Chapter1。II。PlansandBushmanPaintings。

Atlastcametheyearofthegreatdrought，theyearofeighteen—sixty—two。

Fromendtoendofthelandtheearthcriedforwater。Manandbeastturnedtheireyestothepitilesssky，thatliketheroofofsomebrazenovenarchedoverhead。Onthefarm，dayafterday，monthaftermonth，thewaterinthedamsfelllowerandlower；thesheepdiedinthefields；thecattle，scarcelyabletocrawl，totteredastheymovedfromspottospotinsearchoffood。Weekafterweek，monthaftermonth，thesunlookeddownfromthecloudlesssky，tillthekaroo—busheswereleaflesssticks，brokenintotheearth，andtheearthitselfwasnakedandbare；andonlythemilk—

bushes，likeoldhags，pointedtheirshrivelledfingersheavenward，prayingfortherainthatnevercame……

Itwasonanafternoonofalongdayinthatthirstysummer，thatonthesideofthekopjefurthestfromthehomesteadthetwogirlssat。Theyweresomewhatgrownsincethedayswhentheyplayedhide—and—seekthere，buttheyweremerechildrenstill。

Theirdresswasofdark，coarsestuff；theircommonbluepinaforesreachedtotheirankles，andontheirfeettheyworehome—madevelschoen。

Theysatunderashelvingrock，onthesurfaceofwhichwerestillvisiblesomeoldBushmanpaintings，theirredandblackpigmentshavingbeenpreservedthroughlongyearsfromwindandrainbytheoverhangingledge；

grotesqueoxen，elephants，rhinoceroses，andaone—hornedbeast，suchasnomaneverhasseenorevershall。

Thegirlssatwiththeirbackstothepaintings。Intheirlapswereafewfernandice—plantleaves，whichbydintofmuchsearchingtheyhadgatheredundertherocks。

Emtookoffherbigbrownkapjeandbeganvigorouslytofanherredfacewithit；buthercompanionbentlowovertheleavesinherlap，andatlasttookupanice—plantleafandfasteneditontothefrontofherbluepinaforewithapin。

"Diamondsmustlookasthesedropsdo，"shesaid，carefullybendingovertheleaf，andcrushingonecrystaldropwithherdelicatelittlenail。

"WhenI，"shesaid，"amgrownup，Ishallwearrealdiamonds，exactlyliketheseinmyhair。"

Hercompanionopenedhereyesandwrinkledherlowforehead。

"Wherewillyoufindthem，Lyndall？Thestonesareonlycrystalsthatwepickedupyesterday。OldOttosaysso。"

"AndyouthinkthatIamgoingtostayherealways？"

Theliptrembledscornfully。

"Ah，no，"saidhercompanion。"Isupposesomedayweshallgosomewhere；

butnowweareonlytwelve，andwecannotmarrytillweareseventeen。

Fouryears，five——thatisalongtimetowait。Andwemightnothavediamondsifwedidmarry。"

"AndyouthinkthatIamgoingtostayheretillthen？"

"Well，whereareyougoing？"askedhercompanion。

Thegirlcrushedanice—plantleafbetweenherfingers。

"TantSannieisamiserableoldwoman，"shesaid。"Yourfathermarriedherwhenhewasdying，becausehethoughtshewouldtakebettercareofthefarm，andofus，thananEnglishwoman。Hesaidweshouldbetaughtandsenttoschool。Nowshesaveseveryfarthingforherself，buysusnotevenoneoldbook。Shedoesnotill—useus——why？Becausesheisafraidofyourfather’sghost。OnlythismorningshetoldherHottentotthatshewouldhavebeatenyouforbreakingtheplate，butthatthreenightsagosheheardarustlingandagruntingbehindthepantrydoor，andknewitwasyourfathercomingtospookher。Sheisamiserableoldwoman，"saidthegirl，throwingtheleaffromher；"butIintendtogotoschool。"

"Andifshewon’tletyou？"

"Ishallmakeher。"

"How？"

Thechildtooknottheslightestnoticeofthelastquestion，andfoldedhersmallarmsacrossherknees。

"Butwhydoyouwanttogo，Lyndall？"

"Thereisnothinghelpsinthisworld，"saidthechildslowly，"buttobeverywise，andtoknoweverything——tobeclever。"

"ButIshouldnotliketogotoschool！"persistedthesmallfreckledface。

"Andyoudonotneedto。WhenyouareseventeenthisBoer—womanwillgo；

youwillhavethisfarmandeverythingthatisuponitforyourown；butI，"saidLyndall，"willhavenothing。Imustlearn。"

"Oh，Lyndall！Iwillgiveyousomeofmysheep，"saidEm，withasuddenburstofpityinggenerosity。

"Idonotwantyoursheep，"saidthegirlslowly；"Iwantthingsofmyown。

WhenIamgrownup，"sheadded，theflushonherdelicatefeaturesdeepeningateveryword，"therewillbenothingthatIdonotknow。I

shallberich，veryrich；andIshallwearnotonlyforbest，buteveryday，apurewhitesilk，andlittlerose—buds，liketheladyinTantSannie’sbedroom，andmypetticoatswillbeembroidered，notonlyatthebottom，butallthrough。"

TheladyinTantSannie’sbedroomwasagorgeouscreaturefromafashion—

sheet，whichtheBoer—woman，somewhereobtaining，hadpastedupatthefootofherbed，tobeprofoundlyadmiredbythechildren。

"Itwouldbeverynice，"saidEm；butitseemedadreamofquitetootranscendentagloryevertoberealized。

Atthisinstantthereappearedatthefootofthekopjetwofigures——theone，adog，whiteandsleek，oneyellowearhangingdownoverhislefteye；

theother，hismaster，aladoffourteen，andnootherthantheboyWaldo，grownintoaheavy，slouchingyouthoffourteen。Thedogmountedthekopjequickly，hismasterfollowedslowly。Heworeanagedjacketmuchtoolargeforhim，androlledupatthewrists，and，asofold，apairofdilapidatedvelschoensandafelthat。Hestoodbeforethetwogirlsatlast。

"Whathaveyoubeendoingtoday？"askedLyndall，liftinghereyestohisface。

"Lookingafterewesandlambsbelowthedam。Here！"hesaid，holdingouthishandawkwardly，"Ibroughtthemforyou。"

Therewereafewgreenbladesoftendergrass。

"Wheredidyoufindthem？"

"Onthedamwall。"

Shefastenedthembesidetheleafonherbluepinafore。

"Theylooknicethere，"saidtheboy，awkwardlyrubbinghisgreathandsandwatchingher。

"Yes；butthepinaforespoilsitall；itisnotpretty。"

Helookedatitclosely。

"Yes，thesquaresareugly；butitlooksniceuponyou——beautiful。"

Henowstoodsilentbeforethem，hisgreathandshanginglooselyateitherside。

"Someonehascometoday，"hemumbledoutsuddenly，whentheideastruckhim。

"Who？"askedbothgirls。

"AnEnglishmanonfoot。"

"Whatdoeshelooklike？"askedEm。

"Ididnotnotice；buthehasaverylargenose，"saidtheboyslowly。"Heaskedthewaytothehouse。"

"Didn’thetellyouhisname？"

"Yes——BonaparteBlenkins。"

"Bonaparte！"saidEm，"whythatislikethereelHottentotHansplaysontheviolin——

’Bonaparte，Bonaparte，mywifeissick；

Inthemiddleoftheweek，butSundaysnot，Igiveherriceandbeansforsoup’——

Itisafunnyname。"

"TherewasalivingmancalledBonaparteonce，"saidsheofthegreateyes。

"Ahyes，Iknow，"saidEm——"thepoorprophetwhomthelionsate。Iamalwayssosorryforhim。"

Hercompanioncastaquietglanceuponher。

"Hewasthegreatestmanwhoeverlived，"shesaid，"themanIlikebest。"

"Andwhatdidhedo？"askedEm，consciousthatshehadmadeamistake，andthatherprophetwasnottheman。

"Hewasoneman，onlyone，"saidherlittlecompanionslowly，"yetallthepeopleintheworldfearedhim。Hewasnotborngreat，hewascommonasweare；yethewasmasteroftheworldatlast。Oncehewasonlyalittlechild，thenhewasalieutenant，thenhewasageneral，thenhewasanemperor。Whenhesaidathingtohimselfheneverforgotit。Hewaited，andwaitedandwaited，anditcameatlast。"

"Hemusthavebeenveryhappy，"saidEm。

"Idonotknow，"saidLyndall；"buthehadwhathesaidhewouldhave，andthatisbetterthanbeinghappy。Hewastheirmaster，andallthepeoplewerewhitewithfearofhim。Theyjoinedtogethertofighthim。Hewasoneandtheyweremany，andtheygothimdownatlast。Theywerelikethewildcatswhentheirteetharefastinagreatdog，likecowardlywildcats，"saidthechild，"theywouldnotlethimgo。Thereweremany；hewasonlyone。Theysenthimtoanislandonthesea，alonelyisland，andkepthimtherefast。Hewasoneman，andtheyweremany，andtheywereterrifiedathim。Itwasglorious！"saidthechild。

"Andwhatthen？"saidEm。

"Thenhewasalonethereinthatislandwithmentowatchhimalways，"saidhercompanion，slowlyandquietly。"Andinthelonglonelynightsheusedtolieawakeandthinkofthethingshehaddoneintheolddays，andthethingshewoulddoiftheylethimgoagain。Inthedaywhenhewalkedneartheshoreitseemedtohimthattheseaallaroundhimwasacoldchainabouthisbodypressinghimtodeath。"

"Andthen？"saidEm，muchinterested。

"Hediedthereinthatisland；henevergotaway。"

"Itisratheranicestory，"saidEm；"buttheendissad。"

"Itisaterrible，hatefulending，"saidthelittletellerofthestory，leaningforwardonherfoldedarms；"andtheworstis，itistrue。Ihavenoticed，"addedthechildverydeliberately，"thatitisonlythemade—upstoriesthatendnicely；thetrueonesallendso。"

Asshespoketheboy’sdark，heavyeyesrestedonherface。

"Youhavereadit，haveyounot？"

Henodded。"Yes；buttheBrownhistorytellsonlywhathedid，notwhathethought。"

"ItwasintheBrownhistorythatIreadofhim，"saidthegirl；"butI

knowwhathethought。Booksdonottelleverything。"

"No，"saidtheboy，slowlydrawingnearertoherandsittingdownatherfeet。"Whatyouwanttoknowtheynevertell。"

Thenthechildrenfellintosilence，tillDoss，thedog，growinguneasyatitslongcontinuance，sniffedatoneandtheother，andhismasterbrokeforthsuddenly：

"Iftheycouldtalk，iftheycouldtellusnow！"hesaid，movinghishandoutoverthesurroundingobjects——"thenwewouldknowsomething。Thiskopje，ifitcouldtellushowitcamehere！The’PhysicalGeography’

says，"hewentonmostrapidlyandconfusedly，"thatwhatweredrylandsnowwereoncelakes；andwhatIthinkisthis——theselowhillswereoncetheshoresofalake；thiskopjeissomeofthestonesthatwereatthebottom，rolledtogetherbythewater。Butthereisthis——Howdidthewatercometomakeoneheapherealone，inthecentreoftheplain？"Itwasaponderousquestion；noonevolunteeredananswer。"WhenIwaslittle，"

saidtheboy，"Ialwayslookedatitandwondered，andIthoughtagreatgiantwasburiedunderit。NowIknowthewatermusthavedoneit；buthow？Itisverywonderful。Didonelittlestonecomefirst，andstoptheothersastheyrolled？"saidtheboywithearnestness，inalowvoice，moreasspeakingtohimselfthantothem。

"Oh，Waldo，Godputthelittlekopjehere，"saidEmwithsolemnity。

"Buthowdidheputithere？"

"Bywanting。"

"Buthowdidthewantingbringithere？"

"Becauseitdid。"

Thelastwordswereutteredwiththeairofonewhoproducesaclinchingargument。Whateffectithadonthequestionerwasnotevident，forhemadenoreply，andturnedawayfromher。

DrawingclosertoLyndall’sfeet，hesaidafterawhileinalowvoice：

"Lyndall，hasitneverseemedtoyouthatthestonesweretalkingwithyou？

Sometimes，"headdedinayetlowertone，"Ilieundertherewithmysheep，anditseemsthatthestonesarereallyspeaking——speakingoftheoldthings，ofthetimewhenthestrangefishesandanimalslivedthatareturnedintostonenow，andthelakeswerehere；andthenofthetimewhenthelittleBushmenlivedhere，sosmallandsougly，andusedtosleepinthewilddogholes，andinthesloots，andeatsnakes，andshotthebuckswiththeirpoisonedarrows。Itwasoneofthem，oneoftheseoldwildBushmen，thatpaintedthose，"saidtheboy，noddingtowardthepictures——

"onewhowasdifferentfromtherest。Hedidnotknowwhy，buthewantedtomakesomethingbeautiful——hewantedtomakesomething，sohemadethese。

Heworkedhard，veryhard，tofindthejuicetomakethepaint；andthenhefoundthisplacewheretherockshangover，andhepaintedthem。Toustheyareonlystrangethings，thatmakeuslaugh；buttohimtheywereverybeautiful。"

Thechildrenhadturnedroundandlookedatthepictures。

"Heusedtokneelherenaked，painting，painting，painting；andhewonderedatthethingshemadehimself，"saidtheboy，risingandmovinghishandindeepexcitement。"NowtheBoershaveshotthemall，sothatweneverseealittleyellowfacepeepingoutamongthestones。"Hepaused，adreamylookcomingoverhisface。"Andthewildbuckshavegone，andthosedays，andwearehere。Butwewillbegonesoon，andonlythestoneswilllieonhere，lookingateverythingliketheylooknow。IknowthatitisIwhoamthinking，"thefellowaddedslowly，"butitseemsasthoughitweretheywhoaretalking。Hasitneverseemedsotoyou，Lyndall？"

"No，itneverseemssotome，"sheanswered。

Thesunhaddippednowbelowthehills，andtheboy，suddenlyrememberingtheewesandlambs，startedtohisfeet。

"Letusalsogotothehouseandseewhohascome，"saidEm，astheboyshuffledawaytorejoinhisflock，whileDossranathisheels，snappingattheendsofthetorntrousersastheyflutteredinthewind。

Chapter1。III。IWasAStranger，andYeTookMeIn。

Asthetwogirlsroundedthesideofthekopje，anunusualscenepresenteditself。Alargegroupwasgatheredatthebackdoorofthehomestead。

OnthedoorstepstoodtheBoer—woman，ahandoneachhip，herfaceredandfiery，herheadnoddingfiercely。AtherfeetsattheyellowHottentotmaid，hersatellite，andaroundstoodtheblackKaffermaids，withblanketstwistedroundtheirhalf—nakedfigures。Two，whostampedmealiesinawoodenblock，heldthegreatstampersintheirhands，andstaredstupidlyattheobjectofattraction。ItcertainlywasnottolookattheoldGermanoverseer，whostoodinthecentreofthegroup，thattheyhadallgatheredtogether。Hissalt—and—peppersuit，grizzlyblackbeard，andgreyeyeswereasfamiliartoeveryoneonthefarmastheredgablesofthehomesteaditself；butbesidehimstoodthestranger，andonhimalleyeswerefixed。EverandanonthenewcomercastaglanceoverhispendulousrednosetothespotwheretheBoer—womanstood，andsmiledfaintly。

"I’mnotachild，"criedtheBoer—woman，inlowCapeDutch，"andIwasn’tbornyesterday。No，bytheLord，no！Youcan’ttakemein！Mymotherdidn’tweanmeonMonday。OnewinkofmyeyeandIseethewholething。

I’llhavenotrampssleepingonmyfarm，"criedTantSannieblowing。"No，bythedevil，no！notthoughhehadsixty—times—sixrednoses。"

TheretheGermanoverseermildlyinterposedthatthemanwasnotatramp，butahighlyrespectableindividual，whosehorsehaddiedbyanaccidentthreedaysbefore。

"Don’ttellme，"criedtheBoer—woman；"themanisn’tbornthatcantakemein。Ifhe’dhadmoney，wouldn’thehaveboughtahorse？Menwhowalkarethieves，liars，murderers，Rome’spriests，seducers！Iseethedevilinhisnose！"criedTantSannieshakingherfistathim；"andtocomewalkingintothehouseofthisBoer’schildandshakinghandsasthoughhecameonhorseback！Oh，no，no！"

Thestrangertookoffhishat，atall，batteredchimneypot，anddisclosedabaldhead，atthebackofwhichwasalittlefringeofcurledwhitehair，andhebowedtoTantSannie。

"Whatdoessheremark，myfriend？"heinquired，turninghiscrosswise—

lookingeyesontheoldGerman。

TheGermanrubbedhisoldhandsandhesitated。

"Ah——well——ah——the——Dutch——youknow——donotlikepeoplewhowalk——inthiscountry——ah！"

"Mydearfriend，"saidthestranger，layinghishandontheGerman’sarm，"Ishouldhaveboughtmyselfanotherhorse，butcrossing，fivedaysago，afullriver，Ilostmypurse——apursewithfivehundredpoundsinit。I

spentfivedaysonthebankoftherivertryingtofindit——couldn’t。PaidaKafferninepoundstogoinandlookforitattheriskofhislife——

couldn’tfindit。"

TheGermanwouldhavetranslatedthisinformation，buttheBoer—womangavenoear。

"No，no；hegoestonight。Seehowhelooksatme——apoorunprotectedfemale！Ifhewrongsme，whoistodomeright？"criedTantSannie。

"Ithink，"saidtheGermaninanundertone，ifyoudidn’tlookatherquitesomuchitmightbeadvisable。She——ah——she——might——imaginethatyoulikedhertoowell，——infact——ah——"

"Certainly，mydearfriend，certainly，"saidthestranger。"Ishallnotlookather。"

Sayingthis，heturnedhisnosefulluponasmallKafferoftwoyearsold。

ThatsmallnakedsonofHambecameinstantlysoterrifiedthathefledtohismother’sblanketforprotection，howlinghorribly。

Uponthisthenewcomerfixedhiseyespensivelyonthestamp—block，foldinghishandsontheheadofhiscane。Hisbootswerebroken，buthestillhadthecaneofagentleman。

"YouvagabondsseEngelschman！"saidTantSannie，lookingstraightathim。

ThiswasanearapproachtoplainEnglish；butthemancontemplatedtheblockabstractedly，whollyunconsciousthatanyantagonismwasbeingdisplayedtowardhim。

"YoumightnotbeaScotchmanoranythingofthatkind，mightyou？"

suggestedtheGerman。"ItistheEnglishthatshehates。"

"Mydearfriend，"saidthestranger，"IamIrisheveryinchofme——fatherIrish，motherIrish。I’venotadropofEnglishbloodinmyveins。"

"Andyoumightnotbemarried，mightyou？"persistedtheGerman。"Ifyouhadawifeandchildren，now？Dutchpeopledonotlikethosewhoarenotmarried。"

"Ah，"saidthestranger，lookingtenderlyattheblock，"Ihaveadearwifeandthreesweetlittlechildren——twolovelygirlsandanobleboy。"

ThisinformationhavingbeenconveyedtotheBoer—woman，she，aftersomefurtherconversation，appearedslightlymollified；butremainedfirmtoherconvictionthattheman’sdesignswereevil。

"For，dearLord！"shecried；"allEnglishmenareugly；butwasthereeversuchared—rag—nosedthingwithbrokenbootsandcrookedeyesbefore？Takehimtoyourroom，"shecriedtotheGerman；"butallthesinhedoesIlayatyourdoor。"

TheGermanhavingtoldhimhowmatterswerearranged，thestrangermadeaprofoundbowtoTantSannieandfollowedhishost，wholedthewaytohisownlittleroom。

"Ithoughtshewouldcometoherbetterselfsoon，"theGermansaidjoyously。"TantSannieisnotwhollybad，farfromit，far。"Thenseeinghiscompanioncastafurtiveglanceathim，whichhemistookforoneofsurprise，headdedquickly，"Ah，yes，yes；weareallaprimitivepeoplehere——notverylofty。Wedealnotintitles。EveryoneisTanteandOom——

auntanduncle。Thismaybemyroom，"hesaid，openingthedoor。"Itisrough，theroomisrough；notapalace——notquite。Butitmaybebetterthanthefields，alittlebetter！"hesaid，glancingroundathiscompanion。"Comein，comein。Thereissomethingtoeat——amouthful：notthefareofemperorsorkings；butwedonotstarve，notyet，"hesaid，rubbinghishandstogetherandlookingroundwithapleased，half—nervoussmileonhisoldface。

"Myfriend，mydearfriend，"saidthestranger，seizinghimbythehand，"maytheLordblessyou，theLordblessandrewardyou——theGodofthefatherlessandthestranger。ButforyouIwouldthisnighthavesleptinthefields，withthedewsofheavenuponmyhead。"

LatethateveningLyndallcamedowntothecabinwiththeGerman’srations。

Throughthetinysquarewindowthelightstreamedforth，andwithoutknockingsheraisedthelatchandentered。Therewasafireburningonthehearth，anditcastitsruddyglowoverthelittledingyroom，withitsworm—eatenraftersandmudfloor，andbrokenwhitewashedwalls。Acuriouslittleplace，filledwithallmannerofarticles。Nexttothefirewasagreattoolbox；beyondthatthelittlebookshelfwithitswell—wornbooks；

beyondthat，inthecorner，aheapoffilledandemptygrain—bags。Fromtheraftershungdownstraps，riems，oldboots，bitsofharness，andastringofonions。Thebedwasinanothercorner，coveredbyapatchworkquiltoffadedredlions，anddividedfromtherestoftheroombyabluecurtain，nowdrawnback。Onthemantelshelfwasanendlessassortmentoflittlebagsandstones；andonthewallhungamapofSouthGermany，witharedlinedrawnthroughittoshowwheretheGermanhadwandered。Thisplacewastheonehomethegirlshadknownformanyayear。ThehousewhereTantSannielivedandruledwasaplacetosleepin，toeatin，nottobehappyin。Itwasinvainshetoldthemtheyweregrowntoooldtogothere；everymorningandeveningfoundthemthere。Weretherenottoomanygoldenmemorieshangingabouttheoldplaceforthemtoleaveit？

Longwinternights，whentheyhadsatroundthefireandroastedpotatoes，andaskedriddles，andtheoldmanhadtoldofthelittleGermanvillage，where，fiftyyearsbefore，alittleGermanboyhadplayedatsnowballs，andhadcarriedhometheknittedstockingsofalittlegirlwhoafterwardbecameWaldo’smother；didtheynotseemtoseetheGermanpeasantgirlswalkingaboutwiththeirwoodenshoesandyellow，braidedhair，andthelittlechildreneatingtheirsuppersoutoflittlewoodenbowlswhenthegoodmotherscalledthemintohavetheirmilkandpotatoes？

Andweretherenotyetbettertimesthanthese？Moonlightnights，whentheyrompedaboutthedoor，withtheoldman，yetmoreachildthananyofthem，andlaughed，tilltheoldroofofthewagon—houserang？

Or，bestofall，weretherenotwarm，dark，starlightnights，whentheysattogetheronthedoorstep，holdingeachother’shands，singingGermanhymns，theirvoicesrisingclearinthestillnightair——tilltheGermanwoulddrawawayhishandsuddenlytowipequicklyatearthechildrenmustnotsee？Wouldtheynotsitlookingupatthestarsandtalkingofthem——ofthedearSouthernCross，red，fieryMars，Orion，withhisbelt，andtheSevenMysteriousSisters——andfalltospeculatingoverthem？Howoldarethey？Whodweltinthem？AndtheoldGermanwouldsaythatperhapsthesoulswelovedlivedinthem；there，inthatlittletwinklingpointwasperhapsthelittlegirlwhosestockingshehadcarriedhome；andthechildrenwouldlookupatitlovingly，andcallit"UncleOtto’sstar。"

Thentheywouldfalltodeeperspeculations——ofthetimesandseasonswhereintheheavensshallberolledtogetherasascroll，andthestarsshallfallasafig—treecastethheruntimelyfigs，andthereshallbetimenolonger："WhentheSonofmanshallcomeinHisglory，andallHisholyangelswithHim。"Inlowerandlowertonestheywouldtalk，tillatlasttheyfellintowhispers；thentheywouldwishgoodnightsoftly，andwalkhomehushedandquiet。

Tonight，whenLyndalllookedin，Waldosatbeforethefirewatchingapotwhichsimmeredthere，withhisslateandpencilinhishand；hisfathersatatthetableburiedinthecolumnsofathree—weeks—oldnewspaper；andthestrangerlaystretchedonthebedinthecorner，fastasleep，hismouthopen，hisgreatlimbsstretchedoutloosely，betokeningmuchweariness。

Thegirlputtherationsdownuponthetable，snuffedthecandle，andstoodlookingatthefigureonthebed。

"UncleOtto，"shesaidpresently，layingherhanddownonthenewspaper，andcausingtheoldGermantolookupoverhisglasses，"howlongdidthatmansayhehadbeenwalking？"

"Sincethismorning，poorfellow！Agentleman——notaccustomedtowalking——

horsedied——poorfellow！"saidtheGerman，pushingouthislipandglancingcommiseratinglyoverhisspectaclesinthedirectionofthebedwherethestrangerlay，withhisflabbydoublechin，andbrokenbootsthroughwhichthefleshshone。

"Anddoyoubelievehim，UncleOtto？"

"Believehim？whyofcourseIdo。Hehimselftoldmethestorythreetimesdistinctly。"

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读