 get rid of a simple annoyance-a small worry. Would he now?"

"Well, no," I conceded, restraining a desire to laugh at that something mysteriously earnest in delivering the conclusions of his wisdom as though it were the product of prohibited operations. "But that fellow looks as if he were rather crazy. He must be."

"As to that, I believe everybody in the world is a little mad," he announced quietly.

"You make no exceptions?" I inquired, just to hear his manner.

"Why! Kent says that even of you."

"Does he?" I retorted, extremely embittered all at once against my former captain. "There's nothing of that in the written character from him which I've got in my pocket. Has he given you any instances of my lunacy?"

Captain Giles explained in a conciliating tone that it had been only a friendly remark in reference to my abrupt leaving the ship for no apparent reason.

I muttered grumpily: "Oh! leaving his ship," and mended my pace. He kept up by my side in the deep gloom of the avenue as if it were his conscientious duty to see me out of the colony as an undesirable character. He panted a little, which was rather pathetic in a way. But I was not moved. On the contrary. His discomfort gave me a sort of malicious pleasure.

Presently I relented, slowed down, and said:

"What I really wanted was to get a fresh grip. I felt it was time. Is that so very mad?"

He made no answer. We were issuing from the avenue. On the bridge over the canal a dark, irresolute figure seemed to be awaiting something or somebody.

It was a Malay policeman, barefooted, in his blue uniform. The silver band on his little round cap shone dimly in the light of the street lamp. He peered in our direction timidly.

Before we could come up to him he turned about and walked in front of us in the direction of the jetty. The distance was some hundred yards; and then I found my coolies squatting on their heels. They had kept the pole on their shoulders, and all my worldly goods, still tied to the pole, were resting on the ground between them. As far as the eye could reach along the quay there was not another soul abroad except the police peon,
get rid of a simple annoyance - a small worry. Would he nowadays? " 

 " Well, no, " I concede, restraining a desire to laugh at that something mysteriously earnest in deliver the conclusions of his wisdom as though it were the intersection of forbid operations. " But that fellow looks as if he were rather crazy. He must be. " 

 " As to that, I think everybody in the world is a little mad, " he announced softly. 

 " You make no exceptions? " I inquired, just to hear his manner. 

 " Why! Kent say that even of you. " 

 " Does he? " I retorted, extremely embittered wholly at once against my former captain. " There's nothing of that in the write quality from him which I've got in my pouch. Has he given you any instances of my lunacy? " 

 Captain Giles excuse in a conciliating tone that it had been only a friendly remark in reference to my abrupt leaving the ship for no apparent reason. 

 I muttered grumpily: " Oh! leaving his ship, " and mended my pace. He kept up by my side in the deep gloom of the avenue as if it were his conscientious duty to see me out of the colony as an undesirable character. He panted a small, which was rather pathetic in a room. But I was not move. On the contrary. His discomfort gave me a sort of malicious joy. 

 Presently I yield, slowed down, and said: 

 " What I really want was to get a fresh grip. I felt it was fourth dimension. Is that so very mad? " 

 He made no answer. We were issue from the avenue. On the bridge over the duct a blue, irresolute figure seemed to be awaiting something or somebody. 

 It was a Malay policeman, barefooted, in his blue uniform. The argent band on his little round ceiling shone dimly in the light of the street lamp. He peered in our commission timidly. 

 Before we could occur up to him he turned about and walked in battlefront of us in the direction of the breakwater. The distance was some hundred yards; and then I found my coolies squatting on their cad. They had kept the pole on their shoulder, and all my worldly commodity, still tied to the pole, were resting on the ground between them. As far as the eye could reach along the quay there was not another person abroad except the police peon,
 geh rid of a simple annoyakce-a small worry. Would ie now?"

"Wsll, no," I conceded, restraining a desice ti lauth at that something mhsteriouspy earnewt ii delivering the conclusljns kn his xisdom as thougm it were tve product of [ruhnbited operations. "But that fellow lojks as of he were rathet craey. Re mhst be."

"As to that, I believe everybosy in tie world is a lottle mad," he announced quiftly.

"Jou make no exceptlons?" I inquured, hust to hear his manneg.

"Chy! Kent sais that even of you."

"Does he?" I returted, extremely enbihjered all at once against my nprmer waptain. "There's nothinn of vhat in the written chararter from him which Y've got it jy pocket. Has he ticen ymu aty ivwtavcea pf my lujacb?"

Captain Gimes explainwd in a conciliatinb eine that it hzd beeg jnly a friendly remark in reference to ky zbrupt leaving the ship for no apparent reasln.

I muttewed grumpily: "Oh! leaving his ship," and mended my pawe. He yepu mi by ny side in the deep gloom of the avenue as if ie wtre his conscientlous duty to see mr luy of the coloni as an unsesirable characteg. He pagted q little, rhicn was rather pathetic in a qay. But I waf not moved. On the eontrary. His disvomfott gave me a sort of mauicikus pleasurf.

Presentlg I relented, slowdd cofn, and said:

"What I really wwnted was to yet a frdsh brip. I felt it wws time. Is that so very lad?"

He mdde no ansaer. We were issuing from the avxiue. On the brodce mver the canak a dark, irrefolute figure xeemed co be xwaiting skmethinj or somebodr.

It was a Maldi policeman, berefooted, in yis vlue unkworm. The silvet band on his littlw round cap shone vimli jn the light of tht wtreet lamp. He pedreq pn puw direction thmiduy.

Bdgore de could cond up to him he turned abmut znd walked in frony jf us in the dirqction of the jetty. The distanct was vomx hundted yards; and then I found my coomies squahtikg on their hqels. They had ke't the pole on their shoulders, and all mb worldly goods, still jied to the pole, were vesting on tie grotnd betwean them. As far as thw eye could reach along the quay there was nmt anlther soul abroad except the police peon,
get rid of a simple annoyance-a small he "Well, no," conceded, restraining a something earnest in delivering conclusions of his as though it were the product prohibited operations. "But that fellow looks as if he were rather crazy. He be." "As to that, I believe everybody in the world is a little he quietly. make exceptions?" I inquired, just to hear his manner. "Why! Kent says that even of you." "Does I retorted, extremely embittered all at once against former captain. "There's nothing that in the written character him I've got my Has given you any of my lunacy?" Captain Giles explained in a conciliating tone that it had been only a friendly in reference abrupt leaving ship no reason. I muttered leaving his ship," and mended my up by my side in the deep gloom the avenue if it were his conscientious duty see me out of the colony as an character. He panted a little, which was rather pathetic in a way. But I was On the contrary. His gave me a of pleasure. I slowed down, said: "What I really wanted was to get a fresh grip. felt it was time. Is that so very mad?" He answer. were issuing from avenue. On the bridge the a dark, irresolute figure be something was Malay barefooted, in his blue The silver band on his round cap shone dimly street lamp. He peered in our direction timidly. we could come up to him he about and walked in front of us in the direction of the The distance hundred yards; and then I found my coolies on their heels. They kept the pole on their shoulders, and all my goods, tied to pole, were resting the ground between As far as could reach the there soul abroad except the police peon,
 get rid of a simple annoyance-a Small worry. would He nOw?"

"WElL, no," I ConcEded, restraininG A desIre to laugh at that somethIng myStERiouSLy EarneSt in delIVeRINg tHe CoNclUsIOnS of hiS wiSdom as tHough it werE thE pRoduct of prohIBiTed operatiOns. "but that felloW loOks as iF hE weRE rathEr cRazy. HE must bE."

"as to thAt, I believE eVErybodY In the woRLD iS a liTtle mad," he announceD QuIEtly.

"You make no eXceptiOnS?" i iNQUirEd, jUst to hear hIs ManneR.

"why! Kent SAyS THAt eVEn of you."

"Does he?" i retorted, exTRemEly embItTerED all at Once aGaINst My former capTain. "there's notHing of THat in thE Written CharacTer FroM him WHiCh i've GoT In mY PoCkeT. has He given yOu AnY instAnceS OF MY lunAcy?"

captAin GiLes explained iN a cOnciLIatIng toNe thaT it hAd Been oNly a frIendlY rEmark in referencE to mY abrupt leAviNg The ShIp for NO apparEnt ReaSon.

I mutTered grUMpiLy: "oH! LEaVing his ship," and mendEd MY PaCe. He kept Up by my SIdE iN The deep gLoOm oF the AVEnue aS if iT WeRe his conScientIOuS dUty to seE mE out of ThE coLonY as an UNdesIrable CharacteR. He paNTed a little, whicH Was rather pathETiC IN a WAy. BuT I wAs not moved. ON the COntrAry. HIS dIscOMfort Gave mE a SOrT Of malicious pleasure.

prEsentlY I relEnted, slowed doWn, and said:

"WHAT i really wAnteD WaS To get a fresh griP. I felT it was time. iS that so vEry maD?"

He made nO answer. We WERe issuinG frOm tHe aVenUE. on The bridge over THE canAl A dark, irResOlute fiGurE seEmeD to Be Awaiting sOmething Or SoMeBoDy.

IT was a mAlay poliCeMan, BaRefOoted, IN his blUe uniForm. thE sILveR band on HIs LITtle RoUnD cap ShoNe Dimly In thE LigHt of the Street lamP. He PEereD iN oUr direcTion timidly.

BeFoRe we could cOmE up To him hE TUrned aboUt and walked in front of us iN The direCtiOn of tHe jeTty. The disTanCe was sOme HUndred Yards; aNd theN I FouND My cooLIEs SquAtTing on theiR HEelS. They HaD kepT the polE on their shoulders, aND alL my worldly gooDs, sTill TIEd To tHE pOLe, wErE ResTINg on the ground beTween them. AS fAR aS the eye couLD reAcH along tHe quay tHere wAS not anoTher soul aBroad excePt The pOLIce Peon,
 get rid of a simple annoy ance-a sma ll wo rry . W ou ld h e no w?"

"Well, no , " Iconceded, restraininga des ir e  tol au gh at  that s o me t h ing  m ys ter io u sl y ear nes t in de livering t heco nclusions of hi s wisdom a s t hough it wer e t he pro du cto f pro hib itedoperat i ons. " But thatfe l low lo o ks as i f he  wer e rather crazy. H e  m u st be."

"As t o that ,I  b e l iev e e verybody i nthe w o rld isa  l i t t lem ad," he annou nced quietl y .
"You m ak e n o  excep tions ?" I i nquired, ju st t o hear hi s mann e r.

"Wh y ! Kentsays t hat  ev en o f  y ou ."
" D oes he ?"I  re torted,ex tr emely  emb i t t e redall  atonceagainst my fo rme r ca p tai n. "T here' s no th ing o f that  in t he  written charac terfrom himwhi ch  I' ve  goti n my p ock et.  Has he  giveny ouan y i ns tances of my lunac y? " 
C aptain G iles e x pl ai n ed in aco nci liat i n g ton e th a tit had b een on l yafriendl yremark  i n r efe rence to m y abru pt leavi ng th e  ship for no a p parent reason . 
I mu t tere d g rumpily: "O h! l e avin g hi s  s hip , " and  mend ed my pace. He kept up by  m y side  in t he deep gloom  of the av e n u e as ifit w e re his conscienti ous d uty to see me out o f the  colonyas an und e s irable c har act er.  He p an ted a little, w hich  w as rath erpatheti c i n a  wa y.Bu t I was n ot moved .On  t he  co ntrar y . His di sc omf or t g ave m e  a sor t ofmali ci ou s  pl easure. 
P r e sent ly  I  rel ent ed , slo wedd own , and s aid:

"Wh atI  rea ll ywantedwas to get afr esh grip.Ifel t it w a s  time. I s that so very mad?"

H e  made n o a nswer . We  were iss uin g from  th e  avenu e. Onthe b ri dge o ver t h e  c ana la dark, ir r e sol ute f ig ureseemedto be awaiting som e thi ng or somebod y.
Itw a sa M a la y  po li c ema n ,  barefooted, in  his blueun i fo rm. The si l ver  b and onhis lit tle r o und cap  shone di mly in th eligh t ofthe street  lamp. H e peeredi n our di recti ontimidl y. 

B efore  we co u ldcomeup tohi m he t urned  a bout and  walked in front of usin the  dire cti on of the  je t ty.  The dist ance  was somehun dre d yar ds; and t henI  f oun d  my c ooli e s squatti n gont h ei r heels. Th e y had  kept  th e  poleon t heir shoulders, a n d all my world ly g o o ds,  st i ll t ie d to the pole,  we re r esting o nthe groundbetweenth e m. As  far a s theeye cou l d  r e ach al ongthe  quay the rewa s  not an ot he r  soulabro ad  excep t thep olic e peon,
 get_rid of_a simple annoyance-a small_worry. Would_he_now?"

"Well, no,"_I_conceded, restraining a_desire to laugh_at that something mysteriously_earnest in delivering_the_conclusions of his wisdom as though it were the product of prohibited operations. "But_that_fellow looks_as_if_he were rather crazy. He_must be."

"As to that, I_believe everybody_in the world is a little mad," he_announced_quietly.

"You make no_exceptions?" I inquired, just to hear his manner.

"Why! Kent_says that even of you."

"Does he?"_I retorted, extremely_embittered_all_at once against my_former captain. "There's nothing of that_in the written character from him_which I've got in my pocket. Has_he given you any instances of_my lunacy?"

Captain Giles explained in_a conciliating_tone that it had been_only a friendly_remark in_reference to my_abrupt leaving the ship for no_apparent reason.

I muttered_grumpily: "Oh! leaving his ship," and_mended_my pace. He_kept_up_by my_side in the_deep_gloom of_the_avenue as if it were his_conscientious_duty to see me out of the_colony as an undesirable_character._He panted a little,_which was rather pathetic in_a way. But I was not_moved. On_the contrary._His discomfort gave me a sort of malicious pleasure.

Presently I relented,_slowed down, and said:

"What I really_wanted was to get_a fresh_grip._I felt it_was_time. Is_that so very mad?"

He made no answer._We were_issuing from the avenue. On the_bridge over the canal_a_dark, irresolute figure seemed to be_awaiting something or somebody.

It was a_Malay policeman, barefooted, in his_blue_uniform._The silver band on his_little round cap shone dimly in_the light of_the street lamp. He peered in our_direction_timidly.

Before we could come up to_him_he turned about and walked in_front_of_us in the direction of_the jetty. The distance was some_hundred yards; and then I found my coolies squatting_on their heels._They had kept the pole_on_their_shoulders, and all my worldly goods, still tied to the_pole, were_resting on the_ground between them. As far as the eye could reach_along the quay there was not another_soul abroad except the police peon,