chap, xxiv MOUNT HEDGEHOG 335 



into the bath. The collection swimming about was decidedly 

 mixed — birds, biscuit-tins, bread, butter, boots, note-books, 

 and onions, jostled each other at every lurch ; while a 

 tumbler of cod-liver oil, which Trevor-Battye had brought 

 as a specific against colds, floated in amber globules on the 

 surface of the water. In fishing the things out I came 

 across my watch, which had already lost its glass during the 

 step-cutting on the previous clay. Its immersion in sea-water 



THE "WINDWARD AND THE 



completely finished it ; nothing would induce it to go 

 another tick. In his book on Africa, Dr. Gregory speaks of 

 the treatment he recommends for watches that refuse to 

 go : he oils them, pats them, and finally sings hymns over 

 them. Mine had been thoroughly soaked in cod-liver oil ; 

 I patted it vigorously ; but, as Dr. Gregory was not present 

 to sing hymns over it, the charm failed to work. After this 

 we barricaded the door with our casks and sacks of coal, 



