HICKL1NG DISTRICT 197 



Callous though it may seem, I was unable to repress my 

 mirth, and, indeed, there was some excuse for me as it was one 

 of the most comical spectacles that the human brain can imagine. 



The climax was reached when I assisted my wounded 

 skipper on board and into the cabin, and when he realised 

 the fact that the puppy (number seven), either from fear, 

 or urgent necessity, had converted his best slippers into a 

 temporary night convenience. 



Much as he loved his dogs, he was bound to admit that to 

 form a kennel on board a small houseboat was a mistake ; 

 there was a place for everything, and everything should be in 

 its place, which rule especially applied to the whisky bottle. 

 Muttering anathemas against the so-called joys of living, he 

 reached out an unsteady hand to grasp it, and soon his woes 

 were forgotten in the delirium of an over-heated brain. 



Two hours later we carried him to his berth, raving at 

 imaginary snakes and scorpions crawling everywhere, at dogs 

 which mocked him with fiery eyes and lolling tongues and 

 refused to touch the rats which he believed were sucking his 

 very heart's blood from him. 

 ******** 



I will draw a veil over the scene that followed, it was 

 an awful night, one not likely to . be forgotten for the re- 

 mainder of my life. 



