My Strangest Case |
By By Guy BoothbyAuthor of "Dr. Nikola," "The Beautiful White Devil," "Pharos, theEgyptian," etc. |
Illustrated by L.J. Bridgman and P. Hard |
Originally Published 1901. |
"A DARK, NARROW HOLE, THE BOTTOM OF WHICH IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE."
" 'LOOK HERE,' HE CRIED, 'IT'S THE BANK OF ENGLAND IN EACH HAND.' "
" 'POOR DEVIL,' SAID GREGORY. 'HE SEEMS TO BE ON HIS LAST LEGS.' "
"HE FELL WITH A CRASH AT MY FEET."
" 'LET'S OUT HIM, BILL,' SAID THE TALLER OF THE TWO MEN."
" 'HOW DO YOU DO, MR. FAIRFAX?' SAID MISS KITWATER."
"IN HIS HAND HE HELD A REVOLVER."
"THE WOODWORK SNAPPED, AND THE TWO MEN FELL OVER THE EDGE."
I am of course prepared to admit that there are prettier places on theface of this earth of ours than Singapore; there are, however, I ventureto assert, few that are more interesting, and certainly none that canafford a better study of human life and character. There, if you are sodisposed, you may consider the subject of British Rule on the one hand,and the various aspects of the Chinese question on the other. If you area student of languages you will be able to hear half the tongues of theworld spoken in less than an hour's walk, ranging say from ParisianFrench to Pigeon English; you shall make the acquaintance of every sortof smell the human nose can manipulate, from the sweet perfume of thelotus blossom to the diabolical odour of the Durien; and every sort ofcooking from a dainty vol-au-vent to a stuffed rat. In the harbour theshipping is such as, I feel justified in saying, you would encounter