Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 31, 2025
Rodd went at once, and did not stir again, till an extra loud crackling of burning wood made him start up in wonder and alarm. But it was only the morning watch, in the persons of Joe Cross and the appointed cook, making up the fire afresh in view of what Joe called boiling the billy and to give the cook some good broiling embers, for it was the break of day once more.
But do you think it was good treatment to keep us shut up there as prisoners on that dreary moor?" "Let's see," said Rodd; "Dartmoor all amongst the streams and tors, as they call them?" "Yes; a great granite desert." "Oh, but it was very jolly there," said Rodd. "I don't know what you mean by jolly," said Morny contemptuously. "Why, they didn't keep you shut up.
It was growing pretty dark, and after making two mistakes as to their direction, Rodd declared that he knew the way, and his uncle yielding to his opinion, the boy led on, till, turning a corner sharply, they almost came in contact with a couple of French officers walking in the opposite direction, the one a tall, stern, elderly-looking man, talking in a low excited tone to his young companion, whose attention was so much taken up as he deferentially listened to his elder, that he started back to avoid striking against Rodd, who also gave way.
But the time passed very pleasantly for Rodd and his uncle, for they took their stations on board the anchored schooner, firing at every crocodile that showed itself, the presence of the men at work upon the muddy exposed shore proving an irresistible attraction during the first part of the time.
As soon as Rodd had hurried on deck he found all as his companion had described, while he had just mastered these facts when there was the sharp report of a gun. "What's that?" he cried. "Oh, only your uncle having a shot at a crocodile. Both he and my father have been at it all day, sending bullets into them whenever a head appeared on the surface of the water."
"You see, sir," he said, "I have been thinking that I could get us back to our last camping-place; I mean, before we came here." "Well, that's what we all thought before, Joe," cried Rodd pettishly. "Wait, Rodney, my boy, and let Cross finish," said the doctor. "I've about done, sir," said the man. "What Mr Rodd says is quite true, but he aren't quite got what I mean.
"So'm I," said the visitor, staring hard at Rodd, beginning with the crown of his head and then looking him slowly down where he sat till he reached the carpet by Rodd's right foot, and then making his eyes cross over, he began at the toe of the boy's left foot and slowly looked him up to where he had started at the top of the boy's forehead, where a tickling sensation had commenced, consequent upon the starting out of a faint dew of perspiration.
Just as if old England or the British Isles weren't quite as beautiful! Only we don't go shouting about it everywhere. I say, Morny, you don't half believe in me." "It is false!" cried the young Frenchman angrily. "Why, I believe in you more than in any one living except my father." "Oh, indeed!" cried Rodd banteringly.
"Where have you sailed?" asked the doctor. "Everywhere." "Ah! Then you have had plenty of experience." The visitor nodded, and the doctor was going to speak again, but the visitor interposed with a sidewise nod in the direction of Rodd, and said "Your boy?" "Well, yes, in a way," replied the doctor. The captain grunted. "Boys always are," he said, and Rodd turned upon him angrily.
They had hardly finished preparations before the voices that had come before in murmurs from the cabin were heard ascending to the deck, and the Count cried out of the darkness "Are you ready there, Morny, my son?" "Yes, my father," replied the lad, and Rodd walked with him to the side.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking