An Introduction to a Biology 



light, I listened as intently as I could for the sound I had 

 heard the night before. I had listened for more than an 

 hour, and had already begun to congratulate myself on the 

 fact that a toad could not have escaped after all, when I 

 distinctly heard the croaking noise. I was all attention ; 

 and needed to be, for the creaking of the timbers of the 

 ship and the rattling of the rudder gear was also in my ears. 

 I tried to put myself in the calm, unexcited condition of 

 the scientific observer in order to be quite sure whether I 

 really did hear the sound or whether it was only that I 

 thought I did. And I had not been in this condition of 

 attention for long when I heard the noise so clearly that 

 there was no possibility of doubt that it originated in the 

 cabin. Not only so, but I thought I could hear it under 

 my companion's berth. So that I leant out of my berth to 

 wait for the next sound. And sure enough, when it came there 

 was no question that it came from the quarter of the room 

 where I thought I heard it first. It can readily be imagined 

 that I spent the night in continual fear that the noise would 

 sooner or later awaken my companion ; and in continual 

 elaboration of lies to account for it if it did. However, I 

 resolved to have a thorough search on the morrow, and 

 whether or no I went to sleep finally that night, I do not 

 know. 



On the next day I thoroughly searched the room, turning 

 out all the boxes from under my companion's berth and 

 from under the sort of settee which occupied the other side 

 of the cabin. I looked in all cupboards and possible places 

 of retirement in which the toad might have been hidden. 

 But all in vain. I could not find him. And I was just aban- 

 doning my search when I noticed a place where I had not 

 looked. It was a step, just inside the cabin door ; it was 

 hollow and open at both ends, about two feet in length and 

 about two inches in height and two in breadth. I could 

 not get my hand into this. Nor could I force an entry 

 with a stick so as to drive the fugitive out at the other end, 



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