The Ocean Cat's Paw: The Story of a Strange Cruise

  CHAPTER FORTY.

  THE DOCTOR'S CHARGE.

  It was very tempting, and, like most lovers of natural history, thedeeper he plunged into his pursuit, with its wonders upon wonders, themore infatuated Uncle Paul grew. The nephew was quite as bad, though,boy-like, his was more the natural love of novelty than that of science.

  Who among you is there who has not revelled in the thought of somethingnew, the eager desire to see something fresh? The country boy to seevast London with all its greatness and littleness, its splendour and itssqualor, its many cares and too often false joys--the town boy to plungeinto that home of mystery and wonder, the country. And though as a rulethe country boy is disappointed, he of the town, when once he has tastedthe true joys of the country and seen Nature at her best, is neversatiated. But that love of the novel and the fresh is in us all--thedesire for that which in Saint Paul's days the men of Athens longed for:something new.

  Hence then it was no wonder that Rodd, as he paced the schooner's deckand looked across to either side of the river where the primeval forestcommenced, felt the strange longing to go and see, to hunt and find themyriads of fresh things upon which he had never set eyes before--wondersthat might be more than wonderful--dangers which would be exciting,possibly without danger; in short, all the boy's natural love ofadventure was stirring within him--that intense longing to cast awayculture in every shape and to become, if for ever so short a time,something of the natural savage once more; and he was ready to urge onhis uncle to go for just one expedition, only there was a sense of dutyto hold him back.

  And as the time went on, and the brig was rapidly approachingcompletion, Uncle Paul more than once angrily exclaimed to his nephew--

  "Pickle, I wish that abominable Spaniard was on the other side of theworld!"

  "So do I, uncle," cried the boy. "We were getting on as nicely as couldbe, with plenty to interest us, and fresh adventures, and then he comeshere setting us longing to go off into the wilds."

  "Yes, my boy, and if it wasn't for the Count and the sense of duty wefeel towards him? we would be off to-morrow morning."

  "Well, why not go?" said a voice just behind them.

  Rodd and his uncle started round in astonishment, for they were both sointent upon their conversation, as they leaned over the rail talkingtogether, that they had not heard anybody approach, and for a momentthey were utterly speechless as they stood staring at the Count, who hadjust come on board, while Morny was climbing up the side to join him.

  "I--I didn't know you were here," said the doctor confusedly.

  "Why, you asked me to come on board and dine and spend the evening withyou," replied the Count good-humouredly. "Had you forgotten?"

  "Well--well," said the doctor, "I--Really, I'm afraid I had. What--whathave you been about?" he continued, turning angrily upon Rodd. "It's astrange thing, Rodney, that when you know of some engagement that I havemade, and it slips my memory, you never remind me of it."

  "Well, uncle--I--"

  "Well, uncle--you! I remember now well enough. You were there thismorning when I asked the Count and--Ah, Morny, my lad! How are you?Glad you have come.--But, as I was saying, what were you thinkingabout?"

  "Expedition into the forest, uncle," said the boy frankly.

  "Expedition into the forest, sir! Um--ah! Well.--Yes, I'm afraid I wasthinking about it too. I am so sorry, Des Saix. But welcome all thesame, if you will forgive me."

  "Forgive you, yes!" said the Count warmly. "That and a great deal more.But I am very glad that you have so strangely led up to the subjectupon which I wish to talk to you."

  "What, my forgetfulness?"

  "No, no! That expedition into the forest."

  "No, no; don't talk about it. I have thought about it too much, and itworries me."

  "Well, I want to put a stop to its worrying you. Morny here has beentelling me how anxious you both are to go."

  "Morny! Why, what did he know about it? He couldn't tell. Here, you,Rodney, have you been letting your tongue run, sir, exposing all myweaknesses?"

  "No, sir, that he has not," replied the French lad eagerly; "but I havegathered from your remarks, and words that Rodd has more than once letdrop, how anxious you both are to have a run up country and seesomething of what the wilds are like."

  "Oh, fudge! Stuff! Nonsense!" cried the doctor petulantly. "That'squite out of the question."

  "Why?" said the Count.

  "Why?" cried the doctor. "Oh, because it's--that is--er--I feel--"

  "Bound by a sense of imaginary duty," said the Count, smiling. "Youthink it would be unfriendly to me and my son here to leave us in whatyou English people call the lurch; and therefore you are deprivingyourself of what would be a great pleasure as naturalists and hunters inwhich you would indulge if we were not here."

  "My dear Des Saix, I do wish you would not talk about it," cried thedoctor. "There, I confess that if we were alone I should probably takeadvantage of the Spanish captain's knowledge of the country, and go alittle way up with him; but as matters are, with your brig stillunfinished, and so much to do, I consider it would be an act ofdisgraceful selfishness to go away and leave you alone here."

  "Absurd!" said the Count. "You would be going into wilder parts whilewe should be quite at home here, in the nearly finished brig, and haveher in the best of trim by the time you came back."

  "Impossible!" snapped out the doctor. "Nothing of the sort."

  "What do you say, Morny?" continued the Count. "You feel that they areboth eager to go?"

  "Yes, father; and I am sure that Rodd is burning with desire."

  "You don't know anything about it," cried Rodd.

  "Well," said the Count, "ever since we met I have given way, and takenyour advice, doctor, in all things; but we have come to a time now whenI think I have a right to assert myself. Captain Chubb thinks that hewill have finished in two days more. He is certain that he will haveall done, caulked, tarred, and the copper replaced, in three days; so Ihave come to the conclusion that you people, who have been quite slavesin the way of sharing my troubles, thoroughly deserve a holiday. So Iset you free--you too, Morny."

  "Me, father!" cried the lad in astonishment.

  "Yes; I am sure you would enjoy a trip with Rodd as much as he wouldlike you to go with him."

  "Yes, that I should," cried Rodd; "but--"

  "Yes," said Morny gravely; "but--you would not wish me to leave myfather like this. Thank you, my father. I could not go, and I willstay."

  "No, Morny; you will obey my wishes. You have your young life saddenedenough with disappointments, so that when there is an opportunity tokeep one away I call upon you to accompany young Harding here as hiscompanion, and I wish you both a very enjoyable trip."

  "That's very nice of you--very nice indeed," cried the doctor; "but Icannot sanction it. I think we should be doing very wrong if we letthose boys go alone."

  "But they would not go alone. You would have full charge of yournephew."

  "Now, Des Saix!" snorted the doctor.

  "Let me finish," said the Count good-humouredly; "and as a man in whom Iplace full confidence I entrust you with the care of my son. Now,doctor, please, no more excuses. I will not deprive you of thepleasures a naturalist would enjoy in such an excursion. Yourpreparations could be soon made; so send over for the Spaniard to-nightand tell him you will be ready to start at the turn of the tideto-morrow, so that it may bear you up into these unknown regions--unknown to us--and a pleasant trip to you!"

  "No," said the doctor, "I shall certainly not think of trustingourselves to that man and his crew."

  "There I agree with you," said the Count; "with a good crew of your owntrusted men."

  "And if he could be spared," cried Rodd, "I should like for us to haveJoe Cross."

  "Now, look here," cried Uncle Paul, "this is taking a weak man at hisweakest time. Really, Count, we ought not to go. Look at what yourposition would be in case anything should happen."
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  "Nothing is likely to happen," said the Count, "and if it did, though mybrig is still helpless I should have your vessel, with about half yourcrew, and my own. So now not another word."

  "There," said the doctor, "I am afraid I am beaten."