Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 3, 2025
The truth of the whole thing then dawned on him. The murderer was in the chimney. "Hartnoll was a creature of impulse. In the excitement of the moment he forgot danger, and the dastardly nature of the crimes gave him more than his usual amount of courage. He rushed at the chimney, and, regardless of soot and darkness, began an impromptu ascent.
A few of the crowd still lingered on the quay's edge, and it has since occurred to me to wonder that, as Hartnoll and I turned and ascended the steps, no violence was offered to us. We had come out to flaunt our small selves in his Majesty's uniform. Here, if ever, was proof of the respect it commanded; and we failed to notice it. Meliar-Ann had disappeared.
We lauded Norfolk and Devon as sporting counties, and somehow it was understood that they respectively owed much of their reputation to the families of Hartnoll and Rodd. Hartnoll even hinted at a love-affair: but here I discouraged him with a frown, which implied that as seamen we saw that weakness in its proper light.
Reading in his face that it was so, I corrected my order, and waved the waiter to the door with creditable self-possession. As soon as he had withdrawn, "My name's Rodd," said I. "What's yours?" "Hartnoll," he said; "from Norfolk."
"Tell you what it is, Rodd," said Hartnoll, pulling up in a by-street and picking his words deliberately, "tell you what accounts for it," he waved a hand at the emptiness surrounding us. "It's the press. Very night for it; and the men all hiding within doors." "Nonsense," said I. "It's a deal likelier to be the Fat Woman or the Two-headed Calf."
"'Begorrah! cried O'Farroll, 'Hartnoll was after the murderer when he was struck, and shure I'll be after him the same way myself. And before anyone could prevent him O'Farroll was up the chimney. Up, up, up, until he found himself going down, down, down; and then bedad he stepped right out on to the floor of Belton's room.
Good-night! and when you tuck yourselves in to bye-low don't forget to dream of your mammies." Bending quickly, she kissed Hartnoll on the cheek, and was in the act to offer me a like salute when I dodged aside, angered by her last words. She broke into a laugh like a chime of bells, made a pretty pout at me with her lips and disappeared into the darkness.
W'y, I'd walk there on my head with my eyes bound!" We stared down at her for it was a small girl, a girl so diminutive that Hartnoll and I, who were not Anaks by any means, topped her by head and shoulders. She wore no shoes, no stockings, no covering for her head. "For a copper apiece, miss, and honour bright!" said the waif. The young actress turned to us with a laugh. "Why not?" she asked.
"I'd give all I possess to get back that dirk," said Hartnoll, and I believe he meant it. "Come along, then," and we plunged yet deeper into the dark bowels of Portsmouth. The child had quite recovered her confidence, and as we went she explained to us quite frankly why her mother would be angry. "But what," I asked, "is the matter with Fareham?" My ignorance staggered her. "What?
The fact is we found the two new midshipmen, Rodd and Hartnoll, in something of a scrape with these people. . . ." The second lieutenant told how he had found me battering at the door, and how he had effected an entrance: but the Captain listened inattentively.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking