Harry Escombe | Page 4

also get from
him a list of what you will require; and to-morrow you can take the

necessary time to give your orders before coming to the office. But you
must be careful to make sure that everything is supplied in good time,
for you sail for Callao this day three weeks."
The enthusiasm which caused Escombe's eyes to shine and his cheek to
glow as he strode up the short garden path to the door of the trim little
villa in West Hill, Sydenham, that night, was rather damped by the
reception accorded by his mother and sister to the glorious news which
he began to communicate before even he had stepped off the doormat.
Where the lad saw only an immediate increase of pay that would
suffice to solve the problem of the family's domestic embarrassments,
two years of assured employment, with a brilliant prospect beyond, a
long spell of outdoor life in a perfect climate and in a most interesting
and romantic country, during which he would be perfecting himself in a
very important branch of his profession, and, lastly, the possibility of
much exciting adventure, Mrs Escombe and Lucy discerned a long sea
voyage, with its countless possibilities of disaster, two years of
separation from the being who was dearer to them than all else, the
threat of strange and terrible attacks of sickness, and perils innumerable
from wild beasts, venomous reptiles and insects, trackless forests,
precipitous mountain paths, fathomless abysses, swift-rushing torrents,
fierce tropical storms, earthquakes, and, worse than all else, ferocious
and bloodthirsty savages! What was money and the freedom from care
and anxiety which its possession ensured, compared with all the awful
dangers which their darling must brave in order to win it? These two
gently nurtured women felt that they would infinitely rather beg their
bread in the streets than suffer their beloved Harry to go forth, carrying
his life in his hands, in order that they might be comfortably housed
and clothed and sufficiently fed! And indeed the picture which they
drew was sufficiently alarming to have daunted a lad of nervous and
timid temperament, and perhaps have turned him from his purpose. But
Harry Escombe was a youth of very different mould, and was built of
much sterner stuff. There was nothing of the milksop about him, and
the dangers of which his mother and sister spoke so eloquently had no
terrors for him, but, on the contrary, constituted a positive and very
powerful attraction; besides, as he pointed out to his companions, he
would not always be clinging to the face of a precipice, or

endeavouring to cross an impassable mountain torrent. Storms did not
rage incessantly in Peru, any more than they did elsewhere; Mr
Richards had assured him that the climate was healthy; ferocious
animals and deadly reptiles did not usually attack a man unless they
were interfered with; and reference to an Encyclopaedia disclosed the
fact that Peru, so far from swarming with untamed savages, was a
country enjoying a very fair measure of civilisation. Talking thus,
making light of such dangers as he would actually have to face, and
dwelling very strongly upon the splendid opening which the offer
afforded him, the lad gradually brought his mother and sister into a
more reasonable frame of mind, until at length, by the time that the
bedroom candles made their appearance, the two women, knowing how
completely Harry had set his heart upon going, and recognising also the
strength of his contention as to the advantageous character of the
opening afforded him by Mr Richards's proposal, had become so far
reconciled to the prospect of the separation that they were able to speak
of it calmly and to conceal the heartache from which both were
suffering. So on the following morning Mrs Escombe and Lucy were
enabled to sally forth with cheerful countenance and more or less
sprightly conversation as they accompanied the lad to town to assist
him in the purchase of his special outfit, the larger portion of which
was delivered at The Limes that same evening, and at once unpacked
for the purpose of being legibly marked and having all buttons securely
sewn on by two pairs of loving hands.
The following three weeks sped like a dream, so far as the individual
chiefly interested was concerned; during the day he was kept
continually busy by Mr Butler in the preparation of lists of the several
instruments, articles, and things--from theodolites, levels, measuring
chains, steel tapes, ranging rods, wire lines, sounding chains, drawing
and tracing paper, cases of instruments, colour boxes, T-squares, steel
straight-edges, and drawing pins, to tents, camp furniture, and
saddlery--and procuring the same. The evenings were spent in packing
and re-packing his kit as the several articles comprising it came to hand,
diversified