Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 20, 2025
There had been some terrible loss, but whether the loss were in Oscar or in the book, Oscar could not tell. He stood there unable to speak, and almost to think. 'It is just as I knew it was, said Kanker, throwing down the book. 'Another of your absurd hallucinations. You dream about things until you think they are real.
He held a sun-umbrella over his head, a small book in one pocket, and a roll of measuring tape in the other. Nevertheless, Kanker seemed to know so much, and to be so positive about what he knew, that Oscar could not help thinking he must be an important person; not the sort of person to be contradicted, especially by a person who knew so little as Oscar did.
Kanker had laid the book across two stones, and had gathered some bits of driftwood from the shore for kindlings to put underneath. Now he struck a match, and held it to the kindlings. But at that there was a sudden and mighty sound, like thunder, and also like a great voice speaking some solemn and awful word.
A voice, that seemed to speak not to his ears, but within him, bid him pause. Did he care so much for this Kanker, with his flat face and his great red hands, as to betray the secret which his mother had confided to him? Oscar hesitated. 'Ha! I knew you were lying! said Kanker, with his disagreeable laugh. 'You shall see that I am not! retorted Oscar, becoming angrier than ever.
They waited a moment. There was no movement in the great pearl shell, and Theeda did not appear. 'Come! there's enough of this nonsense! Kanker exclaimed. 'You may as well make up your mind at once to being my servant. 'Not yet! said Oscar, scornfully, and he called in a louder voice, 'Come out, Theeda! Come out I want you! The shell stirred slightly, but still Theeda did not appear.
Now Oscar knew that the mystic words which undid the clasp were a secret which he had no right to disclose. But he wanted so much to show Kanker the inside of the book, and make him acknowledge that he was wrong, that everything else seemed of little account in comparison. He took the book from Kanker's hands. As he did so, a strange feeling came over him.
You give me your book, and I'll give you mine. 'What is your book? Oscar asked. 'An arithmetic, to be sure! replied Kanker, pulling it out of his pocket. 'See, here is the multiplication table. And here are addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. And here are vulgar fractions. And here are examples. And here is the Rule of Three. That's what I call a book worth having.
'Oh, she has gone into her shell; it is late she must be asleep by this time, answered Oscar. 'You must wait until to-morrow. 'That won't do! said Kanker. 'The agreement was for this evening. If you back out, you become my servant. 'It shall be this evening, then, replied Oscar; 'but you will regret it more than I! And stooping over the vase, he called, 'Theeda! Theeda! wake up! come out!
Then he began to repeat the mystic words. But he found it hard to pronounce them, and some of them he could scarcely remember. His teeth chattered as he went on, and his heart beat painfully. But Kanker was watching him askance with his pale spectacled eyes, and Oscar would not stop. At last he had spoken all the words; the clasp flew back; the book opened!
In fact, I'll buy them from you and let the farmer hold them as security." And this, eventually, was done. After much hemming and hawing and consultation with the men in the automobile, Mr. Kanker said he would accept the bonds.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking