Nobody's Boy by Hector Malot Chapter 31
HUNTING FOR THE SWAN
For some time after Bob's brother left we heard only the noise of thewind and the sea dashing against the keel, then footsteps were heard onthe deck above and the grinding of pulleys. A sail was hoisted, thensuddenly the boat leaned to one side and began to rock. In a few momentsit was pitching heavily on the rough sea.
"Poor Mattia," I said, taking his hand.
"I don't care, we're saved," he said; "what if I am seasick?"
The next day I passed my time between the cabin and deck. Mattia wantedto be left alone. When at last the skipper pointed out Harfleur Ihurried down to the cabin to tell him the good news. As it was late inthe afternoon when we arrived at Harfleur, Bob's brother told us that wecould sleep on the boat that night if we wished.
"When you want to go back to England," he said the next morning, as wewished him good-by, and thanked him for what he had done for us, "justremember that the _Eclipse_ sails from here every Tuesday."
It was a kind invitation, but Mattia and I each of us had our reason fornot wishing to cross the sea again ... yet awhile.
Fortunately we had our profits from Bob's performance. In all we hadtwenty-seven francs and fifty centimes. Mattia wanted to give Bob thetwenty-seven francs in payment for the expenses he had been put to formy flight, but he would not accept a penny.
"Well, which way shall we go?" I asked when we landed in France.
"By the canal," replied Mattia promptly, "because I have an idea. Ibelieve the _Swan_ is on the canal this summer, now that Arthur's beenso ill, and I think we ought to find it," he added.
"But what about Lise and the others?" I asked.
"We'll see them while we're looking for Mrs. Milligan. As we go up thecanal, we can stop and see Lise."
With a map that we bought, we searched for the nearest river: it was the Seine.
"We'll go up the Seine and ask all the fishermen along the banks ifthey've seen the _Swan_. It isn't like any other boat from what you say,and if they've seen it they'll remember."
Before beginning the long journey that was probably ahead of us I boughtsome soft soap to clean Capi. To me, Capi yellow--was not Capi. Wewashed him thoroughly, each one taking it in turns until he was tiredout. But Bob's dye was an excellent quality and when we had finished hewas still yellow, but a shade paler. It would require many shampoosbefore we could get him back to his original color. Fortunately Normandyis a country of brooks and each day we gave him a bath.
We reached the top of a hill one morning and Mattia spied the Seine awayahead of us, winding in a large curve. From then on, we began toquestion the people. Had they seen the _Swan_, a beautiful barge with averanda? No one had seen it. It must have passed in the night. We wenton to Rouen, where again we commenced our questions, but with no betterresult. We would not be discouraged but went forward questioning everyone. We had to stop to get money for our food as we went along, so ittook us five weeks to reach the suburbs of Paris.
Fortunately, upon arriving at Charenton, we soon knew which direction wehad to take. When we put the important question, we received for thefirst time the answer for which we had longed. A boat which resembledthe _Swan_, a large pleasure boat, had passed that way; turning to theleft, it had continued up the Seine.
We were by the docks. Mattia was so overjoyed that he commenced to danceamongst the fishermen. Stopping suddenly he took his violin andfrantically played a triumphal march. While he played I questioned theman who had seen the barge. Without a doubt it was the _Swan_. It hadpassed through Charenton about two months ago.
Two months! What a lead it had! But what did that matter! We had ourlegs and they had the legs of two good horses and we should join themsome day. The question of time did not count. The great thing, thewonderful thing was that the _Swan_ was found!
"Who was right?" cried Mattia.
If I had dared I would have admitted to Mattia that I had very greathopes, but I felt that I could not analyze my thoughts, not even tomyself. We had no need to stop now and question the people. The _Swan_was ahead of us. We had only to follow the Seine. We went on our way,getting nearer to where Lise lived. I wondered if she had seen the bargeas it passed through the locks by her home. At night we never complainedof weariness and we were always ready the next morning to set out at anearly hour.
"Wake me up," said Mattia, who was fond of sleeping. And when I woke himhe was never long in jumping to his feet.
To economize we ate hard-boiled eggs, which we bought from the grocers,and bread. Yet Mattia was very fond of good things.
"I hope Mrs. Milligan has that cook still who made those tarts," hesaid; "apricot tarts must be fine!"
"Haven't you ever tasted them?"
"I've tasted apple puffs, but I've never tasted apricot tarts. I've seenthem. What are those little white things they stick all over the fruit?"
"Almonds."
"Oh...." And Mattia opened his mouth as though he were swallowing awhole tart.
At each lock we had news of the _Swan;_ every one had seen thebeautiful barge and they spoke of the kind English lady and the littleboy lying on a sofa under the veranda.
We drew nearer to Lise's home, two more days, then one, then only a fewhours. We came in sight of the house. We were not walking now, we wererunning. Capi, who seemed to know where we were going, started ahead ata gallop. He was going to let Lise know that we were coming. She wouldcome to meet us. But when we got to the house there was a woman standingat the door whom we did not know.
"Where's Madame Suriot?" we inquired.
For a moment she stared at us as though we were asking a foolishquestion.
"She doesn't live here now," she said at last; "she's in Egypt."
"In Egypt!"
Mattia and I looked at one another in amazement. Egypt! We did not knowjust where Egypt was situated, but we thought, vaguely, it was far away,very far, somewhere beyond the seas.
"And Lise? Do you know Lise?"
"The little dumb girl? Yes, I know her! She went off with an Englishlady on a barge."
Lise on the _Swan!_ Were we dreaming? Mattia and I stared at one another.
"Are you Remi?" then asked the woman.
"Yes."
"Well, Suriot was drowned...."
"Drowned!"
"Yes, he fell into the lock and got caught below on a nail. And hispoor wife didn't know what to do, and then a lady that she lived withbefore she married was going to Egypt, and she told her she would takeher as nurse to look after the children. She didn't know what to do withlittle Lise and while she was wondering an English lady and her littlesick son came along the canal in a barge. They talked. And the Englishlady, who was looking for some one to play with her son, for he wastired of being always alone, said she would take Lise along and shewould educate the little girl. The lady said she would have doctors whowould cure her and she would be able to speak some day. Before theywent, Lise wanted her aunt to explain to me what I was to say to you ifyou came to see her. That's all."
I was so amazed that I could find no words. But Mattia never lost hishead like me.
"Where did the English lady go?" he asked.
"To Switzerland. Lise was to have written to me so that I could give youher address, but I haven't received the letter yet."