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‘Is this； then； yet another of them？' mused the Rat。 ‘And where have
you just come from？' he asked。 He hardly dared to ask where he was
bound for； he seemed to know the answer only too well。
‘Nice little farm；' replied the wayfarer； briefly。 ‘Upalong in that
direction'he nodded northwards。 ‘Never mind about it。 I had everything I
could wanteverything I had any right to expect of life； and more； and
here I am！ Glad to be here all the same； though； glad to be here！ So many
miles further on the road； so many hours nearer to my heart's desire！'
His shining eyes held fast to the horizon； and he seemed to be listening
for some sound that was wanting from that inland acreage； vocal as it was
with the cheerful music of pasturage and farmyard。
‘You are not one of US；' said the Water Rat； ‘nor yet a farmer； nor
even； I should judge； of this country。'
‘Right；' replied the stranger。 ‘I'm a seafaring rat； I am； and the port I
originally hail from is Constantinople； though I'm a sort of a foreigner
there too； in a manner of speaking。 You will have heard of Constantinople；
friend？ A fair city； and an ancient and glorious one。 And you may have
heard； too； of Sigurd； King of Norway； and how he sailed thither with
sixty ships； and how he and his men rode up through streets all canopied
in their honour with purple and gold； and how the Emperor and Empress
came down and banqueted with him on board his ship。 When Sigurd
returned home； many of his Northmen remained behind and entered the
Emperor's body…guard； and my ancestor； a Norwegian born； stayed behind
too； with the ships that Sigurd gave the Emperor。 Seafarers we have ever
been； and no wonder； as for me； the city of my birth is no more my home
than any pleasant port between there and the London River。 I know them
all； and they know me。 Set me down on any of their quays or foreshores；
and I am home again。'
‘I suppose you go great voyages；' said the Water Rat with growing
interest。 ‘Months and months out of sight of land； and provisions running
short； and allowanced as to water； and your mind communing with the
mighty ocean； and all that sort of thing？'
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‘By no means；' said the Sea Rat frankly。 ‘Such a life as you describe
would not suit me at all。 I'm in the coasting trade； and rarely out of sight of
land。 It's the jolly times on shore that appeal to me； as much as any
seafaring。 O； those southern seaports！ The smell of them； the riding…lights
at night； the glamour！'
‘Well； perhaps you have chosen the better way；' said the Water Rat； but
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 c