the lion and the unicorn-第20章
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fugitive revolutionists of Central America。
He knew； as he sat each evening on his veranda； looking across
the bay； that in the world beyond the pink and gold sunset men
were still panting； struggling； and starving； crises were rising
and passing； strikes and panics； wars and the rumors of
wars； swept from continent to continent； a plague crept through
India； a filibuster with five hundred men at his back crossed an
imaginary line and stirred the world from Cape Town to London；
Emperors were crowned； the good Queen celebrated the longest
reign； and a captain of artillery imprisoned in a swampy island
in the South Atlantic caused two hemispheres to clamor for his
rescue； and lit a race war that stretched from Algiers to the
boulevards。
And yet； at the Windless Isles； all these happenings seemed to
Sir Charles like the morning's memory of a dream。 For these
things never crossed the ring of the coral reefs； he saw them
only as pictures in an illustrated paper a month old。 And he was
pleased to find that this was so。 He was sufficient to himself；
with his own responsibilities and social duties and public works。
He was a man in authority； who said to others； 〃Come！〃 and 〃Go！〃
Under him were commissioners； and under the commissioners
district inspectors and boards of education and of highways。 For
the better health of the colony he had planted trees that
sucked the malaria from the air； for its better morals he had
substituted as a Sunday amusement cricket…matches for cock…
fights； and to keep it at peace he had created a local
constabulary of native negroes； and had dressed them in the cast…
off uniforms of London policemen。 His handiwork was everywhere；
and his interest was all sunk in his handiwork。 The days passed
gorgeous with sunshine； the nights breathed with beauty。 It was
an existence of leisurely occupation； and one that promised no
change； and he was content。
As it was Thursday； the Council met that morning； and some
questions of moment to the colony were to be brought up for
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
