Знак чотирьох
XII. The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
WhatIsaytoyouisGod’struth,everywordofit.Thankyou;youcanputtheglassbesidemehere,andI’llputmylipstoitifIamdry.
“IamaWorcestershiremanmyself,—bornnearPershore.IdaresayyouwouldfindaheapofSmallslivingtherenowifyouweretolook.Ihaveoftenthoughtoftakingalookroundthere,butthetruthisthatIwasnevermuchofacredittothefamily,andIdoubtiftheywouldbesoverygladtoseeme.Theywereallsteady,chapel-goingfolk,smallfarmers,well-knownandrespectedoverthecountry-side,whileIwasalwaysabitofarover.Atlast,however,whenIwasabouteighteen,Igavethemnomoretrouble,forIgotintoamessoveragirl,andcouldonlygetoutofitagainbytakingtheQueen’sshillingandjoiningthe3rdBuffs,whichwasjuststartingforIndia.
“Iwasn’tdestinedtodomuchsoldiering,however.Ihadjustgotpastthegoose-step,andlearnedtohandlemymusket,whenIwasfoolenoughtogoswimmingintheGanges.Luckilyforme,mycompanysergeant,JohnHolder,wasinthewateratthesametime,andhewasoneofthefinestswimmersintheservice.Acrocodiletookme,justasIwashalf-wayacross,andnippedoffmyrightlegascleanasasurgeoncouldhavedoneit,justabovetheknee.Whatwiththeshockandthelossofblood,Ifainted,andshouldhavedrownedifHolderhadnotcaughtholdofmeandpaddledforthebank.Iwasfivemonthsinhospitaloverit,andwhenatlastIwasabletolimpoutofitwiththistimbertoestrappedtomystumpIfoundmyselfinvalidedoutofthearmyandunfittedforanyactiveoccupation.
