness, its splendour and its squalor, its many cares and too often false joys--the town boy to plunge into that home of mystery and wonder, the country. And though as a rule the country boy is disappointed, he of the town, when once he has tasted the true joys of the country and seen Nature at her best, is never satiated. But that love of the novel and the fresh is in us all--the desire for that which in Saint Paul's days the men of Athens longed for: something new. Hence then it was no wonder that Rodd, as he paced the schooner's deck and looked across to either side of the river where the primeval forest commenced, felt the strange longing to go and see, to hunt and find the myriads of fresh things upon which he had never set eyes before--wonders that might be more than wonderful--dangers which would be exciting, possibly without danger; in short, all the boy's natural love of adventure was stirring within him--that intense longing to cast away culture in every shape and to become, if for ever so short a time, something of the natural savage once more; and he was ready to urge on his uncle to go for just one expedition, only there was a sense of duty to hold him back. And as the time went on, and the brig was rapidly approaching completion, Uncle Paul more than once angrily exclaimed to his nephew-- "Pickle, I wish that abominable Spaniard was on the other side of the world!" "So do I, uncle," cried the boy. "We were getting on as nicely as could be, with plenty to interest us, and fresh adventures, and then he comes here setting us longing to go off into the wilds." "Yes, my boy, and if it wasn't for the Count and the sense of duty we feel towards him? we would be off to-morrow morning." "Well, why not go?" said a voice just behind them. Rodd and his uncle started round in astonishment, for they were both so intent upon their conversation, as they leaned over the rail talking together, that they had not heard anybody approach, and for a moment they were utterly speechless as they stood staring at the Count, who had just come on board, while Morny was climbing up the side to join him. "I--I didn't know you were here," said the doctor confusedly. "Why, you asked me to come on board and dine and spend the evening with you," replied the Count good-humouredly. "Had you forgotten?" "Well--well," said the doctor, "I--Really, I'm afraid I had. What--what have you been about?" he continued, turning angrily upon Rodd. "It's a strange thing, Rodney, that when you know of some engagement that I have made, and it slips my memory, you never remind me of it." "Well, uncle--I--" "Well, uncle--you! I remember now well enough. You were there this morning when I asked the Count and--Ah, Morny, my lad! How are you? Glad you have come.--But, as I was saying, what were you thinking about?" "Expedition into the forest, uncle," said the boy frankly. "Expedition into the forest, sir! Um--ah! Well.--Yes, I'm afraid I was thinking about it too. I am so sorry, Des Saix. But welcome all the same, if you will forgive me." "Forgive you, yes!" said the Count warmly. "That and a great deal more. But I am very glad that you have so strangely led up to the subject upon which I wish to talk to you." "What, my forgetfulness?" "No, no! That expedition into the forest." "No, no; don't talk about it. I have thought about it too much, and it worries me." "Well, I want to put a stop to its worrying you. Morny here has been telling me how anxious you both are to go." "Morny! Why, what did he know about it? He couldn't tell. Here, you, Rodney, have you been letting your tongue run, sir, exposing all my weaknesses?" "No, sir, that he has not," replied the French lad eagerly; "but I have gathered from your remarks, and words that Rodd has more than once let drop, how anxious you both are to have a run up country and see something of what the wilds are like." "Oh, fudge! Stuff! Nonsense!" cried the doctor petulantly. "That's quite out of the question." "Why?" said the Count. "Why?" cried the doctor. "Oh, because it's--that is--er--I feel--" "Bound by a sense of imaginary duty," said the Count, smiling. "You think it would be unfriendly to me and my son here to leave us in what you English people call the lurch; and therefore you are depriving yourself of what would be a great pleasure as naturalists and hunters in which you would indulge if we were not here." "My dear Des Saix, I do wish you would not talk about it," cried the doctor. "There, I confess that if we were alone I should probably take advantage of the Spanish captain's knowledge of the country, and go a little way up with him; but as matters are, with your brig still unfinished, and so much to do, I consider it would be an act of disgraceful selfishness to go away and leave you alone here." "Absurd!" said the Count. "You would be going into wilder parts while we should be quite at home here, in the nearly finished brig, and have her in the best of trim by the time you came back." "Impossible!" snapped out the doctor. "Nothing of the sort." "What do you say, Morny?" continued the Count. "You feel that they are both eager to go?" "Yes, father; and I am sure that Rodd is burning with desire." "You don't know anything about it," cried Rodd. "Well," said the Count, "ever since we met I have given way, and taken your advice, doctor, in all things; but we have come to a time now when I think I have a right to assert myself. Captain Chubb thinks that he will have finished in two days more. He is certain that he will have all done, caulked, tarred, and the copper replaced, in three days; so I have come to the conclusion that you people, who have been quite slaves in the way of sharing my troubles, thoroughly deserve a holiday. So I set you free--you too, Morny." "Me, father!" cried the lad in astonishment. "Yes; I am sure you would enjoy a trip with Rodd as much as he would like you to go with him." "Yes, that I should," cried Rodd; "but--" "Yes," said Morny gravely; "but--you would not wish me to leave my father like this. Thank you, my father. I could not go, and I will stay." "No, Morny; you will obey my wishes. You have your young life saddened enough with disappointments, so that when there is an opportunity to keep one away I call upon you to accompany young Harding here as his companion, and I wish you both a very enjoyable trip." "That's very nice of you--very nice indeed," cried the doctor; "but I cannot sanction it. I think we should be doing very wrong if we let those boys go alone." "But they would not go alone. You would have full charge of your nephew." "Now, Des Saix!" snorted the doctor. "Let me finish," said the Count good-humouredly; "and as a man in whom I place full confidence I entrust you with the care of my son. Now, doctor, please, no more excuses. I will not deprive you of the pleasures a naturalist would enjoy in such an excursion. Your preparations could be soon made; so send over for the Spaniard to-night and tell him you will be ready to start at the turn of the tide to-morrow, so that it may bear you up into these unknown regions-- unknown to us--and a pleasant trip to you!" "No," said the doctor, "I shall certainly not think of trusting ourselves to that man and his crew." "There I agree with you," said the Count; "with a good crew of your own trusted men." "And if he could be spared," cried Rodd, "I should like for us to have Joe Cross." "Now, look here," cried Uncle Paul, "this is taking a weak man at his weakest time. Really, Count, we ought not to go. Look at what your position would be in case anything should happen." "Nothing is likely to happen," said the Count, "and if it did, though my brig is still helpless I should have your vessel, with about half your crew, and my own. So now not another word." "There," said the doctor, "I am afraid I am beaten." _ |
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