San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-18
CHAPTER Nv.
JOHN RUDD, POET AND CARRIER.

Southampton. 1t was arranged, therefore,
that l should journey by small steamer as
far as Falmouth, and thence by road to st.
Gurlott's-on-Sea. / was conducted TO the
boat by Mr.. Munster. On arriving at Fall
mouth, after an uneventful passage, / was
met OH board by rough-loOking person, who
informed me that he had been deputed by
'Missus Pendragon," to convey me and my
belongings to ST. GurlOtt's.
What manner of man he was | could
scarcely tell, beyond realizing the fact that
he was Of tremendous height, that he wore .
white beaver hat and that his figure was
wrapped in an enormous frieze coat which
reached his ankles. He gave glance at me,
and then said In q peculiar pipy voice:
Come, lad, gie's the tip about your boxes,
and we'll move on; the mares got q journey
afore 'un, and VEIN best nawt be latsp'
moved aft, and pointed out to him my
little trunk. He looked at 1t IN much the
same way as giant might look at pebble,
put it quietly under his arm, and moved of
again, inviting me to follow We crossed
the gangway, and came on to the quay. Here
we found large van, and fat sleepy-lOok-
ing roam horse. The wagon was rooted with
black tarpaulin, and on the side was painted,
In large white letters:
John RUDD, CARRIER, ST. GURLOTT's."
On coming up to the vehicle, my conductor
paused and disposed Of my trunk, then, turn
ing to me with Come, young master, Jump
In" he gave me lift which summarily placed
me inside and on the top of my box; then,
before l had time to recover myself, felt
that the wagon was joIting along.
What the day was like, and what sort of O
prospect we were passing through, had not
the remotest idea; the tarpaulin and the
enormous figure of the driver completely
shutting me in from the world. / waited for
awhile, thinking, perhaps, my companion
might turn communicative and make some
suggestion as to my better disposal; but none
came. He sat like log, and, beyond few
disjOinted explanations to the horse, uttered
not sound.
As he evidently had no intention whatever
of taking the slightest further notice of me,
thought IL best to approach him. accord
ingly shouted Zip several times and gave
him few vigorous pOkes in the back; but
neither Of these attempts producing the
slightest effect i concluded he must be- asleep
accordingly swung of the van behind, and,
running beside the horse, hullo'd to him
from the road.
This trick told better. Mr.. Rudd, who
seemed, indeed, to have become oblivious Of
the world, gradually turned his face toward
me and gazed at me for time with vacu-
Gus stare. Then he pulled up the horse with
jerk.
THE Lord preserve ZEE p he said, whats
the lad doin' thar'P'
Explained that 1 had swung out of the
wagon, because it was not pleasant inside,
and added:
Have you got room up there for two, Mr..
Rudd?"
Instead of replying to nay question, he
gave chuckle, and said:
"You'm a smart 'un; Mr.. Rudd, ehp Now,
haw did you come to knaw that thar, young
master, ehr'
explained that had concluded from his
appearance that he must be the master OF the
van, upon which John Rudd" was painted;
but he only chuckled again and plped:
"YOu'm little 'un to be such scholard r
As saw he was about TO become fossilized
again, fastened to repeat my former ques
ton. Mr.. Rudd gazed abstractedly at the
seat and then at me.
"Mayn't come up" said, ats so Close
inside the van. and l would rather ride be
side you, Mr.. Rudd?' Then. without giving
him time for refusal, / leapt up and nestled
beside him.
Mr. Rudd made no protest-he simply said
"Move on, mare" and the mare moved OF
| forthwith.
We had left Falmouth behind US, and wer'
moving cumbrously along the high road
Looking to the right and to the left could
| see nothing but undulating sweeps Of land
bleak and barren, with the stony highway
stretching before us, and winding about ser
pent fashion, until 1t was lost to view. W.
| were travelling westward, evidently. and, a,
far as prospect went we might be going for
| ward into the desert. There was not car
| or horse or human being to be seen any
where; and the only sound was the rattle O
the wagon, as it passed along over the rougl
road.
1t was past midday, and the sun was Al
hot as 1t had been any day that summer. A
felt II scorching my face and head, look
ed at my companion, and marveled again
His huge ulster-coat was buttoned up TO hi
chin, and his great round face was shaded b.
his broad felt hat. He was by no means
bad-looking man, and he was still young
only fve-and-thirty, or thereabouts. Hi
skin was tanned and weather-beaten, and hi
eyes were fixed upon the mare with bis ha
bitual dreamy stare.
Finding It was useless to expect him b
talk, l sat for time quietly by his side
watching, with some amount of interest, tn
rough and stony track we were following
then, when we had covered q mile or so, tn
mare went along at walk, and leapt light
ly into the road and kept pace beside her.
My change Of position once more arouse'
my companion from his trance; he turne'
his eye slowly upon me. and said: