by H G Wells

The man scarred face leant over the table and looked at my bundle

"Orchids ? " he asked

"A few,"

"Cypripediums,"

"Chiefly," said I

"Anything new ? not these islands twenty-five-- twenty-seven find anything new here--well, it's brand new I didn't leave much "

"I'm not collector," said I

" young then," he went on "Lord ! how I used to fly round " my measure " East Indies two years, and in Brazil seven Then I went to Madagascar "

" few explorers by name," , anticipating yarn "Whom did you collect for ? "

"Dawson's I wonder 've heard the name of Butcher ever ? "

"Butcher--Butcher ? " The name seemed vaguely present in my memory; then I recalled Butcher v Dawson "Why ! " said I, " the man who sued them for four years' salary--got cast away on desert island . "

"Your servant," said the man scar, bowing "Funny case, wasn't it ? Here was me, making little fortune island, doing nothing neither, and them quite unable notice It often used to amuse me thinking over it while there calculations of it--big--all over the blessed atoll in ornamental figuring "

"How did it happen ? " said I "I don't rightly remember the case "

"Well . You've heard AEpyornis ? "

"Rather Andrews was telling me of new species working on only month or so ago Just before I sailed They've got thigh bone, it seems, nearly yard long Monster the thing must ! "

"I believe you," said the man scar " monster Sindbad's roc was just legend of 'em But when did they find these bones ? "

"Three or four --'91, I fancy Why ? "

"Why ? Because them--Lord ! --it's nearly twenty If Dawson's hadn't been silly salary they made perfect ring in 'em . I couldn't help the infernal boat going adrift "

He paused "I suppose it's the same place kind of swamp about ninety miles north of Antananarivo happen ? along the coast by boats You don't happen to remember, perhaps ? "

"I don't I fancy Andrews said something about swamp "

"It the same It's east coast And somehow there's something water that keeps things from decaying Like creosote it smells It reminded me of Trinidad Did they get any more eggs ? eggs were foot-and-a-half long The swamp goes circling round, , and cuts off this bit It's mostly salt, too Well . What time I had of it ! the things quite by accident We went for eggs, me and two native chaps, in one rum canoes all tied together, and found the bones same time We had tent and provisions for four days, and we pitched on firmer places of it brings that odd tarry smell back even now It's funny work You go probing mud with iron rods, Usually the egg gets smashed I wonder how long since these AEpyornises really lived The missionaries say the natives have legends about were alive, but I never heard any such stories myself [*] But certainly those eggs we got were as fresh as new laid Fresh ! Carrying them down boat one nigger chaps dropped one on rock and it smashed How I lammed beggar ! But sweet , as new laid, not even smelly, and its mother dead these four hundred years, perhaps Said centipede had bit him However, I'm getting off the straight story It had taken us all day to dig slush and get these eggs out unbroken, and we were all covered with beastly black mud, and naturally cross as they were the only eggs ever been got out not even cracked I went afterwards the ones Natural History Museum in London; all were cracked and just stuck together like mosaic, and bits missing Mine were perfect, and I meant to blow them when I got back Naturally annoyed silly duffer dropping three hours' work just on account of centipede I hit him about rather "

[Footnote *: No European is known seen live AEpyornis, doubtful exception of MacAndrew, who visited Madagascar in 1745 --H G W ]

The man scar took out clay pipe I placed my pouch before him He filled up absent-mindedly

"How others ? Did you get those home ? I don't remember--"

"That's the queer part story I had three others Perfectly fresh eggs Well, we put 'em boat, and then I went tent some coffee, leaving my two heathens down beach--the one fooling about sting other helping him It never occurred beggars would take advantage peculiar position in to pick quarrel But I suppose the centipede poison kicking I had given him had upset the one-- always cantankerous sort--and he persuaded the other

"I remember sitting and smoking and boiling up the water over spirit-lamp business I used expeditions Incidentally admiring the swamp under the sunset All black and blood-red , in streaks--a beautiful sight And up beyond the land rose grey and hazy hills, sky behind them red, like furnace mouth And fifty yards behind the back of me was these blessed heathen--quite regardless tranquil air of things--plotting to cut off boat and leave me all alone with three days' provisions and canvas tent, and nothing to drink whatsoever beyond little keg of water I heard kind of yelp behind me, and there they were canoe affair--it wasn't properly boat--and, perhaps, twenty yards from land I realised up in moment My gun was tent, and, besides, I had no bullets--only duck shot They knew that But I had little revolver in my pocket, and I pulled that out as I ran down beach

"'Come back ! ' says I, flourishing it

"They jabbered something at me, man that broke the egg jeered I aimed other--because unwounded and had the paddle, and I missed They laughed However, I wasn't beat I had cool, and I tried him again and made him jump whang of it He didn't laugh The third time I got his head, and over he went, paddle precious lucky shot for revolver I reckon fifty yards He went right under I don't know if shot, or simply stunned and drowned Then I began to shout other chap back, but he huddled up canoe and refused to answer So I fired out my revolver at him and never got near him

" precious fool, tell you There rotten, black beach, flat swamp all behind me, flat sea, cold sun set, and just this black canoe drifting steadily out to sea I tell you I damned Dawson's and Jamrach's and Museums and all the rest of it just to rights I bawled nigger back, until my voice went up into scream

" nothing but to swim after him and take my luck sharks So I opened my clasp-knife and put it in my mouth, and took off my clothes and waded in water I lost sight canoe, but I aimed, as I judged, to head it off I hoped the man in too bad to navigate it, it would keep on drifting same direction Presently it came up over the horizon again south-westward about The afterglow of sunset was well over now dim of night creeping up The stars were coming blue I swum like champion, though my legs and arms were soon aching