ith such assiduity. After all, I reflected suddenly, it was a
most remarkable thing. I wonder now what Hermann would have said. As it
turned out he didn't let me ask. Forgetting all about Falk apparently,
he started a monologue on his plans for the future: the selling of the
ship, the going home; and falling into a reflective and calculating
mood he mumbled between regular jets of smoke about the expense. The
necessity of disbursing passage money for all his tribe seemed to
disturb him in a manner that was the more striking because otherwise
he gave no signs of a miserly disposition. And yet he fussed over the
prospect of that voyage home in a mail boat like a sedentary grocer
who has made up his mind to see the world. He was racially thrifty I
suppose, and for him there must have been a great novelty in finding
himself obliged to pay for travelling--for sea travelling which was the
normal state of life for the family--from the very cradle for most of
them. I could see he grudged prospectively every single shilling which
must be spent so absurdly. It was rather funny. He would become doleful
over it, and then again, with a fretful sigh, he would suppose there
was nothing for it now but to take three second-class tickets--and there
were the four children to pay for besides. A lot of money that to spend
at once. A big lot of money.

I sat with him listening (not for the first time) to these
heart-searchings till I grew thoroughly sleepy, and then I left him and
turned in on board my ship. At daylight I was awakened by a yelping of
shrill voices, accompanied by a great commotion in the water, and the
short, bullying blasts of a steam-whistle. Falk with his tug had come
for me.

I began to dress. It was remarkable that the answering noise on board my
ship together with the patter of feet above my head ceased suddenly. But
I heard more remote guttural cries which seemed to express surprise and
annoyance. Then the voice of my mate reached me howling expostulations
to somebody at a distance. Other voices joined, apparently indignant;
a chorus of something that sounded like abuse replied. Now and then the
steam-whistle screeched.

Altogether that unnecessary uproar was distracting, but down there in my
cabin I took it calmly. In another moment, I thought, I should be going
down that wretched river, and in another week at the most I should be
totally quit of the odious place and all the odious people in it.

Greatly cheered