Traffics and Discoveries Part 24
You’re reading novel Traffics and Discoveries Part 24 online at LightNovelFree.com. Please use the follow button to get notification about the latest chapter next time when you visit LightNovelFree.com. Use F11 button to read novel in full-screen(PC only). Drop by anytime you want to read free – fast – latest novel. It’s great if you could leave a comment, share your opinion about the new chapters, new novel with others on the internet. We’ll do our best to bring you the finest, latest novel everyday. Enjoy!
"Let me tell you," he said earnestly, "I won't make any difference to you whatever happens. Barrin' a dhow or two Tajurrah-way, prizes are scarce in the Navy. Hence we never abandon 'em."
There was a long silence. Pyecroft broke it suddenly.
"Robert," he said, "have you a mother?"
"Yes."
"Have you a big brother?"
"Yes."
"An' a little sister?"
"Yes."
"Robert. Does your mamma keep a dog?"
"Yes. Why?"
"All right, Robert. I won't forget it."
I looked for an explanation.
"I saw his cabinet photograph in full uniform on the mantelpiece o' that cottage before faithful Fido turned up," Pyecroft whispered. "Ain't you glad it's all in the family somehow?"
We filled with water at a cottage on the edge of St. Leonard's Forest, and, despite our increasing leakage, made s.h.i.+ft to climb the ridge above Instead Wick. Knowing the car as I did, I felt sure that final collapse would not be long delayed. My sole concern was to run our guest well into the wilderness before that came.
On the roof of the world--a naked plateau clothed with young heather--she retired from active life in floods of tears. Her feed-water-heater (Hinchcliffe blessed it and its maker for three minutes) was leaking beyond hope of repair; she had s.h.i.+fted most of her packing, and her water- pump would not lift.
"If I had a bit of piping I could disconnect this tin cartridge-case an'
feed direct into the boiler. It 'ud knock down her speed, but we could get on," said he, and looked hopelessly at the long dun ridges that hove us above the panorama of Suss.e.x. Northward we could see the London haze.
Southward, between gaps of the whale-backed Downs, lay the Channel's zinc- blue. But all our available population in that vast survey was one cow and a kestrel.
"It's down hill to Instead Wick. We can run her there by gravity," I said at last.
"Then he'll only have to walk to the station to get home. Unless we take off 'is boots first," Pyecroft replied.
"That," said our guest earnestly, "would be theft atop of a.s.sault and very serious."
"Oh, let's hang him an' be done," Hinchcliffe grunted. "It's evidently what he's sufferin' for."
Somehow murder did not appeal to us that warm noon. We sat down to smoke in the heather, and presently out of the valley below came the thick beat of a petrol-motor ascending. I paid little attention to it till I heard the roar of a horn that has no duplicate in all the Home Counties.
"That's the man I was going to lunch with!" I cried. "Hold on!" and I ran down the road.
It was a big, black, black-dashed, tonneaued twenty-four horse Octopod; and it bore not only Kysh my friend, and Salmon his engineer, but my own man, who for the first time in our acquaintance smiled.
"Did they get you? What did you get? I was coming into Linghurst as witness to character--your man told me what happened--but I was stopped near Instead Wick myself," cried Kysh.
"What for?"
"Leaving car unattended. An infernal swindle, when you think of the loose carts outside every pub in the county. I was jawing with the police for an hour, but it's no use. They've got it all their own way, and we're helpless."
Hereupon I told him my tale, and for proof, as we topped the hill, pointed out the little group round my car.
All supreme emotion is dumb. Kysh put on the brake and hugged me to his bosom till I groaned. Then, as I remember, he crooned like a mother returned to her suckling.
"Divine! Divine!" he murmured. "Command me."
"Take charge of the situation," I said. "You'll find a Mr. Pyecroft on the quarter-deck. I'm altogether out of it."
"He shall stay there. Who am I but the instrument of vengeance in the hands of an over-ruling Providence? (And I put in fresh sparking-plugs this morning.) Salmon, take that steam-kettle home, somehow. I would be alone."
"Leggat," I said to my man, "help Salmon home with my car."
"Home? Now? It's hard. It's cruel hard," said Leggat, almost with a sob.
Hinchcliffe outlined my car's condition briefly to the two engineers. Mr.
Pyecroft clung to our guest, who stared with affrighted eyes at the palpitating Octopod; and the free wind of high Suss.e.x whimpered across the ling.
"I am quite agreeable to walkin' 'ome all the way on my feet," said our guest. "I wouldn't go to any railway station. It 'ud be just the proper finish to our little joke." He laughed nervously.
"What's the evolution?" said Pyecroft. "Do we turn over to the new cruiser?"
I nodded, and he escorted our guest to the tonneau with care. When I was in, he sat himself broad-armed on the little flap-seat which controls the door. Hinchcliffe sat by Kysh.
"You drive?" Kysh asked, with the smile that has won him his chequered way through the world.
"Steam only, and I've about had my whack for to-day, thanks."
"I see."
The long, low car slid forward and then dropped like a bullet down the descent our steam toy had so painfully climbed. Our guest's face blanched, and he clutched the back of the tonneau.
"New commander's evidently been trained on a destroyer," said Hinchcliffe.
"What's 'is wonderful name?" whispered Pyecroft. "Ho! Well, I'm glad it ain't Saul we've run up against--nor Nims.h.i.+, for that matter. This is makin' me feel religious."
Our impetus carried us half-way up the next slope, where we steadied to a resonant fifteen an hour against the collar.
"What do you think?" I called to Hinchcliffe.
"'Taint as sweet as steam, o' course; but for power it's twice the _Furious_ against half the _Jaseur_ in a head-sea."
Volumes could not have touched it more exactly. His bright eyes were glued on Kysh's hands juggling with levers behind the discreet backward sloping dash.
"An' what sort of a brake might you use?" he said politely.
"This," Kysh replied, as the last of the hill shot up to one in eight. He let the car run back a few feet and caught her deftly on the brake, repeating the performance cup and ball fas.h.i.+on. It was like being daped above the Pit at the end of an uncoiled solar plexus. Even Pyecroft held his breath.
Traffics and Discoveries Part 24
You're reading novel Traffics and Discoveries Part 24 online at LightNovelFree.com. You can use the follow function to bookmark your favorite novel ( Only for registered users ). If you find any errors ( broken links, can't load photos, etc.. ), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible. And when you start a conversation or debate about a certain topic with other people, please do not offend them just because you don't like their opinions.
Traffics and Discoveries Part 24 summary
You're reading Traffics and Discoveries Part 24. This novel has been translated by Updating. Author: Rudyard Kipling already has 424 views.
It's great if you read and follow any novel on our website. We promise you that we'll bring you the latest, hottest novel everyday and FREE.
LightNovelFree.com is a most smartest website for reading novel online, it can automatic resize images to fit your pc screen, even on your mobile. Experience now by using your smartphone and access to LightNovelFree.com
- Related chapter:
- Traffics and Discoveries Part 23
- Traffics and Discoveries Part 25
RECENTLY UPDATED NOVEL
![Quick Transmigration Female Lead: Male God, Never Stopping](https://avatar.novelonlinefree.com/avatar_novels/20809-quick_transmigration_female_lead_male_god_never_stopping.jpg)
Quick Transmigration Female Lead: Male God, Never Stopping
Quick Transmigration Female Lead: Male God, Never Stopping Chapter 3050: Number one assassin: The ascetic prince's attack strategy (Part 1) View : 2,559,452![Lord of Mysteries 2: Circle of Inevitability](https://avatar.novelonlinefree.com/avatar_novels/37871-1699320298.jpg)
Lord of Mysteries 2: Circle of Inevitability
Lord of Mysteries 2: Circle of Inevitability Chapter 763 Folklore Origins View : 236,569![Complete Martial Arts Attributes](https://avatar.novelonlinefree.com/avatar_novels/37422-1652170499.jpg)
Complete Martial Arts Attributes
Complete Martial Arts Attributes Chapter 2223 You're In Trouble! (3). View : 2,136,518![After Transmigrating, The Fat Wife Made A Comeback!](https://avatar.novelonlinefree.com/avatar_novels/37740-1672802590.jpg)
After Transmigrating, The Fat Wife Made A Comeback!
After Transmigrating, The Fat Wife Made A Comeback! Chapter 1990: Protecting Younger Sister View : 1,691,845![Who Is the Real Daughter: Miss Lin Takes No Nonsense After Her Rebirth](https://avatar.novelonlinefree.com/avatar_novels/37853-1699319839.jpg)
Who Is the Real Daughter: Miss Lin Takes No Nonsense After Her Rebirth
Who Is the Real Daughter: Miss Lin Takes No Nonsense After Her Rebirth Chapter 859: No Video View : 220,613![Supreme Tamer](https://avatar.novelonlinefree.com/avatar_novels/37981-1709514618.jpg)
Supreme Tamer
Supreme Tamer Chapter 255: Chapter 134: Chu Yue? Step on without hesitation! View : 41,950![Everything Is Too Easy After Maxing My Talents](https://avatar.novelonlinefree.com/avatar_novels/37941-1706141440.jpg)
Everything Is Too Easy After Maxing My Talents
Everything Is Too Easy After Maxing My Talents Chapter 616: Unification, Thorny Road!_3 View : 162,701![I Have the Alchemy Emperor in My Head](https://avatar.novelonlinefree.com/avatar_novels/37763-1672823346.jpg)