Знак чотирьох
XII. The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
Itwasenoughtomakeamaneathisheartouttohavetostandthekickandthecuffofeverypettyjack-in-office,tohavericetoeatandwatertodrink,whenthatgorgeousfortunewasreadyforhimoutside,justwaitingtobepickedup.Itmighthavedrivenmemad;butIwasalwaysaprettystubbornone,soIjustheldonandbidedmytime.
“Atlastitseemedtometohavecome.IwaschangedfromAgratoMadras,andfromtheretoBlairIslandintheAndamans.Thereareveryfewwhiteconvictsatthissettlement,and,asIhadbehavedwellfromthefirst,Isoonfoundmyselfasortofprivilegedperson.IwasgivenahutinHopeTown,whichisasmallplaceontheslopesofMountHarriet,andIwasleftprettymuchtomyself.Itisadreary,fever-strickenplace,andallbeyondourlittleclearingswasinfestedwithwildcannibalnatives,whowerereadyenoughtoblowapoisoneddartatusiftheysawachance.Therewasdigging,andditching,andyam-planting,andadozenotherthingstobedone,sowewerebusyenoughallday;thoughintheeveningwehadalittletimetoourselves.Amongotherthings,Ilearnedtodispensedrugsforthesurgeon,andpickedupasmatteringofhisknowledge.AllthetimeIwasonthelookoutforachanceofescape;butitishundredsofmilesfromanyotherland,andthereislittleornowindinthoseseas:soitwasaterriblydifficultjobtogetaway.
“Thesurgeon,Dr.Somerton,wasafast,sportingyoungchap,andtheotheryoungofficerswouldmeetinhisroomsofaneveningandplaycards.
