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rather doubtfully。 ‘Tell me something of your coasting； then； if you have a
mind to； and what sort of harvest an animal of spirit might hope to bring
home from it to warm his latter days with gallant memories by the fireside；
for my life； I confess to you； feels to me to…day somewhat narrow and
circumscribed。'
‘My last voyage；' began the Sea Rat； ‘that landed me eventually in this
country； bound with high hopes for my inland farm； will serve as a good
example of any of them； and； indeed； as an epitome of my highly…coloured
life。 Family troubles； as usual； began it。 The domestic storm…cone was
hoisted； and I shipped myself on board a small trading vessel bound from
Constantinople； by classic seas whose every wave throbs with a deathless
memory； to the Grecian Islands and the Levant。 Those were golden days
and balmy nights！ In and out of harbour all the timeold friends
everywheresleeping in some cool temple or ruined cistern during the
heat of the dayfeasting and song after sundown； under great stars set in a
velvet sky！ Thence we turned and coasted up the Adriatic； its shores
swimming in an atmosphere of amber； rose； and aquamarine； we lay in
wide land…locked harbours； we roamed through ancient and noble cities；
until at last one morning； as the sun rose royally behind us； we rode into
Venice down a path of gold。 O； Venice is a fine city； wherein a rat can
wander at his ease and take his pleasure！ Or； when weary of wandering；
can sit at the edge of the Grand Canal at night； feasting with his friends；
when the air is full of music and the sky full of stars； and the lights flash
and shimmer on the polished steel prows of the swaying gondolas； packed
so that you could walk across the canal on them from side to side！ And
then the fooddo you like shellfish？ Well； well； we won't linger over that
now。'
He was silent for a time； and the Water Rat； silent too and enthralled；
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floated on dream…canals and heard a phantom song pealing high between
vaporous grey wave…lapped walls。
‘Southwards we sailed again at last；' continued the Sea Rat； ‘coasting
down the Italian shore； till finally we made Palermo； and there I quitted
for a long； happy spell on shore。 I never stick too long to one ship； one
gets narrow…minded and prejudiced。 Besides； Sicily is one of my happy
hunting…grounds。 I know everybody there； and their ways just suit me。 I
spent many jolly weeks in the island； staying with friends up country。
When I grew restless again I took advantage of a ship that was trading to
Sardinia and Corsica； and very glad I was to feel the fresh breeze and the
sea…spray in my face once more。'
‘But isn't it very hot and stuffy； down in thehold； I think you call it？'
asked the Water Rat。
The seafarer looked at him with the suspicion go a wink。 ‘I'm an old
hand；' he remarked with much simplicity。 ‘The captain's cabin's good
enough for me。'
‘It's a hard life； by all accounts；' murmured the Rat； sunk in deep
thought。
‘For the crew it is；' replied the seafarer gravely； again with the ghost of
a wink。
‘From Corsica；' he went on； ‘I made use of a ship that was taking wine
to the mainland。 We made Alassio in the evening； lay to； hauled up our
wine…casks； and hove them overboard； tied one to the other by a long line。
Then the crew took to the boats and rowed shorewards； singing as they
went； and drawing after them the long bobbing procession of casks； like a
mile of porpoises。 On the sands they had horses waiting； which dragged
the casks up the steep street of the little town with a fine rush and clatter
and scramble。 When the last cask was in； we went and refreshed and rested；
and sat late into the night； drinking with our friends； and next morning I
took to the great olive…woods for a spell and a rest。 For now I had done
with islands for the time； and ports and shipping were plentiful； so I led a
lazy life among the peasants； lying and watching them work； or stretched
high on the hillside with the blue Mediterranean far below me。 And so at
length； by easy stages； and partly on foot； partly by sea； to Marseilles； and
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the meeting of old shipmates； and the visiting of great ocean…bound
vessels； and feasting once more。 Talk of shell…fish！ Why； sometimes I
dream of the shell…fish of Marseilles； and wake up crying！'
‘That reminds me；' said the polite Water Rat； ‘you happened to
mention that you were hungry； and I ought to have spoken earlier。 Of
course； you will stop and take your midday meal with me？ My hole is
close by； it is some time past noon； and you are very welcome to whatever
there is。'
‘Now I call that kind and brotherly of you；' said the Sea Rat。 ‘I was
indeed hungry when I sat down； and ever since I inadvertently happened
to mention shell…fish； my pangs have been extreme。 But couldn't you fetch
it along out here？ I am none too fond of going under hatches； unless I'm
obliged to； and then； while we eat； I could tell you more concerning my
voyages and the pleasant life I leadat least； it is very pleasant to me； and
by your attention I judge it commends itself to you； whereas if we go
indoors it is a hundred to one that I shall presently fall asleep。'
‘That is indeed an excellent suggestion；' said the Water Rat； and
hurried off home。 There he got out the luncheon…basket and packed a
simple meal； in which； remembering the stranger's origin and preferences；
he took care to include a yard of long French bread； a sausage out of
which the garlic sang； some cheese which lay down and cried； and a long…
necked straw…covered flask wherein lay bottled sunshine shed and
garnered on far Southern slopes。 Thus laden； he returned with all speed；
and blushed for pleasure at the old seaman's commendations of his taste
and judgment； as together they unpacked the basket and laid out the
contents on the grass by the roadside。
The Sea Rat； as soon as his hunger was somewhat assuaged； continued
the history of his latest voyage； conducting his simple hearer from port to
port of Spain； landing him at Lisbon； Oporto； and Bordeaux