THE CONSUMPTIVE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6496, 27 May 1899, Page 2

THE CONSUMPTIVE.

; " : ;"^¥ : ;^istly ; p|rl ' -of $ii^l^^&i£^, " thai, if I go" aWay 'Writo'"QrVria : '' Cariiry }iei% "■ I ' : sbair forthwith die. ; ; ■ .^ere% "if I eftiild ' toaii^gfe" to; ' stay '; in" thie '' island,* yl coiildrhang oii wisi life "for arioth"«ir r fi|e 'month's, and.. ? bit, 'find my'.'esteeined ctjusin must, ceiftairily' cpvmjile up ivith his Bright's 'diseaso Ua&rexitit ;time afid jurhd riie on tho titJo and the' Estates. Ybil can .calculate out- these ; tilings to:' such definite 1 dates. That's the beauty of modem medical scienco when it bsgiris to interest itself in diseases, even if it can't cure them." He broke ofT arid coughed for a couple, of minutes, and then gasped/ "Especially consumption. By jove, isn't that greeny-blue on the sea splendid?" ' '" ' Addingham, .the l'other '.naani shivered. "Jt &w,\ you are '■gruesome^/ lie .complained: ' ■ "What," said Tetinan'tj with" r a wiry ?milijj, "do you 'grudge me' 'a sight of colp'ur' on the sea-watev übw?'- ltfd,"T know w&fct yiou mean, old man, and I'm sorry ; but ,ybu must bear with- m 9* r a, bit. We"ebqsumDtives hare -such 'a''^ay' r dsf:^kmg : .ift>Sut our blessed 'health, aiid dreaming •ab%ut"it, and -counting up the exact number of days we've got to live, and swapping views on vintages ■of - cod-liver oil, that' we forget that all these details are a bit noisome to outsiders.'- - ;■■■'■>' ." Oh, it's not that," said Addingham, rather feebly. . -.-.'. . ' "Yes, but it is, and I'm going to make things worse by keeping oni-tvith the same tale- Here are the. Americans .on the point of declaring , war with Spain ; and. when they, actually do; lias Palmas won't be a safe placD for an . Englishman to, live in." "I suppose 1 it won't be for. you," ■ .■■"Especially,, if op. me r : as, .you \ say. .Ifsa man will be,, fool enough, to ..interfere in the. national' ..ainusemenf of beating a. mule to death,, he 1 must; expect to be . . locally .unpopular," „;-..; ..-,,-. .J. ...:.. : "•. '^.Y.pii. hit .that? tartajia .driver .across -the facej rememb.er, v witE,yoar ;stick." .-■_; . ■'•-. "Because. l. was too. Jimp, and feeblet'to do more. . My, dear- boy y ;: £d.. cheerfully have cut him to ribbons if Td been. equal to the (exertion. ,, You see, Vd been looking on . at the process-.of torturing that nv:}e for some tinie, and. was naturally feeling rather, sick: and very wrathful. I. suppose from the driver's point of view it's equally natural that he and. his friends, should Tiavo done their best to knife me at intervals, ever since;" ' - Addingham rubbed his chin. "-It's awkward," he said— "very. These Canaries are the, tamest of people generally," but since this war trouble's been on they've developed a fine, patriotism, and. grown very. excited over it. I don't suppose many Americans find their way as iar!ou<t as this, and so) as an Biglishmaii. talks'" die .'same language, they r "make him'^do instead. i> fact, to tell' the tit^T was mobbed 1 near the cathedral to-'dij^' and had a howling escort of them td v see ; me 1 home fight out here to the hotel:" V; - ■'*"''■ " I wish the Yankees were at the" devil !" said Tehnant~irritably. "Or rather, I wish they'd -('suspend hostilities' till I get through -my five and a half months here below, and then come down like the 'Assyrians and sweep the place dear." '. ' -•; ■ "And I wish- you wouldn't talk of your horrible five and a hklf .mohths," said.Addinghain, waking up to a memory that it is. always a sound man's duty to neart&a the sick. "You are looking a sight better than you did. a week ago. You'll pttfl round again all right with a bit more rest." ."My dear boy" t j^&^<i^pafi,., "dorft pit your puny opinion against science. My locai . pill-miser Hep? bjW3 done nothing but handle^ consumptives for *tte. past ten. years, . ' He gets "hold' r ;of ' hw patient on landing," sounds him, tries 'his wind, counts his teeth, put*, the result "on paper, and multiplies .by ten. Three days later ;he takes a second observation to "check tjffl first, and then" he. tolls' your friends the exact number 6f -"weeics, (jays and . hpuis you've got to live. If i&ey're '"iieyt *'ik* Grand Canary,- :?'tbe;frieiids' bet. he's wrong, and lose.- their money. He- tells- you;' -of cpurs.es -as.: all ; doctors ■..'.are ■- tfdrcecfc • -Op'-'- -By their- initiation catbj. or;^wha«ever>"ft: js\ that there's not : m,uch;' the matter, atfi you'll, probably live-for ever;., but you can worm the truth out of servants for ■■■& : tip's and that's, the. way. you-.get .hoW^of the expert opinion that you've paid the doctor to give."' . '•*' •':: '".' . '. ' Addingham w&s going to speak, but the sick, man put his thin brown bird's clkw of J- hand on his wrist, and stopped: hii**. "Just let me haye.my .way," he said, without more argument. . You know I'm right, and I, know you know,. and so, let's chuck conventionality.- .I've stared at death too long, and guessed at what's behind too much, to have any. room for further emotions on the matterf But. you can do , rite a very real service if -you'll put : me in ,the way of not being, robbed of my. Apr pointed spa.n. . I'm alw.aye very sick at •sea, and if I go away from here to Madeira or any of those places, I . shall certainly shake myself .to bits on the- road, "and die before I get. there. If I do that, my venerable cousin will ' ptitliye me, and mv will may ;ii be counted'as .'waste papep,"aji3 I shall die; writhing. But if .you can* titmk of a way to let. me dangle onto the end of my allotted tether, his Blight's disease must collar him for a certainty within tK is next- week'-or sor' anil then .. . . well, I shall inherit, and can dispose of the cash as I please. But : honestly, the only wj^V I can think of is by grabbing "the fort on ..the hill behind there from the local army, and holding it till we're through. Otherwise an enthusiastic mob will' scrag me to a certainty the day war 'breaks out." "You've left the money to that girl, 1 suppose?" : ■ . ■ " "Of course." '' " Even after^she wouldn't marry you?" '. "My' dear boy, the boot was on tha other leg. 1 I' wouldn't marry her. ""Iv'gqt to know from a doctor ab home, that I was lungy, ahd-I wasrft goiiig; r t6' be" bigtfi enough to' marry a girl - witS^ihatf langi^ over me."-' -:" ■■"■ ■•'- &;,:*:.>.■..■ ,-''■ -.:..-«■ •-■" So-you went and deliberately^—^" - -'^ 'The "sick man '* snapped ; out ■" Shut up^* and •.■-flushed scarlet. - "-Welli : I suppodd iEdi betters own up/'.hesald a minute later, "as • it's- - only ; -to • ..you. - But '• a- miaDc- r lieH> to do something i. if he wants to break • ofl an engagement with a girl who's.i very fond of him, and -I. couldn't think (A any - better way than getting into a: mess with another.J. woman .-who .. . . : .Ob, you know. •. tie „ whole dirty tale. I hadn't the brains to invent a : cleyeret wayl Working up that mean, paltry, cold-blooded scandal was the only thing that occurred to me. I'm a bit of a thickhead." Addingham stretched out and gripped his hand rather shamefacedly for a second, and then turned away. "You're a decent sort, you know," he-said. . " Oh, drop that," said Temant fretfully. "Use your head and get me, out of this mess. Can't you remember that she's as poor as= a rat,- and will- have -to remain poor, or dress on the'doles; that some rich husband ' pinches- out. to- her, unless- yoa -manage to-.thinkl-of-.a way to niake 'ma outlive that ancient wreck. of •A-.cousiiiirf uiine?"." - ;rv :vb ■-.•.■.■y:-~ : :-;f-vsyJ^^!:-l-"Weli,V said- Addingham,-.- " it/.seemsatp resolve itself into this: War is going^tp be declared, between. •America anft;. Spain, whether you. like, it-. or noff Spai^knows that she will be badly licked, and Spaniarda are mad accordingly ; the _ local Spaniard hates you personally,' ana will find "an opportunity to scupper you as soon as . the war starts; and so' Las' Palmas district ceases to be healthy for you from now on! You say that it' would be fatal" for you & leave the island just now ; so it seeme to "me that the only alternative, is to: go andrlive en perdu. up amongst the hills o £ the in> terior." . • ' ' ■ . ''•:. .' ■ -■ "By jove!- that's jusfc,. the very notion. Only, how am I— aione,' I mean-*-to- — rf'f "Oil, if I hadn't -intended, to come along too and nursery-maid, you," . said . Addingham brusquelyi l " l. should. .neveErhare siig» gested ; such ; %;mad: picn|c. .^Well^ as 'fliis .soiib , of : idea^sepms v-Jog chune> ig-^ith; youy notion, I?}1. jusj< :bej,off pne-time^as, tho.^ .^t.iAfi]^V^low&^y) i ;.|m4..}na^ preparations". We shall have "to take grub and clothes and things, and a transport system's got to be arranged for by which our retreat can't be traced. It would never do to let the general public know which way we may be found, or we'd have yoor | mule-beating friend and his cronias r**^

with their knives before" the week was bat." Now, Addingbam was a man who knew Grand Canary thoroughly. He had visited it for the first time eight years before, a.rd, grew upon him, anoTTie Kad "returned ". to It aga^afr"lea^;<mic^-^yer3 r iyear;sißce. He Knew'every peak"and.every chider , slide ; he had ejmlored jeveiy oneiof. the great barrancos ; lie. knew personally .every.vinejrard,; eyer^, tomato 'garden, aild,"' every '.banana ' farm in ( " the ;cii;cle"of ■ .the' island; -and,, finally,, he prbbatty.'knew',..niove,aboUt ,-jbjjie^.Gaunche. .caves' £han. aiiy .Epglishiniin liying.;" He had all fh'e " miiinmy .JcayeSi; the i Store caves^ . and .'the livyig ".iav'es of that .dpad race '"w^ii'cli. jwere already 'knpwn. to exist,' and. durin? )vi 'larinbliu'Ks amongst the , : iaya.^cUffs?and ; the : dry," ciumbliig !hills|''he had' found' others whose exist- ] jenceihe.kept to himself, lest vandal t.our- . Ssts, and more .. vandal collectors, might desecrate those few l-emainuig signatures of jfche past. He had grown to have a feeling akin to comradeship for those long-for-gotten dead, and on the rare,. occasions when he thought, about, the matter. in. .such an aspect," Be .'congratulated hrniself that, at least ,hfi_ had, never ." done anythingytp 1 rip .iinotb. of the cloak" from "their decent P,ast, lor'the^vujgar stares of the. ten days' tour-' $*•■'*■ .' :.-.. :•'.- ':,:/ '-..,- )■■:. ".k—i ■ . Tncj^entaliy, in wandering, abtjut ; ,-.>..,the • -SsT^ad, Adduigham..;had : .leaj;a9.d the- Canary jpatois of .^panish^ -the intricacies of local .paths and transport, and a list of the needs for a residence. in the highlands of- -the •interior; and so, on the day after the subject,was broached between them, he was able to get Tennant away from the hotel, and through. Las Palmas, and out past ■Monte and Santa Brigida, without his -journey in.;:any way. being noticed. It is forbidden by doctor's law for conBumptiv'ea to be 'exposed to the air of evening, and so that, night they stayed under a roof , • and* Tennant Soughed in a tempered atmosphere; but next morning, when the enn had' made the : aiir" benign, they left their carriage and set off again, this time ■with one-pack-muie. :: and another for riding, andleftithe road-finally^behind them. They were none too soon either: War had been declared the previous' night ; and though Madrid,' and' even jSpain- itself,- might be calm and unemotional; the : towns and'viilages of Grand were in a seethe of patriotic ferments' Even the' locally known lAddingham ■would have been in considerable personal danger, and as for the unpopular ■.Tennant, witii his' foreign prejudices against Treating a mere worh-outinule to death, his life would not have been worth ten minutes purchase. T ' - ' ''■ '.'":'"'. The way they traversed I also' have trod; but as I am under pledge, of secrecy, it . wiil not be described here. Indeed, without a map, it would be hard to. direct a. traveller SoT ; that he might re-find it. There are so iriany stony barrancos, .leading .to so' many barren valleys, in the interior of the isle; of „ Grand Canary ; and each one .at times has. the same seini-l^opical sun ;bh)anng with genial warmth overhead;, and the same enphorbra bushes growing from the austere cinders tuidexfooit, and the sajde dwelling-caves, and Tstore,; car?e3 v .and 'mmtLqy caves of thc«e long-dead Gauriches discreetly screened behind ingenious. rocks... .;.._.- , : . . They' journeyed on" iandv.'W, up and down and up, till tlie, weak Bick , man on. the jolting ....mule was nearly at the end. of his. meagre strength, game though he might be in uncomplaining endurance j and then the two . beasts were hobbled "in a tiny dell of coarse grasses (where .moisture accumulated from the slope above), and there.. remained before the men a climb too, steep even for a Span-, ish mule. The. Gaunche of those dead old years; had. his' enemies, and so he -delved hi^house'at "soirie spot where he would have full adveirtiSej&fenfc' "■'•"of . an , enemy's approach. '." ■"" : ; ■ : "; • • -' ■ : ' Addingham "clapped a. sturdy arm' round pennant's "waist^. ,and • dragged! half carried hun up : the inclines ; an3^ Tennant, with" vicious energy,; thrust out the last embers" of his strength to help. ". You're sweating like a pig," he gasped, as they grappled their way up the rocks, "so am T. By the Lord,; it'^flne, to. dp a. climb, again." ' ; ..'■ ' .....' :> . "■ Y : ou stay here and get back your wind," said Addingham, when at . last they scrambled. through. the^hole/ which made the entrance, and sprawled on the -floor of the cave. 'Til go down and bring- up. the furniture and grub to fit out this desirable r?3idenca," -;'.'•..' - h: ■. " It -tobk Km-. four": journeys to bring the contents of the mule's pack up the.-rocSs", and when the work was finished night' had fallen, and Tennant was sleeping a calm sleep of exhaustion. The mountain 'air was cool and sweet, and fresh, and sightly tinged -. with ' ; salt. - from tue South-East Trade;- a great globe. 'of moon hung above thenv valley," 'lighting the lava cliffs and the harsh cinders in stern black and white ; and behind him, 'in the' ramifications of the cave, Addingham fancied he could hear the ghosts of goatskin-clad ' mummies, passing the news -.in whispers ' concerning these strange men of non-Giunche race who had arrived out of space to visit them. "' ; '•""Men have been born .in these caves," Addingham /mused, "arid have ; lived here all their- days, and .have' died here, and have -been buried in the caves beyond, where • their dust and parchment still .remain ; and presently I suppose' another man will die where those others' hav|e "died before him. For me it will be to look- on, and watch helplessly while he coughs Edmself into the next world. ' We're friends," I know, and I suppose it's .my duty to. stay-.on and watch, and help, but ~" ;.H& brbke off in his definite musing, and "'shuddered' at a vague horror of thought. The caves-arid the valley were -lonely beyond "woras, and the idea of has isolation,' and bf.^the mati dying by inches close by, shook him arid unstrung his nerves'.' "I suppose it was a foolish thing to do after what 'poor old Tennant told me, and after what he's done himself, hut I'm glad I wrote /that letter to the girl. Bah !: what a miserable coward a man can -he when he's got a bad sickness •to . nurse! '^ ." . ' ' " ''.. Addipghain^Qke with' the first of.... the d^Mii. and. .saw^thit .the *sjck,man was 'still waxai and sleeping. 1 He lit a candle,' und rambled AWay.iiito.the.idark, of *he i caves, ret»rnir^g presently stone measure-full pf.grain and aprhnitive.quem, also-of stoDe. by pinch f Vover a spirit stove; and then, after sprinkling it with salt, ground it in the 'quern.- Then he kneaded it with, water into a dough, arid prepared to make his breakfast. ' Tennant woke and saw him. " What's that stuff you've got there ? " he asked. ' "Gofio. All the country people in the Canaries eat it, and for a change I like <t myself." - "I didn't know you'd Drought up any corn. 'with you on the mule." "I didn't. This was stored up by the last tenant of these caves a. thousand years ago, in a stone, rat-proof chest, which Fir show you directly if you .like. The original storer ' doesn't wanf.it now, and as the stuff's ,is good. to-day as it -was the hour- it, was put there, -.l'm robbing him. I didn't expect you were going to wake yet. , However, I'll set to, and make your, breakfast now. > Have a nip of cod-liver oil, just as an appetiset^ '. ... "Hang the cod-liver oil; !- Give ma some of that gofio stuff-. ■"■-'•'" --■■'. .■•'■.■.-.•'"■ •/'■'•■' ■ Addingham looked doubtful. •" It's hardly, grub' a- man would care for if lie feels'a I'it chippy. v v - ; " : : :■ ■.-■■■■•.■'■ •■Respect an invalid ? s' whims'" stiia Tehnarity sitting .upland stretching I ' but a hand. ■" Surrender your' breakfast, my dear boy, and make yourself some more. I'm as hungry as a wolf. No, hang coffee too. If we're going to play at being Guanches let's do the thing thoroughly and drink water. It won't be typhoidy up here." : He ate his meal with appetite. 'M don't wonder at this gofio being the principal food that's, eaten in the Canaries without break for Lord knows how many thousand years. It's fine ; especially if you're hungry. I say, Mr Caterer, you've a small notion of one's capacity. Look here, show me. how, and let me help cook some more. : I'm- feeling, frightfully energetic -just now;" .■;> • • 'Now, it is' no place- here to give a diary of the existence of those" two'' meni the sick snd the sound;' iri thßse^^Gtianch^- caves' in ■■■ tfie"' 'ccifcrei :of-^Ke;ia« T 'p|SGra^^:paiiary..

IT hf y hve-i on the sl-ores they had brought up.; on banana bunches and other fruits, which Addingham raided, under cover of night, from plantations on the lower ground ; or occasional chickens, which probably on the hoard of grain stored up by that forgotten «lva.g&:;in; r the rat-^rp^ 6pffer : in cr,e of-tlio -inrer cajves,,,. Some days-. Tennant .\va.3 '.'worse,' "'arid' <iotin£&d up with ' calm CTnici? m f lis .inroads which were baipg. made into his' allotted ij,ye.moatpis and a 'half.;-' and some . days' lie ■■: w.ss . better, ,". and talked . of swindling the doctors and, upset.ting, current wagars,'. Ard i;s'jtJnie .werii on the percentage of the hopiful'days''increased, as Addirigham's strained mind was quick to notice! . Of th2. Spanish- American war and i ts.. defeats, a-cd successes they heard no word ; but from one sign, and '."another . Addingham learned that the Canaries were still excited, and ■ Ihat .'.they must, continue to live en Guanche if, Tennant- was to be. safe from the knife of. the injured, t&irtaoa drivei\ Adding.ham had also another thing which weighed on his mind, .and. that was, the letter t be had written, on- ths .day of their flight from Las Palmas. '. ..Until' it. could Englarid, and bp answered in . Jpe"i;sori, he . was' ■merely tooubled" in , spirit; . arid took no' ofjier'mo've ; but when that, time h^ad, elapsed," he niade.his nightly; raids Jthe.excuse*fp'r ."calling at a Rendezvous .which he had! named. inTthV let.ter,- hut 'srery.. night found ii> cold arid " on- . visited. : " ' The Weeks grew on into a month, the month into several months, and still there was no news at the rendezvous. Tepnant was. quite confident now of outliving his ccu?ih. with the Bright's disease, afod at times suggested that he . would " have to Le shot when his date arrived, so as to keep up the 'doctor's reputation for accuracy." .He developed a large interest in the bygone ; Guanche race and their doings, aud ate gofio made from prehistoric wheat with an appeite that was frequently woolfish. Day by . day .Addirigham, watched him with wonderment ar(d ; growirig satisfaction. ' But at last' there came the event which Addingham had' ripw begun to dread. He wept . out one midnight, as; usual to the rendezvous, and' from' that lfioihent Tenfjant didinot'see.hiiri at the _Guariche"6ave again. . Jnstead /ffie're.' caiae, with" tlie first ' rays '-■ of : mornihgi' a. woman; who crawled'in through the tiny entra.Tioe-way of the cave, ' and threw herself upon Him, and woke him wih her kisses. ' He. got up,, kissed her once, and then thrust her 'from him. " Oh, go," he said, "go! 'It's hard enough to die without having' ymi here; That brute Addingham 'mur-b'have 'written to you. I'll never forgiyo hiinvfbr this." ' • -'■-.. "I was 'travelling in. India," she said, "arid his letter followed after me. - That is why I. was so long in ■■• coining to you my dear. What a fool -I was not to see through your, dear old ..stupid ruse before!!' ■ ■' i ■■\ ■■.•.- \. : ..-..-,. Tennant gave a whimsical laugh. ■ " That scandal with— er-r-that other woman? Oh, T chucked you and cared for her .just ; then. I'm very changeable." . ... ■ . v Sho' -lifted hia amis . and. tucked them round '.her- neck and looked him jn the. eyes.' "Are you?" said she. ".Y,ou, don't seeni to have changed your way- of looking at me.." • . . ■ : ■. ■'Man can't help his unfortunate personal appearance." He took his arms resqlute'o from her neck, and deliberately inoyed awa,y from her to the opposite side, of the oave. " Maryi" he said, "I found out I' was in a galloping consumption, and ;ts I. knew youjd have some silly notion that you ought to sj^icfc to_ nic, I just used niy brilliant head. to. invent a, definite order for yp.ii to clear out. .' It was luck .on Mrs—^^er-^-----'the other woman, of course ; but she doesn't deserve much consideration, anyway." • "My darling,'- she said, "L would rather be, .your widow than the wife of any other man. in all. the world. But lam going to be your wife,., and- remain your wife. You are not going to die. ..Addingliam told'^me you had. been very ill; but he said you were -marvellously better. He said it was the mountain air or something, and that. he was convinced that the consumption had stopped; Jrly;: sweetheart, you sha.!l not die. Listen to. : me :..I -tellyou you shall not. You shall live. on/ X. must have you."' ', ;• i.-Some'Ono fpom outside the' 'caye' whistled che3rfuUy,'and the noise" came "'of ' shoes slipping "over 1 rock, and ths' panting of a man's breatAV' Presently the man himsslf crawle'd'in'througK the narrow opening, and satpumiig and mopping his forehead cii the floor, ': r . . ..... ;." HullojL' Doc," s.^jd Tennant,. " didn't expeCti '^ visit ■from" you . tlus_ ; m6rning. /Have ibhe,' > .Am^ri.cans. .taken .the ■ island,, and have they tariffed you out of your, practice ■? " "The . Americans are all- right at their own fireside, writing puffs of themselves in the newspapers, and the island's simmered down. :into:j.ite usual doze, again. "I 'say, you're a pretty sort of 'fraud, niakirig me out a' liar tike this"! 'Here, let me look at you'and- see how t-liat lunges going on." The ' girl watched, -holding her breath. The doctor went through his examination with- careful system. " Well," she whispered when he'nad finished, " is it consumption'?" ; : • " It's' a marvel. He was as clear a case of phtHisis as ever. I saw when, he landed, and, batween ourselves, I didn't give him long" to live,, though of course' I. didn't breathe.a word, of that .to anybody." " Yes, you .did," said Tennant, with a grim chuckle; "you said five months and eighteen days was the exact length of my tstber.-'-'' ■• • - : 5 ■• ■ ■ "'• ' -' "I said, nothing, of the kind : it would have bren most unprofessional. The beggars invented it; -But, anyway,. young man, your disecsa is stopped, and you "can mtike one most of that. - How it's been' done, the Lord above knows test'; It may be the air up here, or the water, or some hidden virtue ; n the cxve, or", that diet of :,- mummy- wheat gofib- whicii Addingham tells me. you're so keen onl. I dori't kno\v what^ it is. I wish I did. If I'd the ghost" of a notion Td write a ielter ■ abput yjra.'.to the.. "Lancet," . "and claim! to have found'anfew consuniptiori.cute, and become.. famous. 1 ' ... '. >.'■..'..:■ , ''Tb'e.n. do yoi4. j; w;arrarit! me sound ?" asked Tennarit,,,with almost a tremble m.tiis voice;", v.... -c,;-.:,,-^; ...>.■■■-.•-"• -■-„'■ '...■■ •-. .■-. . ■>' .".You're.marvellously.^yes, miraculously better than you were when I saw you ■ last, but ; you'll do with a bit more coddling before you Yleave the island, ard after that you can go Home, and know yourself to be as sound a man as ' there is in England." " Ami to go dowa to Las Palmas again, then?" . ' ' "We-11, I 'don't personally admire your carriage entrance here — in fact, I'm not built for these sort of gymnastics ; but as the. neighbourhood seems to suit you so finely, I'd stay on a bit longer if I were you and complete the cure. Of course,' you've lost your mate, I know. . He told me just now he daren't come back, because he was afraid you'd shoot him on sight for what he'd done." . \ „».. ; "I fancy I'd let him off." "I thhik he could be replaced," said tiie girl, with a blush. "The guide-book said there was an English chaplain on the island." •'■• ; .::'"■:::'.'••■ '■■■ : " Of course there is," 1 said the: doctor; still mopping with liis handkerchief. -.-IThink we're- heathens arid savages?. 5 Myydear, you shall come home again with me to-night, and to-monrow we'rll bringiupthe padraand '. fix- yoii -up nice and tight." He nodded to Tennant. "My man, you needn't look scared. I- know what you think, and I know what's right. -I'll take the responsibility for this, and I don't make a mistake a second time. : But there's one thing I want to impress upon you. -When you do sat up your new manage up here, buy your bammas and .'chickens openly, and pay- for them in hard pesetas. They say thei'i's a chicken thief somewhere in this neighbourhood, and the farmers are b:^ . n.y „ to lay traps for him." '.;-. :. . * "I've done -with disreputabieness," said Tennant gaily. "We'll be the' most respectable- pair' of cave dwellers in Grand Canary. By the way,. Mary, I'm a bit behindhand with • news^' — axe "you going t-p be a countess to-molrow-? I . " A countess? I don't undersfeuid; Oh, ■•«6s/Al-">'B«^wii^- >^.yon'i; i -.mßa^^.' i -;--!'A4d-''sh6 Jjsughed; ">"■ No', vtb^^oc^s^madeiaiM*her

mistake there, and that cousin of yours hasn't got Blight's disease at all. He'll probably live on for years, and you're as poor as" a rat, dear. If you hadn't ..been," said she, cocking her chin afr ;ihim*£< ":t .: shouldn't; have <beery ttrazen. enough .Mponie: ■ here for you."' '" '"" '" "' \ -.■._■—-. "'Don't believe you,-, said lennant.checr- ' fully. "I say, old lady* what- frauds these ' doctors aye !.',':.. ■■;.-. .-. •.:,:..■•■ 1 ."J haven't made a mistake. .about you this . second time, .-anyway.," said the Las Palmas • doctor as he fanned himself with his hat. ■ "I can .tell you I look upon you with reniarkarble pride, and gratification. Why, man, think what .an .advertisement you'll. ' be for Grand Canary ! In a month's time you'll be having a syndicate coming to the gave here, asking what your terms are for an exhibition as Strong Man in the London music halls.". ;■-,•.- ■■ - "All right," said Tennant: "anything, so long as you've brought me to life again." The girl'linked her fingers over his arm, arid looked up wistfully into Ins worn face, arid murmured, . " Life ! Isn't it wonderful, wonderful?" • ■•■.•■ -