"We shall have to get a phonograph then."
"That goes without the speaking, you bally ass. But when we do slip this roller into its parent machine these marks will talk."
"But how can we get a parent machine? I suppose you mean a Jekle & Co. mechanism of sorts."
"There must be a machine of that sort in the district, or this roller wouldn't be here."
Tod stared at the waters blinking in the sunshine. "I wonder how it got into the blessed river. By accident or by design?"
"By design assuredly," said Haskins promptly. "It was wrapped in brown paper and sealed at both ends. The bladder was attached to keep it afloat. Then the bladder went bang and the cylinder sank until you fished it out, Toddy."
"Queer fish and queer chance, anyhow."
"There is no such thing as chance," said Haskins slowly; "some cause we know not of, brought us to the stream to-day to get the cylinder."
"Why, we only came holiday-making," protested Tod; "you are always talking this infernal psychology."
"Supernal psychology, you mean," retorted the other, "seeing that I follow white magic and not black. This," he patted his pocket, "has a meaning. We must learn that meaning."