Withaheartoffuriousfancies，WhereofIamcommander；
　　Withaburningspearandahorseofair，TothewildernessIwander。
　　WithaknightofghostsandshadowsIsummonedamtotourney——
　　Tenleaguesbeyondthewideworld’send，Methinksitisnojourney——
　　Toma’Bedlam’sSong-
　　’GOOD-BYE，Bess；IpromisedyoufiftyHere’sahundred——allthatIgotformyfurniturefromBeetonThatwillkeepyouinprettyfrocksforsometimeYou’vebeenagoodlittlegirl，allthingsconsidered，butyou’vegivenmeandTorpenhowafairamountoftrouble。’
　　’GiveMrTorpenhowmyloveifyouseehim，won’tyou？’
　　’OfcourseIwill，dearNowtakemeupthegang-plankandintothecabinOnceaboardtheluggerandthemaidis——andIamfree，I
　　mean。’
　　’Who’lllookafteryouonthisship？’
　　’Thehead-steward，ifthere’sanyuseinmoneyThedoctorwhenwecometoPortSaid，ifIknowanythingofPandOdoctorsAfterthat，theLordwillprovide，asHeusedtodo。’
　　BessfoundDickhiscabininthewildturmoilofashipfullofleavetakersandweepingrelativesThenhekissedher，andlaidhimselfdowninhisbunkuntilthedecksshouldbeclearHewhohadtakensolongtomoveabouthisowndarkenedroomswellunderstoodthegeographyofaship，andthenecessityofseeingtohisowncomfortswasaswinetohim。
　　BeforethescrewbegantothrashtheshipalongtheDockshehadbeenintroducedtothehead-steward，hadroyallytippedhim，securedagoodplaceattable，openedouthisbaggage，andsettledhimselfdownwithjoyinthecabinItwasscarcelynecessarytofeelhiswayashemovedabout，forhekneweverythingsowellThenGodwasverykind：adeepsleepofwearinesscameuponhimjustashewouldhavethoughtofMaisie，andheslepttillthesteamerhadclearedthemouthoftheThamesandwasliftingtothepulseoftheChannel。
　　Therattleoftheengines，thereekofoilandpaint，andaveryfamiliarsoundinthenextcabinrousedhimtohisnewinheritance。
　　’Oh，it’sgoodtobealiveagain！’Heyawned，stretchedhimselfvigorously，andwentondecktobetoldthattheywerealmostabreastofthelightsofBrightonThisisnomoreopenwaterthanTrafalgalSquareisacommon；thefreelevelsbeginatUshant；butnonethelessDickcouldfeelthehealingoftheseaatworkuponhimalreadyAboisterouslittlecross-swellswungthesteamerdisrespectfullybythenose；andonewavebreakingfaraftspatteredthequarterdeckandthepileofnewdeck-chairsHeheardthefoamfallwiththeclashofbrokenglass，wasstunginthefacebyacupful，andsniffingluxuriously，felthiswaytothesmoking-roombythewheelThereastrongbreezefoundhim，blewhiscapoffandlefthimbareheadedinthedoorway，andthesmoking-roomsteward，understandingthathewasavoyagerofexperience，saidthattheweatherwouldbestiffinthechopsofftheChannelandmorethanhalfagaleintheBayThesethingsfellastheywereforetold，andDickenjoyedhimselftotheutmostItisallowableandevennecessaryatseatolayfirmholdupontables，stanchions，andropesinmovingfromplacetoplaceOnlandthemanwhofeelswithhishandsispatentlyblind。
　　Atseaevenablindmanwhoisnotsea-sickcanjestwiththedoctorovertheweaknessofhisfellowsDicktoldthedoctormanytales——andthesearecoinofmorevaluethansilverifproperlyhandled——smokedwithhimtillunholyhoursofthenight，andsowonhisshort-livedregardthathepromisedDickafewhoursofhistimewhentheycametoPortSaid。
　　Andthesearoaredorwasstillasthewindsblew，andtheenginessangtheirsongdayandnight，andthesungrewstrongerdaybyday，andTomtheLascarbarbershavedDickofamorningundertheopenedhatch-gratingwherethecoolwindsblew，andtheawningswerespreadandthepassengersmademerry，andatlasttheycametoPortSaid。
　　’Takeme，’saidDick，tothedoctor，’toMadameBinat’s——ifyouknowwherethatis。’
　　’Whew！’saidthedoctor，’IdoThere’snotmuchtochoosebetween’em；
　　butIsupposeyou’reawarethatthat’soneoftheworsthousesintheplaceThey’llrobyoutobeginwith，andknifeyoulater。’
　　’NottheyTakemethere，andIcanlookaftermyself。’
　　SohewasbroughttoMadameBinat’sandfilledhisnostrilswiththewell-rememberedsmelloftheEast，thatrunswithoutachangefromtheCanalheadtoHong-Kong，andhismouthwiththevillainousLinguaFrancaoftheLevantTheheatsmotehimbetweentheshoulder-bladeswiththebuffetofanoldfriend，hisfeetslippedonthesand，andhiscoat-sleevewaswarmasnew-bakedbreadwhenheliftedittohisnose。
　　MadameBinatsmiledwiththesmilethatknowsnoastonishmentwhenDickenteredthedrinking-shopwhichwasonesourceofhergains。
　　ButforalittleaccidentofcompletedarknesshecouldhardlyrealisethathehadeverquittedtheoldlifethathummedinhisearsSomebodyopenedabottleofpeculiarlystrongSchiedamThesmellremindedDickofMonsieurBinat，who，bytheway，hadspokenofartanddegradation。
　　Binatwasdead；Madamesaidasmuchwhenthedoctordeparted，scandalised，sofarasaship’sdoctorcanbe，atthewarmthofDick’sreceptionDickwasdelightedatit’TheyremembermehereafterayearTheyhaveforgottenmeacrossthewaterbythistime。
　　Madame，I
　　wantalongtalkwithyouwhenyou’reatlibertyItisgoodtobebackagain。’
　　Intheeveningshesetaniron-toppedcaf？tableoutonthesands，andDickandshesatbyit，whilethehousebehindthemfilledwithriot，merriment，oaths，andthreatsThestarscameoutandthelightsoftheshippingintheharbourtwinkledbytheheadoftheCanal。
　　’YesThewarisgoodfortrade，myfriend；butwhatdostthoudohere？
　　Wehavenotforgottenthee。’
　　’IwasoverthereinEnglandandIwentblind。’
　　’ButtherewasthegloryfirstWeheardofithere，evenhere——IandBinat；andthouhastusedtheheadofYellow’Tina——sheisstillalive——sooftenandsowellthat’Tinalaughedwhenthepapersarrivedbythemail-boatsItwasalwayssomethingthatweherecouldrecogniseinthepaintingsAndthentherewasalwaysthegloryandthemoneyforthee。’
　　’Iamnotpoor——Ishallpayyouwell。’
　　’NottomeThouhastpaidforeverything。’Underherbreath，’MonDieu，tobeblindandsoyoung！Whathorror！’
　　Dickcouldnotseeherfacewiththepityonit，orhisownwiththediscolouredhairatthetemplesHedidnotfeeltheneedofpity；hewastooanxioustogettothefrontoncemore，andexplainedhisdesire。
　　’Andwhere？TheCanalisfulloftheEnglishshipsSometimestheyfireastheyusedtodowhenthewarwashere——tenyearsagoBeyondCairothereisfighting，buthowcanstthougotherewithoutacorrespondent’spassport？Andinthedesertthereisalwaysfighting，butthatisimpossiblealso，’saidshe。
　　’ImustgotoSuakin。’Heknew，thankstoAlf’sreadings，thatTorpenhowwasatworkwiththecolumnthatwasprotectingtheconstructionoftheSuakin-BerberlinePandOsteamersdonottouchatthatport，and，besides，MadameBinatkneweverybodywhosehelporadvicewasworthanythingTheywerenotrespectablefolk，buttheycouldcausethingstobeaccomplished，whichismuchmoreimportantwhenthereisworktoward。
　　’ButatSuakintheyarealwaysfightingThatdesertbreedsmenalways——andalwaysmoremenAndtheyaresobold！WhytoSuakin？’
　　’Myfriendisthere。
　　’Thyfriend！Chtt！Thyfriendisdeath，then。’
　　MadameBinatdroppedafatarmonthetable-top，filledDick’sglassanew，andlookedathimcloselyunderthestarsTherewasnoneedthatheshouldbowhisheadinassentandsay——
　　’NoHeisaman，but——ifitshouldarriveblamestthou？’
　　’Iblame？’shelaughedshrilly’WhoamIthatIshouldblameanyone——exceptthosewhotrytocheatmeovertheirconsommations。
　　Butitisveryterrible。’
　　’ImustgotoSuakinThinkformeAgreatdealhaschangedwithintheyear，andthemenIknewarenothereTheEgyptianlighthousesteamergoesdowntheCanaltoSuakin——andthepost-boats——Buteventhen——’
　　’DonotthinkanylongerIknow，anditisformetothinkThoushaltgo——thoushaltgoandseethyfriendBewiseSithereuntilthehouseisalittlequiet——Imustattendtomyguests——andafterwardsgotobed。
　　Thoushaltgo，intruth，thoushaltgo。’
　　’To-morrow？’
　　’Assoonasmaybe。’Shewastalkingasthoughhewereachild。
　　Hesatatthetablelisteningtothevoicesintheharbourandthestreets，andwonderinghowsoontheendwouldcome，tillMadameBinatcarriedhimofftobedandorderedhimtosleepThehouseshoutedandsanganddancedandrevelled，MadameBinatmovingthroughitwithoneeyeontheliquorpaymentsandthegirlsandtheotheronDick’sinterests。
　　TothislatterendshesmileduponscowlingandfurtiveTurkishofficersoffellaheenregiments，andmorethankindtocamelagentsofnonationalitywhatever。
　　Intheearlymorning，beingthenappropriatelydressedinaflamingredsilkball-dress，withafrontoftarnishedgoldembroideryandanecklaceofplate-glassdiamonds，shemadechocolateandcarrieditintoDick。
　　’ItisonlyI，andIamofdiscreetage，eh？Drinkandeattherolltoo。
　　ThusinFrancemothersbringtheirsons，whenthosebehavewisely，themorningchocolate。’Shesatdownonthesideofthebedwhispering：——
　　’ItisallarrangedThouwiltgobythelighthouseboatThatisabribeoftenpoundsEnglishThecaptainisneverpaidbytheGovernment。
　　TheboatcomestoSuakininfourdaysTherewillgowiththeeGeorge，aGreekmuleteerAnotherbribeoftenpoundsIwillpay；theymustnotknowofthymoneyGeorgewillgowiththeeasfarashegoeswithhismulesThenhecomesbacktome，forhiswell-belovedishere，andifIdonotreceiveatelegramfromSuakinsayingthatthouartwell，thegirlanswersforGeorge。’
　　’Thankyou。’Hereachedoutsleepilyforthecup’Youaremuchtookind，Madame。’
　　’IftherewereanythingthatImightdoIwouldsay，stayhereandbewise；butIdonotthinkthatwouldbebestforthee。’Shelookedatherliquor-staineddresswithasadsmile’Nay，thoushaltgo，intruth，thoushaltgoItisbestsoMyboy，itisbestso。’
　　ShestoopedandkissedDickbetweentheeyes’Thatisforgood-morning，’shesaid，goingaway’WhenthouartdressedwewillspeaktoGeorgeandmakeeverythingreadyButfirstwemustopenthelittletrunkGivemethekeys。’
　　’TheamountofkissinglatelyhasbeensimplyscandalousIshallexpectTorptokissmenextHeismorelikelytoswearatmeforgettinginhisway，thoughWell，itwon’tlastlong——Ohe，Madame，helpmetomytoiletteoftheguillotine！Therewillbenochanceofdressingproperlyoutyonder。’
　　Hewasrummagingamonghisnewcampaign-kit，androwellinghishandswiththespursTherearetwosaysofwearingwell-oiledankle-jacks，spotlessbluebands，khakicoatandbreeches，andaperfectlypipeclayedhelmetTherightwayisthewayoftheuntiredman，masterofhimself，settingoutuponanexpedition，wellpleased。
　　’Everythingmustbeverycorrect，’Dickexplained’Itwillbecomedirtyafterwards，butnowitisgoodtofeelwelldressedIseverythingasitshouldbe？’
　　Hepattedtherevolverneatlyhiddenunderthefulnessoftheblouseontherighthipandfingeredhiscollar。
　　’Icandonomore，’Madamesaid，betweenlaughingandcrying。
　　’Lookatthyself——butIforgot。’
　　’Iamverycontent。’Hestrokedthecreaselessspiralsofhisleggings。
　　’NowletusgoandseethecaptainandGeorgeandthelighthouseboat。
　　Bequick，Madame。’
　　’ButthoucanstnotbeseenbytheharbourwalkingwithmeinthedaylightFiguretoyourselfifsomeEnglishladies——’
　　’TherearenoEnglishladies；andifthereare，Ihaveforgottenthem。
　　Takemethere。’
　　InspiteofthisburningimpatienceitwasnearlyeveningerethelighthouseboatbegantomoveMadamehadsaidagreatdealbothtoGeorgeandthecaptaintouchingthearrangementsthatweretobemadeforDick’sbenefitVeryfewmenwhohadthehonourofheracquaintancecaredtodisregardMadame’sadviceThatsortofcontemptmightendinbeingknifedbyastrangerinagamblinghelluponsurprisinglyshortprovocation。
　　Forsixdays——twoofthemwerewastedinthecrowdedCanal——thelittlesteamerworkedherwaytoSuakin，whereshewastopickupthesuperintendentofthelighthouse；andDickmadeithisbusinesstopropitiateGeorge，whowasdistractedwithfearsforthesafetyofhislight-of-loveandhalfinclinedtomakeDickresponsibleforhisowndiscomfortWhentheyarrivedGeorgetookhimunderhiswing，andtogethertheyenteredthered-hotseaport，encumberedwiththematerialandwastageoftheSuakin-Bergerline，fromlocomotivesindisconsolatefragmentstomoundsofchairsandpot-sleepers。
　　’Ifyoukeepwithme，’saidGeorge，’nobodywillaskforpassportsorwhatyoudoTheyareallverybusy。’
　　’Yes；butIshouldliketohearsomeoftheEnglishmentalkTheymightremembermeIwasknownherealongtimeago——whenIwassomeoneindeed。’
　　’AlongtimeagoisaverylongtimeagohereThegraveyardsarefull。
　　NowlistenThisnewrailwayrunsoutsofarasTanai-el-Hassan——thatissevenmilesThenthereisacampTheysaythatbeyondTanai-el-HassantheEnglishtroopsgoforward，andeverythingthattheyrequirewillbebroughttothembythisline。’
　　’Ah！BasecampIseeThat’sabetterbusinessthanfightingFuzziesintheopen。’
　　’Forthisreasoneventhemulestoupintheiron-train。’
　　’Ironwhat？’
　　’Itisallcoveredwithiron，becauseitisstillbeingshotat。’
　　’AnarmouredtrainBetterandbetter！Goon，faithfulGeorge。’
　　’AndIgoupwithmymulesto-nightOnlythosewhoparticularlyrequiretogotothecampgooutwiththetrainTheybegintoshootnotfarfromthecity。’
　　’Thedears——theyalwaysusedto！’Dicksnuffedthesmellofparcheddust，heatediron，andflakingpaintwithdelightCertainlytheoldlifewaswelcominghimbackmostgenerously。
　　’WhenIhavegotmymulestogetherIgoupto-night，butyoumustfirstsendatelegramofPortSaid，declaringthatIhavedoneyounoharm。’
　　’MadamehasyouwellinhandWouldyoustickaknifeintomeifyouhadthechance？’