Padre. “But why, Mr. Welson, have you kept from me anything that it was proper and useful for the rest of you to know.”
Mr. Welson. “In the first place, you were not particularly interested in scientific investigations, or book lore, else you would have participated in the discovery that has puzzled and alarmed you. In the second place, as you represented the instinctive class of ritualistic habit and creed followers, who believe in what they have been taught without questioning palpable absurdities, you have been exhibited to us as an illustration of the unthinking characteristics of our race. As you have subserved the purpose of showing the irrational subterfuges of sectarianism for shirking the responsibilities of honest example, for the delusive indulgence of instinctive desire in excess of reasonable gratification, I will now inform you that shortly after our arrival in Heraclea we were introduced, through the reflecting aid of the tympano-microscope, to a race of human Animalculans, by Mistress Correliana. These had been known to her Heraclean ancestors for many centuries, and were the originators of their system of education. The largest, or giantescoes as they are called, are perceptible in form to our unaided eyes; but, with a few exceptions, they belong solely to the Manatitlans, the race to which we were introduced. But the lower grades, which are styled mediums and tits, are in human resemblance indistinctly visible to the naked eye. The falcons, that visited Mistress Correliana on board of the Tortuga, were guided by individuals of this race, which accounts for their wonderful sagacity, and the mysterious intelligence which she had gained of the transactions of our race while immured within the walls of Heraclea. When M. Hollydorf commenced his investigations for tracing the relation of the dry, animalculan species with the representatives of our gigantic orders, the thought never occurred to his imagination that by any possibility the initial type of humanity would be discovered. You will now be able to judge, from your impressions, our emotions when we were obliged to recognize under the powerful reflection of the tympano-microscope our own representative embodiment in minute miniature; but with a perfection in beauty that put the pretensions of our race to shame. The object of the R. H. B. Society, was, as you have heard explained,—to obtain a knowledge of aboriginal animalculan dryad life for comparison with kindred species within the influence of civilization to judge of its progressive effects. As Dr. Baāhar was too much occupied with his naturalistic pursuits to attend on the day of discovery, he with the other members were held in probationary ignorance of the new race for experimental effects, allied to those to which you have been subject. You can now ponder for the night upon the revelation I have given you, and if to-morrow you wish for tangible evidence of its truth you can accompany us to the auriculum.”
The padre had directed his attention chiefly to Mr. Welson during his admonitory explanation, with eyes amazedly questioning the faces of the others for confirmation, and mouth agape, which at certain passages of the rehearsal contracted with grimaced efforts to swallow; but with the closing invitation he relapsed into a ruminating mood of fitful cogitation. In this condition he remained, scarcely noticing the return of Dr. Baāhar and curators of sound, notwithstanding they were subjected to auramental impression for his especial detection, and proof edification, from the incongruous lack of method shown in their conversation, which the doctor, with aptness, styled the languaged lowing salutations of the herd at nightfall. Corycæus, the padre’s auramental familiar, reported his ruminations at the hour of retiring to Mr. Welson, who sought the opportunity to give them direction by reading to him a postscript of Captain Greenwood’s letter, containing information that he was too much vexed to give him by word of mouth at Amelcoy. Calling the padre into the colonnade, after the other members of the corps had retired, he read the captain’s announcement to him by moonlight, which we will render verbatim:—
“P. S. The padre’s appearance, with the knowledge that he had passed the major portion of the night in drinking, smoking, and chewing, with Fraile Gallagato, who conducted him in a state of inebriation to the house of a woman of unmentionable fame, so annoyed me that I held no communication with him, and write that which it would have afforded me unalloyed pleasure to have imparted to him, by word of mouth, if he had been in a worthy condition. Please inform him that our success in collecting gold on the spits of the Pilcomayo, during our return trip down the river, so far exceeded our personal requirements, after equally sharing with the absent in Heraclea, that we have, at the suggestion of Jack and Bill,—who rightfully aver that he was the discoverer,—set aside a sufficient amount for insuring his family an ample token of his fatherly remembrance and desire for their welfare. The amount will be forwarded to the address of any reliable person he may name, subject to his childrens’ order.
T. R. G.”
The padre at the close of the message gave one audible gulp of choking shame, and sank down upon the pavement in groveling attitude, exclaiming in broken accents of woful misery, “unworthy brute that I am!” In this condition Mr. Welson left him, with a simple parting salutation. Corycæus, in the morning, reported that he continued prone and imbecile in thought, until lunar impression caused his scattered faculties to become wild in intention, causing him to utter vehemently the talismanic Giga word, Reform! But as its suggestions encouraged moderation, as the source of saving grace, he wandered forth into the herald darkness of the morning’s dawn. Directing his steps in the gray light to the summit fora, his thoughts were led to view,—in the emergence of day, from the chill sombre darkness of night, as the first radiant rays of sunlight appeared above the horizon,—the bright perspective of Heraclean affection which began to dawn with its warmth and purity, beckoning him from the gloom of the past, with the determination that his example should contrast with it, as a day of light for the guidance of future generations in the path of happiness. As he stood in the rolling mist wafted by the air current of the falls, on its nourishing mission to the latifundium, Mr. Welson joined the prætor’s family to unite with them in their morning salutations. In turning their eyes upward to catch the first rays of the sun on the brink of the falls, the head of the padre appeared enveloped in a cloud of mist. When first discovered, his attention seemed to be attracted to objects beyond the walls; but with the first strains of the morning anthem he removed his hat and united his voice in the song of praise. At its close, he beckoned them to join him on the summit terrace. The prætor understanding the invitation, challenged Mr. Welson and Dr. Baāhar to a trial of speed, with his wife and daughter, up the ascent. Accepting the gage they started, the civilized competitors taking the shorter and direct avenue from the city gate. At the word, up the crescent avenue Correliana and her mother sped with equal steps, gliding upward in the pathway with graceful motions, and swiftness rivaling the fabled Camilla’s, the prætor following with a steady movement of practiced ease, content to hold his starting distance good. The padre’s past and future, as umpire of this novel race, quickly merged into the present. With jubilant mirth he urged the doctor, with hand and hat, to greater speed for the honor of the corps. But from the weissich of the falling water his words of encouragement failed to reach the object of his admonition. In the abandon of momentary excitement, his gestures were of that comical cast that we should expect from a man who had been aroused from a slumber that had continued from youth to age, and installed, when suddenly awakened, to preside as umpire over a scene like the one in review, without comprehending his growth in stature. On all, except the toiling object of his exhortations, his pantomimic gesticulations served as brakes to stay their speed. The diminution in speed of the prætorial family became quite apparent from their mirthful checks; and Mr. Welson, who had for a time maintained an increasing distance in advance of the doctor, came to a full stop at the foot of the summit incline, where the latter passed him, attributing his disability to shortness of breath from overhaste in the beginning. Congratulating himself upon his own prudence in reserving his strength for the last stretch, the doctor reached the summit, but was chagrined to find the prætor and family awaiting his arrival at the goal. The padre, forgetful of his night’s vigil, and the cause, bantered Dr. Baāhar upon his signal defeat; but an inquiring look from Mr. Welson reminded him of his petition, and he became silent until asked, when descending, why he had beckoned them to the summit fora?
“Well, I declare,” he replied, “your race put it out of my mind altogether; but I wanted you to see what a beautiful effect the morning sun had upon the scenery.”
Correliana referred him to the visit he had paid to the summit in company with Cleorita and Oviata on the morning after his return from Amelcoy; a reference that caused him to become blushingly silent. Mr. Welson then informed the prætor and family that the padre and Dr. Baāhar had already been initiated into the object of their secret convocations, and that from henceforth there would be no reservations in conversation.
CHAPTER XXIII.
The padre on his return to the quarters of the corps, found Mr. Dow alone, and questioned him upon the sincerity of Mr. Welson’s revelation. “You know,” he said, “that I am a sort of orphan waif among you, in the matter of science, which Mr. Welson, Dr. Baāhar, and others, with the exception of yourself, have taken advantage for their amusement; not that they have treated me unkindly or disrespectfully; but when they saw me really anxious from fear, which they could have relieved, it was hard that they should tease and add to my perplexity.”