The Marriage of Esther

ains about twenty men, in various stages of undress; an atmosphere like the furnace doors of Sheol; two tatterdemalions lolling,

soul in their favour. Even the barman, upon whose professional affability the most detested might, during moments of the world's disaffection, rely with some degree of certainty, had not been able to bring himself to treat them otherwise than with the most studied coldness. This fact was

on, exceedingly harmonious. His eyes were of an almost greeny shade of blue, and his hair, brown like his moustache, fell back off his forehead in graceful curls, as if the better to accentuate the fact that his ears were small and flat, and, what is uncommon in those organs, packed in close to his head. On the other hand, however, his costume, judged even by Thursday Island standards, was not so satisfactory. It consisted of a pair of much worn moleskin trousers, a patched shirt o

r of use in checking the friction. As a result, two ominous holes were assisting still further in the business of disintegration going on all over his raiment. It was peculiar also, that in spite of the workmanship once bestowed upon his threadbare coat, the hump between his abnormally broad shoulder-blades gave his head an appearance of being always craned forward in search of something, which notion of inquisitiveness was not lessened by the pinched sharpness of his face. Indeed, it might almost be said that his features backed up the impression thus given, and hinted that he was one of that peculiar class of perso

lace, and it is probable that, had their behaviour not been such as to excite remark, their presence would have passed unnoticed. But, as I have already said, the smaller of the pair was unfortunately under the influence of liquor; and, as if to be in harmony with his own distorted outline, it was a curious form that his inebriation took. Had the observer chanced upon him casually, he would, in nine cases out of

estigation of the company he keeps. To think that I should fall as low as this spawn!" Here he looked rou

of his fighting powers as Paddy the Lasher, rol

th you, but if our company aint good enough for the likes of you and y

emarked somewhat inconsequently to the mot

heart that's

fraud o

ortune ki

ome cause

ke a log. In an instant the whole bar was alive; men rose from their seats inside, and more poured into the room from the benches outside. There was e

igure up and placed him in a corner. Then, without the slightest sign of emotion, rolling up his ta

lood for that blow," he said, as calmly as i

Well, all things considered, I don't know as h

wonderful, their effulgence being reflected in the coal-black waters of the bay until it had all the appearance of an ebony floor powdered with finest gold-dust. Not a voice

rse for the liquor they had absorbed, in perfect condition. The fight promised to be a more than usually excitin

se of one eye and a thumb, and was mopping a cut on his left ear with a handkerchief borrowed from his old enemy the barman. E

he had set about avenging it, and the final satisfactory result had worked wonders with the on-lookers. He could have been drunk twice over without cost to himself, had he complied with the flattering requests made to him. Even the barman invited him to name his favourite beverage. But he would accept nothing. Hardly replying to the c

nd very hard to keep when found; but almost without attention, certainly without interest, they plodded on. Only when they had left the last house behind them and h

consciousness, and then, also with a sigh, sat down a few yards away from his companion. Still neither spoke, and after a little while Murkard fell asleep. In the same pos

seemed unconscious of the passage of time, unconscious of what was going on around him, of everything but the acute and lasting pain and horror of his degradation. The effect of the liquor he had drunk was fast clearing off his brain, showing

imilar position, he had discovered that it was one thing to commit acts which he knew to be degrading, and quite another to be saddled with the continual remembrance of them. Jean Paul argues that "remembrance is the only Paradise from which we cannot be driven"; Ellison would have described it as "the only hell from which there is no escape." Moreover, he was the possessor of one besetting sin,

earnestly desired employment, but try how he would he could discover none; when he did find it the desire to work had left him. His few friends, tried past endurance, having lost what little faith they had ever had in him, now turned their backs upon him in despair. So, from being an ordinary decayed gentleman, he had degenerated into a dead-beat beach-comber of the most despised description. And the difference is even greater than the lay mind would at first suppose. By the time he had come down to sleeping in tanks on wharves, and thinking himself lucky to get one to himself; to existing on cabmen's broken victuals, and prowling round dust-bins for a meal, he had brought himself to understand many and curious t

re he could just discern some tall reeds growing against the sky. Pulling an armful he returned to the spot, and, having made them into a pillow, placed them beneath the sleeper's head. Then, leaving the little plateau, he descended to the shore and commenced a vigorous sentry-go that lasted until dawn. The effect of the liquor he had drunk that evening had now quite departed from him, leaving his brain, so it seemed to him, clearer than it had been for months past. As a result of that clearness, the argument upon which he had been engaging himself before wheeled back upon him. Th

-bird fled her tree with a mocking farewell; even the wind sighed through the long grass with a note of sadness he had not before discerned in it. Distant though he was from it, some eighty yards, he could make out Murkard's recumbent figure, huddled up exactly as he had left it

same heavy sleep, so he did not wake him, but sat down and looked about him. The sea below was pearly in its smoothness, the neighbouring islands seemed to have come closer in this awesom

his companion steadily for half a minute, and then sat up. Their lo

uce are we d

you why. You were most uncommonly drunk last nigh

ny rate I feel most uncommonly ba

a man; he hit

ult-

! And

H

ken

st debt of the kind I owe you. At the sa

yourself t

ly a friend. And now, mon ami, what are we going to do next? I have a sort of haz

insult nine-tenths of the popul

chool education, you know. But to return to

on gets up I'm going

ch of br

arch of em

erday not to have noticed this change coming o

I want to save myself while there's time; because I want to be able to look t

d the village blacksmith. Hadn'

he whole worl

wed not

y foolish reasoning. What possible desire can a man of your training have to look the world in the face? What will you see when you do look there? Only inquiries into your past, a d

tend to try to fin

f I am a good worker, but I am at liberty to accept any remunerative post within your gift, Chancellorship of one

se; you won't alter my determinati

me still in waiting when

-morn

deavour to induce one of your confiding subjects to lend the Imperial kitchen a litt

-morn

-morn

If he failed this time it should not be imputed against him as his own fault. He at least was eager, and if society did not give him the wherewithal upon which to spend his energy, then it must be set against his score

store he descried the bulky figure of the proprietor upon the jetty, superintending the unloading of s

raising his tattered cabbage-tree

rned and looked

ainly my name. Wha

loyment. I thought per

your face, somehow. You ar

hman. I don't want to whine, but I might

you had been making rou

I have not eaten a mouthful since I l

nt of an experienced hand to

d, but I dare say

teaching you. It's a pity, but that's the only way I can help you

rning sunlight sparkled on its milled edge. For a moment

ork, not for chari

oolish. Go

had gone a hundred yards a thought struck him. He turned aga

acted like a cad. It will go hard with me if I lose my mann

, on one c

is t

t me make the amo

us, but I cannot acc

lk down the beach. Hong Kong Joe was in his boat-building yard, laying th

of work. Have yo

face, ran his eye round the tattered shirt, and arrived at the molesk

I want one, I can get my pick of fighting-men i

u don't

thank

inding any employment, I suppose?

sterday he wanted a steady, respectable chap, so you

banged in one's face, but when it is done by a Chinaman the insult is double-edged. Ellison, however, meekly pocketed the affront and continued his walk. He tried two or three other places, with the same result-nobody wanted him. Those who might have given him work were dissuaded by the bruises; while those who had

ll and assisting boat-builders would have been as nothing. He had refused them because he did not want to work. It was the revenge of Fate that now he had resolved to turn over a new leaf he could hear of nothing. As this thought entered his brain he looked down at the transparent green water rising and falling round the copper-sheathed piles of the pier, and a fit of desperation came over him. Was it any use living? Life had evidently nothing to offer him now in exchange for what hi

ermost. He looked at the mail-boat and then at the shore. Not a soul was to be seen. Another five minutes would decide it all for him. Minute after minute went by; the boat steamed closer to the hulk. He could see the hands forrard on the fo'c'sle-head ready to let go the anchor, he could even make out the thin column of steam issuing from the escape-pipe in the cable range. Another minute, or at most two, would settle everything. And yet there was no si

he did so he almost shouted with surprise, for there, on the outer edge, hidden from his line of sight where he had stood before, lay a little Kanaka boy about ten years of age fast asleep. He had been there all the time. Ellison's luck had trium

the side of the island he had first come from. The sun was very warm, the path a rough one, and by the time he reached it his bare feet had had about enough of it. He found Murkard sitting in the same spot

ack. Well, do you know, I felt convinced

ng. I was offered a shillin

So you have e

it. I wanted wo

s in better days I might have done the same. Under present circumsta

acted differe

for laughing at you this m

put that in your head? Why should I be a

ever so easily put out of temper as when we're proved to be in the w

s hillside forever. And, as far as I can see, we stand a

nd Brisbane; Rockhampton turned us out, Townsville and Cooktown proved as bad. Now Thursday Island turns its back on us. There's something rotten in the state of

o you p

habit of mine. As I think best when I'm hungry, I become a perfe

of Wales. Wh

e roof looking out from among the trees. You see it? Very good! It belongs to an old man, McCa

usiness right off. If the bos

it in this way. As near as I can calculate it is half a mile across the strait, so we swim it. I am nearly drowned, you save my life. You leave me on the beach, and go up to the house for

e you think all that humb

l enough don

so much deception is playing it

sn't succeed. It's our last chance, remember. We must do

like acti

Last night, before I grew too drunk to chronicle passing events, I heard you tell one of the most deliberate, co

ight to talk t

forgive me; don't let us quarrel on the eve of an enterpris

nt on it, of cour

rim just now. I have also heard that sharks are numerous. I pity the shark that gets my legs; my

iberately lied, without hope of gain to himself, or even without any desire of helping himself. He had represented himself to be something he was not, for no earthly reason that he could account for save a craving for exciting interest and sympathy. It was his one sin, his one blemish, this fatal trick of lying, and he could not break himself of it, try how he would. And yet, as I have already insisted, weak as he was in thi

believe me, I meant no harm by it. I suppose every man has his one little failing-God knows, I'

distasteful to m

of Hero and Leander! I don't suppose there can be mu

st masters in the art; but it was a long struggle, and they soon discovered that there was a stiff current s

. Without a moment's hesitation he swam back to the spot, reaching it just as the other was disappearing for the third and last time. With a strength born of despair he clutched him by the hair and raised his head

ermost. When he touched the beach on the opposite side, it was as much as he could do to carry the unfortunate body up o