OCTOBER 265 



fresh meal could be prepared at any time. 

 We had still to visit the house across the 

 river. Nothing less would satisfy him. 

 While we were resting John and I had 

 given an account of what had happened 

 in the early stage of the evening. That 

 is to say, I had told the tale, and John 

 had given evidence in corroboration. 

 Bismarck, incredulous at the outset, was 

 sufficiently impressed to desire acquaint- 

 ance with Peter. 



John protested. The boat, he said, 

 besides bein' vera sma', was auld and 

 rotten ; so were the oars, which were no' 

 even o' the same size. The boat was 

 never used excep' for minnow-fishin' 

 when the water was fallin' low. To try 

 to cross in sic a dark nicht and wi' the 

 water pretty high would be dangerous. 

 It would be better to wait till the mornin'. 



John did not exaggerate the defects of 

 the boat, which, waterlogged, lay near the 

 foot of the pool ; but his warning was in 

 vain. Bismarck was resolved to probe the 

 mystery without delay. 



