I Meet Sir Henry Curtis

           Itisacuriousthingthatatmyage—fifty-fivelastbirthday—Ishouldfindmyselftakingupapentotrytowriteahistory. IwonderwhatsortofahistoryitwillbewhenIhavefinishedit,ifeverIcometotheendofthetrip! Ihavedoneagoodmanythingsinmylife,whichseemsalongonetome,owingtomyhavingbegunworksoyoung,perhaps. AtanagewhenotherboysareatschoolIwasearningmylivingasatraderintheoldColony. Ihavebeentrading,hunting,fighting,orminingeversince. AndyetitisonlyeightmonthsagothatImademypile. ItisabigpilenowthatIhavegotit—Idon’tyetknowhowbig—butIdonotthinkIwouldgothroughthelastfifteenorsixteenmonthsagainforit; no,notifIknewthatIshouldcomeoutsafeattheend,pileandall. ButthenIamatimidman,anddislikeviolence; moreover,Iamalmostsickofadventure. IwonderwhyIamgoingtowritethisbook: itisnotinmyline. Iamnotaliteraryman,thoughverydevotedtotheOldTestamentandalsotothe"IngoldsbyLegends. "Letmetrytosetdownmyreasons,justtoseeifIhaveany. 

           Firstreason:BecauseSirHenryCurtisandCaptainJohnGoodaskedme. 

           Secondreason:BecauseIamlaiduphereatDurbanwiththepaininmyleftleg. EversincethatconfoundedliongotholdofmeIhavebeenliabletothistrouble,andbeingratherbadjustnow,itmakesmelimpmorethanever. Theremustbesomepoisoninalion’steeth,otherwisehowisitthatwhenyourwoundsarehealedtheybreakoutagain,generally,markyou,atthesametimeofyearthatyougotyourmauling? Itisahardthingwhenonehasshotsixty-fivelionsormore,asIhaveinthecourseofmylife,thatthesixty-sixthshouldchewyourleglikeaquidoftobacco. Itbreakstheroutineofthething,andputtingotherconsiderationsaside,Iamanorderlymananddon’tlikethat.Thisisbytheway.