the lion and the unicorn-第15章

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consideration。　　The　question　of　the　dog…tax　was　one　which
perplexed　Sir　Charles　most　particularly。　　The　two　Councillors
elected　by　the　people　and　the　three　appointed　by　the　crown　had
disagreed　as　to　this　tax。　　Of　the　five　hundred　British　subjects
at　the　seaport；　all　but　ten　were　owners　of　dogs；　and　it　had
occurred　to　Sassoon；　the　chemist；　that　a　tax　of　half…a…crown　a
year　on　each　of　these　dogs　would　meet　the　expense　of
extending　the　oyster…shell　road　to　the　new　cricket…grounds。　　To
this　Snellgrove；　who　held　the　contract　for　the　narrow…gauge
railroad；　agreed；　but　the　three　crown　Councillors　opposed　the　tax
vigorously；　on　the　ground　that　as　scavengers　alone　the　dogs　were
a　boon　to　the　colony　and　should　be　encouraged。　　The　fact　that
each　of　these　gentlemen　owned　not　only　one；　but　several　dogs　of
high　pedigree　made　their　position　one　of　great　delicacy。

There　was　no　way　by　which　the　Governor　could　test　the　popular
will　in　the　matter；　except　through　his　secretary；　Mr。　Clarges；
who；　at　the　cricket…match　between　the　local　eleven　and　the
officers　and　crew　of　H。　M。　S。　　Partridge；　had　been　informed　by
the　other　owners　of　several　fox…terriers　that；　in　their　opinion；
the　tax　was　a　piece　of　〃condemned　tommy…rot。〃　　From　this　the
Governor　judged　that　it　would　not　prove　a　popular　measure。　　As　he
paced　the　veranda；　drawing　deliberately　on　his　cigar；　and
considering　to　which　party　he　should　give　the　weight　of　his　final
support；　his　thoughts　were　disturbed　by　the　approach　of　a
stranger；　who　advanced　along　the　gravel　walk；　guarded　on
either　side　by　one　of　the　local　constabulary。　　The　stranger　was
young　and　of　poor　appearance。　　His　bare　feet　were　bound　in　a　pair
of　the　rope　sandals　worn　by　the　natives；　his　clothing　was　of　torn
and　soiled　drill；　and　he　fanned　his　face　nonchalantly　with　a
sombrero　of　battered　and　shapeless　felt。

Sir　Charles　halted　in　his　walk；　and　holding　his　cigar　behind　his
back；　addressed　himself　to　the　sergeant。

〃A　vagrant？〃　he　asked。

The　words　seemed　to　bear　some　amusing　significance　to　the
stranger；　for　his　face　lit　instantly　with　a　sweet　and　charming
smile；　and　while　he　turned　to　hear　the　sergeant's　reply；　he
regarded　him　with　a　kindly　and　affectionate　interest。

〃Yes；　your　Excellency。〃

The　Governor　turned　to　the　prisoner。

〃Do　you　know　the　law　of　this　colony　regarding　vagrants？〃

〃I　do　not；〃　the　young　man　answered。　　His　tone　was　politely
curious；　and　suggested　that　he　would　like　to　be　further　informed
as　to　the　local　peculiarities　of　a　foreign　country。

〃After　two　weeks'　residence；〃　the　Governor　recited；　impressively；
〃all　able…bodied　persons　who　will　not　work　are　put　to　work　or
deported。　　Have　you　made　any　effort　to　find　work？〃

Again　the　young　man　smiled　charmingly。　　He　shook　his　head　and
laughed。　　〃Oh　dear　no；〃　he　said。

The　laugh　struck　the　Governor　as　impertinent。

〃Then　you　must　leave　by　the　next　mail…steamer；　if　you　have　any
money　to　pay　your　passage；　or；　if　you　have　no　money；　you　must　go
to　work　on　the　roads。　　Have　you　any　money？〃

〃If　I　had；　I　wouldn'tbe　a　vagrant；〃　the　young　man　answered。　
His　voice　was　low　and　singularly　sweet。　　It　seemed　to　suit　the
indolence　of　his　attitude　and　the　lazy；　inconsequent　smile。　　〃I
called　on　our　consular　agent　here；〃　he　continued；　leisurely；　〃to
write　a　letter　home　for　money；　but　he　was　disgracefully　drunk；　so
I　used　his　official　note…paper　to　write　to　the　State　Department
about　him；　instead。〃

The　Governor's　deepest　interest　was　aroused。　　The　American
consular　agent　was　one　of　the　severest　trials　he　was　forced　to
endure。

〃You　are　not　a　British　subject；　then？　　Ah；　I　seeanderyour
representative　was　unable　to　assist　you？〃

〃He　was　drunk；〃　the　young　man　repeated；　placidly。　　〃He　has　been
drunk　ever　since　I　have　been　here；　particularly　in　the　mornings。〃

He　halted；　as　though　the　subject　had　lost　interest　for　him；　and
gazed　pleasantly　at　the　sunny　bay　and　up　at　the　moving　palms。

〃Then；〃　said　the　Governor；　as　though　he　had　not　been　interrupted；
〃as　you　have　no　means　of　support；　you　will　help　support　the
colony　until　you　can　earn　money　to　leave　it。　　That　will　do；
sergeant。〃

The　young　man　placed　his　hat　upon　his　head　and　turned　to　move
away；　but　at　the　first　step　he　swayed　suddenly　and　caught　at　the
negro's　shoulder；　clasping　his　other　hand　across　his　eyes。　　The
sergeant　held　him　by　the　waist；　and　looked　up　at　the　Governor
with　some　embarrassment。

〃The　young　gentleman　has　not　been　well；　Sir　Charles；〃　he　said；
apologetically。

The　stranger　straightened　himself　up　and　smiled　vaguely。　
〃I'm　all　right；〃　he　murmured。　　〃Sun's　too　hot。〃

〃Sit　down；〃　said　the　Governor。

He　observed　the　stranger　more　closely。　　He　noticed　now　that
beneath　the　tan　his　face　was　delicate　and　finely　cut；　and　that
his　yellow　hair　clung　closely　to　a　well…formed　head。

〃He　seems　faint。　　Has　he　had　anything　to　eat？〃　asked　the
Governor。

The　sergeant　grinned　guiltily。　　〃Yes；　Sir　Charles；　we've　been
feeding　him　at　the　barracks。　　It's　fever；　sir。〃

Sir　Charles　was　not　unacquainted　with　fallen　gentlemen；　〃beach…
combers；〃　〃remittance　men；〃　and　vagrants　who　had　known　better
days；　and　there　had　been　something　winning　in　this　vagrant's
smile；　and；　moreover；　he　had　reported　that　thorn　in　his　flesh；
the　consular　agent；　to　the　proper　authorities。

He　conceived　an　interest　in　a　young　man　who；　though　with　naked
feet；　did　not　hesitate　to　correspond　with　his　Minister　of　Foreign
Affairs。

〃How　long　have　you　been　ill？〃　he　asked。

The　young　man　looked　up　from　where　he　had　sunk　on　the　steps；　and
roused　himself　with　a　shrug。　　〃It　doesn't　matter；〃　he　said。　
〃I've　had　a　touch　of　Chagres　ever　since　I　was　on　the　Isthmus。　　I
was　at　work　there　on　the　railroad。〃

〃Did　you　come　here　from　Colon？〃

〃No；　I　worked　up　the　Pacific　side。　　I　was　clerking　with　Rossner
Brothers　at　Amapala　for　a　while；　because　I　speak　a　little　German；
and　then　I　footed　it　over　to　Puerto　Cortez　and　got　a　job　with　the
lottery　people。　　They　gave　me　twenty　dollars　a　month　gold　for
rolling　the　tickets；　and　I　put　it　all　in　the　drawing；　and　won　as
much　as　ten。〃　　He　laughed；　and　sitting　erect；　drew　from　his
pocket　a　roll　of　thin　green　papers。　　〃These　are　for　the　next
drawing；〃　he　said。　　〃Have　some？〃　he　added。　　He　held　them　towards
the　negro　sergeant；　who；　under　the　eye　of　the　Governor；　resisted；
and　then　spread　the　tickets　on　his　knee　like　a　hand　at　cards。　　〃I
stand　to　win　a　lot　with　these；〃　he　said；　with　a　cheerful　sigh。　
〃You　see；　until　the　list's　published　I'm　prospectively　worth
twenty　thousand　dollars。　　And；〃　he　added；　〃I　break　stones　in　the
sun。〃　　He　rose　unsteadily；　and　saluted　the　Governor　with　a
nod。　　〃Good…morning；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃and　thank　you。〃

〃Wait；〃　Sir　Charles　commanded。　　A　new　form　of　punishment　had
suggested　itself；　in　which　justice　was　tempered　with　mercy。　　〃Can
you　work　one　of　your　American　lawn…mowers？〃　he　asked。

The　young　man　laughed　delightedly。　　〃I　never　tried；〃　he　said；
〃but　I've　seen　it　done。〃

〃If　you've　been　ill；　it　would　be　murder　to　put　you　on　the　shell
road。〃　　The　Governor's　dignity　relaxed　into　a　smile。　　〃I　don't
desire　international　complications；〃　he　said。　　〃Sergeant；　take
thishimto　the　kitchen；　and　tell　Corporal　Mallon　to　give　him
that　American　lawn…mowing　machine。　　Possibly　he　may　understand
its　mechanism。　　Mallon　only　cuts　holes　in　the　turf　with　it。〃　　And
he　waved　his　hand　in　dismissal；　and　as　the　three　men　moved　away
he　buried　himself　again　in　the　perplexities　of　the　dog…tax。

Ten　minutes　later　the　deliberations　of　the　Council　were　disturbed
by　a　loud　and　persistent　rattle；　like　the　whir　of　a　Maxim　gun；
which　proved；　on　investigation；　to　arise　from　the　American　lawn…
mower。　　The　vagrant　was　propelling　it　triumphantly　across
the　lawn；　and　gazing　down　at　it　with　the　same　fond　pride　with
which　a　nursemaid　leans　over　the　perambulator　to　observe　her
lusty　and　gurgling　charge。


The　Councillors　had　departed；　Sir　Charles　was　thinking　of
breakfast；　the　Maxim…like　lawn…mower　still　irritated　the　silent
hush　of　midday；　when　from　the　waters　of　the　inner　harbor　there
came　suddenly　the　sharp　report　of　a　saluting　gun　and　the　rush　of
falling　anchor…chains。　　There　was　still　a　week　to　pass　before　the
mail…steamer　should　arrive；　and　H。　M。　S。　　Partridge　had
departed　for　Nassau。　　Besides　these　ships；　no　other　vessel　had
skirted　the　buoys　of　the　bay　in　eight　long　smiling　months。　　Mr。
Clarges；　the　secretary；　with　an　effort　to　appear　calm；　and　the
orderly；　suffocated　with　the　news；　entered　through　separate　doors
at　the　same　instant。

The　secretary　filed　his　report　first。　　〃A　yacht's　just　anchored
in　the　bay；　Sir　Charles；〃　he　said。

The　orderly's　face　fell。　　He　looked　aggrieved。　　〃An　American
yacht；〃　he　corrected。

〃And　much　larger　than　the　Partridge；〃　continued　the　secretary。

The　orderly　took　a　hasty　glance　back　over　his　shoulder。　　〃She　has
her　launch　lowered　already；　sir；〃　he　said。

Outside　the　whir　of　the　lawn…mower　continued　undisturbed。　　Sir
Charles　reached　for　his　marine…glass；　and　the　three　men　hurried
to　the　veranda。

〃It　looks　like　a　man…of…war；〃　said　Sir　Charles。　　〃No；〃　he　added；
adjusting　the　binocular；　〃she's　a　yacht。　　She　flies　the　New　York
Yacht　Club　pennantnow　she's　showing　the　owner's　absent　pennant。

He　must　have　left　in　the　launch。　　He's　coming　ashore　now。〃

〃He　seems　in　a　bit　of　a　hurry；〃　growled　Mr。　Clarges。

〃Those　Americans　always〃　murmured　Sir　Charles　from　behind　the
binocular。　　He　did　not　quite　know　that　he　enjoyed　this　sudden
onslaught　upon　the　privacy　of　his　harbor　and　port。

It　was　in　itself　annoying；　and　he　was　further　annoyed　to　find
that　it　could　in　the　least　degree　disturb　his　poise。

The　launch　was　growing　instantly　larger；　like　an　express　train
approaching　a　station　at　full　speed；　her　flags　flew　out　as　flat
as　pieces　of　painted　tin；　her　bits　of　brass…work　flashed　like
fire。　　Already　the　ends　of　the　wharves　were　white　with　groups　of
natives。

〃You　might　think　he　was　going　to　ram　the　town；〃　suggested　the
secretary。

〃Oh；　I　say；〃　he　exclaimed；　in　remonstrance；　〃he's　making　in　for
your　private　wharf。〃

The　Governor　was　rearranging　the　focus　of　the　glass　with　nervous
fingers。　　〃I　believe；〃　he　said；　〃noyesupon　my　word；　there
arethere　are　ladies　in　that　launch！〃

〃Ladies；　sir！〃　　The　secretary　threw　a　hasty　glance　at　the
binocular；　but　it　was　in　immediate　use。

The　clatter　of　the　lawn…mower　ceased　suddenly；　and　the　relief　of
its　silence　caused　the　Governor　to　lower　his　eyes。　　He　saw　the
lawn…mower　lying　prostrate　on　the　grass。　　The　vagrant　had
vanished。

There　was　a　sharp　tinkle　of　bells；　and　the　launch　slipped　up　to
the　wharf　and　halted　as　softly　as　a　bicycle。　　A　man　in　a
yachting…suit　jumped　from　her；　and　making　some　laughing
speech　to　the　two　women　in　the　stern；　walked　briskly　across　the
lawn；　taking　a　letter　from　his　pocket　as　he　came。　　Sir　Charles
awaited　him　gravely；　the　occupants　of　the　launch　had　seen　him；
and　it　was　too　late　to　retreat。

〃Sir　Charles　Greville；　I　believe；〃　said　the　yachtsman。　　He　bowed；
and　ran　lightly　up　the　steps。　　〃I　am　Mr。　Robert　Collier；　from　New
York；〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　a　letter　to　you　from　your　ambassador　at
Washington。　　If　you'll　pardon　me；　I'll　present　it　in　person。　　I
had　mean