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was interesting to know that she was at heart a sceptic； as was
also her light…haired son； now Head Ranger。 And that son？ Just
twenty years of age！ Born seven months after marriage！ Then the
Mayor doubtless had light hair too； but why did not those wretches
say in which month Yram was married？ If she had married soon after
he had left； this was why he had not been sent for or written to。
Pray heaven it was so。 As for current gossip； people would talk；
and if the lad was well begotten； what could it matter to them
whose son he was？ 〃But；〃 thought my father； 〃I am glad I did not
meet him on my way down。 I had rather have been killed by some one
else。〃
Hanky and Panky again。 He remembered Bridgeford as the town where
the Colleges of Unreason had been most rife； he had visited it； but
he had forgotten that it was called 〃The city of the people who are
above suspicion。〃 Its Professors were evidently going to muster in
great force on Sunday； if two of them had robbed him； he could
forgive them； for the information he had gleaned from them had
furnished him with a pied a terre。 Moreover； he had got as much
Erewhonian money as he should want； for he had resolved to retrace
his steps immediately after seeing the temple dedicated to himself。
He knew the danger he should run in returning over the preserves
without a permit； but his curiosity was so great that he resolved
to risk it。
Soon after he had passed the statues he began to descend； and it
being now broad day； he did so by leaps and bounds； for the ground
was not precipitous。 He reached his old camp soon after five
this； at any rate； was the hour at which he set his watch on
finding that it had run down during his absence。 There was now no
reason why he should not take it with him； so he put it in his
pocket。 The parrots had attacked his saddle…bags； saddle； and
bridle； as they were sure to do； but they had not got inside the
bags。 He took out his English clothes and put them onstowing his
bags of gold in various pockets； but keeping his Erewhonian money
in the one that was most accessible。 He put his Erewhonian dress
back into the saddle…bags； intending to keep it as a curiosity； he
also refreshed the dye upon his hands； face； and hair； he lit
himself a fire； made tea； cooked and ate two brace of quails； which
he had plucked while walking so as to save time； and then flung
himself on to the ground to snatch an hour's very necessary rest。
When he woke he found he had slept two hours； not one； which was
perhaps as well； and by eight he began to reascend the pass。
He reached the statues about noon； for he allowed himself not a
moment's rest。 This time there was a stiffish wind； and they were
chanting lustily。 He passed them with all speed； and had nearly
reached the place where he had caught the quails； when he saw a man
in a dress which he guessed at once to be a ranger's； but which；
strangely enough； seeing that he was in the King's employ； was not
reversed。 My father's heart beat fast； he got out his permit and
held it open in his hand； then with a smiling face he went towards
the Ranger； who was standing his ground。
〃I believe you are the Head Ranger；〃 said my father； who saw that
he was still smooth…faced and had light hair。 〃I am Professor
Panky； and here is my permit。 My brother Professor has been
prevented from coming with me； and； as you see； I am alone。〃
My father had professed to pass himself off as Panky； for he had
rather gathered that Hanky was the better known man of the two。
While the youth was scrutinising the permit； evidently with
suspicion； my father took stock of him； and saw his own past self
in him too plainlyknowing all he knewto doubt whose son he was。
He had the greatest difficulty in hiding his emotion； for the lad
was indeed one of whom any father might be proud。 He longed to be
able to embrace him and claim him for what he was； but this； as he
well knew； might not be。 The tears again welled into his eyes when
he told me of the struggle with himself that he had then had。
〃Don't be jealous； my dearest boy；〃 he said to me。 〃I love you
quite as dearly as I love him； or better； but he was sprung upon me
so suddenly； and dazzled me with his comely debonair face； so full
of youth； and health； and frankness。 Did you see him； he would go
straight to your heart； for he is wonderfully like you in spite of
your taking so much after your poor mother。〃
I was not jealous； on the contrary； I longed to see this youth； and
find in him such a brother as I had often wished to have。 But let
me return to my father's story。
The young man； after examining the permit； declared it to be in
form； and returned it to my father； but he eyed him with polite
disfavour。
〃I suppose；〃 he said； 〃you have come up； as so many are doing； from
Bridgeford and all over the country； to the dedication on Sunday。〃
〃Yes；〃 said my father。 〃Bless me！〃 he added； 〃what a wind you have
up here！ How it makes one's eyes water； to be sure；〃 but he spoke
with a cluck in his throat which no wind that blows can cause。
〃Have you met any suspicious characters between here and the
statues？〃 asked the youth。 〃I came across the ashes of a fire
lower down； there had been three men sitting for some time round
it； and they had all been eating quails。 Here are some of the
bones and feathers； which I shall keep。 They had not been gone
more than a couple of hours； for the ashes were still warm； they
are getting bolder and bolderwho would have thought they would
dare to light a fire？ I suppose you have not met any one； but if
you have seen a single person； let me know。〃
My father said quite truly that he had met no one。 He then
laughingly asked how the youth had been able to discover as much as
he had。
〃There were three well…marked forms； and three separate lots of
quail bones hidden in the ashes。 One man had done all the
plucking。 This is strange； but I dare say I shall get at it
later。〃
After a little further conversation the Ranger said he was now
going down to Sunch'ston； and； though somewhat curtly； proposed
that he and my father should walk together。
〃By all means；〃 answered my father。
〃Before they had gone more than a few hundred yards his companion
said； 〃If you will come with me a little to the left； I can show
you the Blue Pool。〃
To avoid the precipitous ground over which the stream here fell；
they had diverged to the right； where they had found a smoother
descent； returning now to the stream； which was about to enter on a
level stretch for some distance； they found themselves on the brink
of a rocky basin； of no great size； but very blue； and evidently
deep。
〃This；〃 said the Ranger； 〃is where our orders tell us to fling any
foreign devil who comes over from the other side。 I have only been
Head Ranger about nine months； and have not yet had to face this
horrid duty； but；〃 and here he smiled； 〃when I first caught sight
of you I thought I should have to make a beginning。 I was very
glad when I saw you had a permit。〃
〃And how many skeletons do you suppose are lying at the bottom of
this pool？〃
〃I believe not more than seven