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letters would be welcomed。 Standing in the shadow of the Royal
Exchange； waiting to thread his way across； he thought： 'So you must
have noise； must youyou've got some here； and to spare。。。。'
On his arrival in the new world he wired to Pippin asking if he might
stay with him on the way up country； and received the answer： 〃Be
sure and come。〃
A week later he arrived （there was now a railway） and found Pippin
waiting for him in a phaeton。 Scorrier would not have known the
place again； there was a glitter over everything； as if some one had
touched it with a wand。 The tracks had given place to roads； running
firm； straight； and black between the trees under brilliant sunshine；
the wooden houses were all painted； out in the gleaming harbour
amongst the green of islands lay three steamers； each with a fleet of
busy boats； and here and there a tiny yacht floated； like a sea…bird
on the water。 Pippin drove his long…tailed horses furiously； his
eyes brimmed with subtle kindness； as if according Scorrier a
continual welcome。 During the two days of his stay Scorrier never
lost that sense of glamour。 He had every opportunity for observing
the grip Pippin had over everything。 The wooden doors and walls of
his bungalow kept out no sounds。 He listened to interviews between
his host and all kinds and conditions of men。 The voices of the
visitors would rise at firstangry； discontented； matter…of…fact；
with nasal twang； or guttural drawl； then would come the soft patter
of the superintendent's feet crossing and recrossing the room。 Then
a pause； the sound of hard breathing； and quick questionsthe
visitor's voice again； again the patter； and Pippin's ingratiating
but decisive murmurs。 Presently out would come the visitor with an
expression on his face which Scorrier soon began to know by heart； a
kind of pleased； puzzled； helpless look； which seemed to say； 〃I've
been done； I knowI'll give it to myself when I'm round the corner。〃
Pippin was full of wistful questions about 〃home。〃 He wanted to talk
of music； pictures； plays； of how London looked； what new streets
there were； and； above all； whether Scorrier had been lately in the
West Country。 He talked of getting leave next winter； asked whether
Scorrier thought they would 〃put up with him at home〃； then； with the
agitation which had alarmed Scorrier before； he added： 〃Ah！ but I'm
not fit for home now。 One gets spoiled； it's big and silent here。
What should I go back to？ I don't seem to realise。〃
Scorrier thought of Hemmings。 〃'Tis a bit cramped there； certainly；〃
he muttered。
Pippin went on as if divining his thoughts。 〃I suppose our friend
Hemmings would call me foolish； he's above the little weaknesses of
imagination； eh？ Yes； it's silent here。 Sometimes in the evening I
would give my head for somebody to talk toHemmings would never give
his head for anything； I think。 But all the same； I couldn't face
them at home。 Spoiled！〃 And slyly he murmured： 〃What would the
Board say if they could hear that？〃
Scorrier blurted out： 〃To tell you the truth； they complain a little
of not hearing from you。〃
Pippin put out a hand； as if to push something away。 〃Let them try
the life here！〃 he broke out； 〃it's like sitting on a live volcano
what with our friends； 'the enemy；' over there； the men； the American
competition。 I keep it going； Scorrier； but at what a costat what
a cost！〃
〃But surelyletters？〃
Pippin only answered： 〃 I tryI try！〃
Scorrier felt with remorse and wonder that he had spoken the truth。
The following day he left for his inspection； and while in the camp
of 〃the enemy〃 much was the talk he heard of Pippin。
〃Why！〃 said his host； the superintendent； a little man with a face
somewhat like an owl's； 〃d'you know the name they've given him down
in the capital'the King'good； eh？ He's made them 'sit up' all
along this coast。 I like him well enoughgoodhearted man；
shocking nervous； but my people down there can't stand him at any
price。 Sir； he runs this colony。 You'd think butter wouldn't melt
in that mouth of his； but he always gets his way； that's what riles
'em so； that and the success he's making of his mine。 It puzzles me；
you'd think he'd only be too glad of a quiet life； a man with his
nerves。 But no； he's never happy unless he's fighting； something
where he's got a chance to score a victory。 I won't say he likes it；
but； by Jove； it seems he's got to do it。 Now that's funny！ I'll
tell you one thing； though shouldn't be a bit surprised if he broke
down some day； and I'll tell you another；〃 he added darkly； 〃he's
sailing very near the wind； with those large contracts that he makes。
I wouldn't care to take his risks。 Just let them have a strike； or
something that shuts them down for a spelland mark my words； sir
it'll be all up with them。 But；〃 he concluded confidentially； 〃I
wish I had his hold on the men； it's a great thing in this country。
Not like home； where you can go round a corner and get another gang。
You have to make the best you can out of the lot you have； you won't；
get another man for love or money without you ship him a few hundred
miles。〃 And with a frown he waved his arm over the forests to
indicate the barrenness of the land。
Scorrier finished his inspection and went on a shooting trip into the
forest。 His host met him on his return。 〃Just look at this！〃 he
said； holding out a telegram。 〃Awful； isn't it？〃 His face expressed
a profound commiseration； almost ludicrously mixed with the ashamed
contentment that men experience at the misfortunes of an enemy。
The telegram； dated the day before； ran thus 〃Frightful explosion New
Colliery this morning； great loss of life feared。〃
Scorrier had the bewildered thought： 'Pippin will want me now。'
He took leave of his host； who called after him： 〃You'd better wait
for a steamer！ It's a beastly drive！〃
Scorrier shook his head。 All night； jolting along a rough track cut
through the forest； he thought of Pippin。 The other miseries of this
calamity at present left him cold； he barely thought of the smothered
men； but Pippin's struggle； his lonely struggle with this hydra…
headed monster； touched him very nearly。 He fell asleep and dreamed
of watching Pippin slowly strangled by a snake； the agonised； kindly；
ironic face peeping out between two gleaming coils was so horribly
real； that he awoke。 It was the moment before dawn： pitch…black
branches barred the sky； with every jolt of the wheels the gleams
from the lamps danced； fantastic and intrusive； round ferns and tree…
stems； into the cold heart of the forest。 For an hour or more
Scorrier tried to feign sleep； and hide from the stillness； and
overmastering gloom of these great woods。 Then softly a whisper of
noises stole forth； a stir of light； and the whole slow radiance of
the morning glory。 But it brought no warmth； and Scorrier wrapped
himself closer in his cloak；