knowthathewasnotawareofwhathewassaying，forhisthoughtswereoutontheseawithLongfellow。
　　“Charlie。”Iasked，“whentherowersonthegalleysmutiniedhowdidtheykilltheiroverseers？”
　　“Toreupthebenchesandbrained’emThathappenedwhenaheavyseawasrunningAnoverseeronthelowerdeckslippedfromthecentreplankandfellamongtherowersTheychokedhimtodeathagainstthesideoftheshipwiththeirchainedhandsquitequietly，anditwastoodarkfortheotheroverseertoseewhathadhappenedWhenheasked，hewaspulleddowntooandchoked，andthelowerdeckfoughttheirwayupdeckbydeck，withthepiecesofthebrokenbenchesbangingbehind’emHowtheyhowled！”
　　“Andwhathappenedafterthat？”
　　“Idon’tknowTheherowentaway-redhairandredbeardandall。
　　Thatwasafterhehadcapturedourgalley，Ithink“
　　Thesoundofmyvoiceirritatedhim，andhemotionedslightlywithhislefthandasamandoeswheninterruptionjars。
　　“Younevertoldmehewasredheadedbefore，orthathecapturedyourgalley。”Isaid，afteradiscreetinterval。
　　Charliedidnotraisehiseyes。
　　“Hewasasredasaredbear。”saidhe，abstractedly“Hecamefromthenorth；theysaidsointhegalleywhenhelookedforrowers-riotslaves，butfreemenAfterward-yearsandyearsafterward-newscamefromanothership，orelsehecameback“-HislipsmovedinsilenceHewasrapturouslyretastingsomepoembeforehim。
　　“Wherehadhebeen，then？”IwasalmostwhisperingthatthesentencemightcomegentletowhicheversectionofCharlie’sbrainwasworkingonmybehalf。
　　“TotheBeaches-theLongandWonderfulBeaches！”wasthereply，afteraminuteofsilence。
　　“ToFurdurstrandi？”Iasked，tinglingfromheadtofoot。
　　“Yes，toFurdurstrandi。”hepronouncedthewordinanewfashion“AndItoosaw“-Thevoicefailed。
　　“Doyouknowwhatyouhavesaid？”Ishouted，incautiously。
　　Heliftedhiseyes，fullyrousednow“No！”hesnapped“Iwishyou’dletachapgoonreadingHarktothis：
　　“’ButOthere，theoldseacaptain，HeneitherpausednorstirredTillthekinglistened，andthen’OncemoretookuphispenAndwrotedowneveryword。
　　“’AndtotheKingoftheSaxonsInwitnessofthetruth，Raisinghisnoblehead，Hestretchedhisbrownhandandsaid，“Beholdthiswalrustooth。”
　　ByJove，whatchapsthosemusthavebeen，togosailingallovertheshopneverknowingwherethey’dfetchtheland！Hah！”
　　“Charlie。”Ipleaded，“ifyou’llonlyhesensibleforaminuteortwoI’llmakeourheroinourtaleeveryinchasgoodasOthere。”
　　“Umph！LongfellowwrotethatpoemIdon’tcareaboutwritingthingsanymoreIwanttoread。”Hewasthoroughlyoutoftunenow，andragingovermyownill-luck，Ilefthim。
　　Conceiveyourselfatthedooroftheworld’streasure-houseguardedbyachild-anidleirresponsiblechildplayingknuckle-
　　bones-onwhosefavordependsthegiftofthekey，andyouwillimagineone-halfmytormentTillthateveningCharliehadspokennothingthatmightnotliewithintheexperiencesofaGreekgalley-slaveButnow，ortherewasnovirtueinbooks，hehadtalkedofsomedesperateadventureoftheVikings，ofThorfinKarlsefne’ssailingtoWineland，whichisAmerica，intheninthortenthcenturyThebattleintheharborhehadseen；andhisowndeathhehaddescribedButthiswasamuchmorestartlingplungeintothepastWasitpossiblethathehadskippedhalfadozenlivesandwasthendimlyrememberingsomeepisodeofathousandyearslater？Itwasamaddeningjumble，andtheworstofitwasthatCharlieMearsinhisnormalconditionwasthelastpersonintheworldtoclearitupIcouldonlywaitandwatch，butIwenttobedthatnightfullofthewildestimaginingsTherewasnothingthatwasnotpossibleifCharlie’sdetestablememoryonlyheldgood。
　　ImightrewritetheSagaofThorfinKarlsefneasithadneverbeenwrittenbefore，mighttellthestoryofthefirstdiscoveryofAmerica，myselfthediscovererButIwasentirelyatCharlie’smercy，andsolongastherewasathree-and-six-pennyBohnvolumewithinhisreachCharliewouldnottellIdarednotcursehimopenly；Ihardlydaredjoghismemory，forIwasdealingwiththeexperiencesofathousandyearsago，toldthroughthemouthofaboyoftoday；andaboyofto-dayisaffectedbyeverychangeoftoneandgustofopinion，sothatheliesevenwhenhedesirestospeakthetruth。
　　IsawnomoreofhimfornearlyaweekWhennextImethimitwasinGracechurchStreetwithabillbookchainedtohiswaist。
　　BusinesstookhimoverLondonBridgeandIaccompaniedhim。
　　Hewasveryfulloftheimportanceofthatbookandmagnifiedit。
　　AswepassedovertheThameswepausedtolookatasteamer’
　　unloadinggreatslabsofwhiteandbro““nmarbleAbargedriftedunderthesteamer’ssternandalonelycowinthatbargebellowed。
　　Charlie’sfacechangedfromthefaceofthebank-clerktothatofanunknownand-thoughhewouldnothavebelievedthis-amuchshrewdermanHeflungouthisarmacrosstheparapetofthebridge，andlaughingveryloudly，said：
　　“WhentheyheardourbullsbellowtheSkroelingsranaway！”
　　Iwaitedonlyforaninstant，butthebargeandthecowhaddisappearedunderthebowsofthesteamerbeforeIanswered。
　　“Charlie，whatdoyousupposeareSkroelings？”
　　“Neverheardof’embeforeTheysoundlikeanewkindofseagullWhatachapyouareforaskingquestions！”hereplied“I
　　havetogotothecashieroftheOmnibusCompanyyonderWillyouwaitformeandwecanlunchsomewheretogether？I’veanotionforapoem。”
　　“No，thanksI’moffYou’resureyouknownothingaboutSkroelings？”
　　“Notunlesshe’sbeenenteredfortheLiverpoolHandicap。”Henoddedanddisappearedinthecrowd。
　　NowitiswrittenintheSagaofErictheRedorthatofThorfinKarlsefne，thatninehundredyearsagowhenKarlsefne’sgalleyscametoLeif’sbooths，whichLeifhaderectedintheunknownlandcalledMarkland，whichmayormaynothavebeenRhodeIsland，theSkroelings-andtheLordHeknowswhothesemayormaynothavebeen-cametotradewiththeVikings，andranawaybecausetheywerefrightenedatthebellowingofthecattlewhichThorfinhadbroughtwithhimintheshipsButwhatintheworldcouldaGreekslaveknowofthataffair？Iwanderedupanddownamongthestreetstryingtounravelthemystery，andthemoreI
　　consideredit，themorebafflingitgrewOnethingonlyseemedcertainandthatcertaintytookawaymybreathforthemomentIfIcametofullknowledgeofanythingatall，itwouldnotbeonelifeofthesoulinCharlieMears’sbody，buthalfadozen-halfadozenseveralandseparateexistencesspentonbluewaterinthemorningoftheworld！
　　ThenIwalkedroundthesituation。
　　ObviouslyifIusedmyknowledgeIshouldstandaloneandunapproachableuntilallmenwereaswiseasmyselfThatwouldbesomething，butmanlikeIwasungratefulItseemedbitterlyunfairthatCharlie’smemoryshouldfailmewhenIneededitmost。
　　GreatPowersabove-Ilookedupatthemthroughthefogsmoke-
　　didtheLordsofLifeandDeathknowwhatthismeanttome？
　　Nothinglessthaneternalfameofthebestkind；thatcomesfromOne，andissharedbyonealoneIwouldbecontent-rememberingClive，Istoodastoundedatmyownmoderation，-withthemererighttotellonestory，toworkoutonelittlecontributiontothelightliteratureofthedayIfCharliewerepermittedfullrecollectionforonehour-forsixtyshortminutes-ofexistencesthathadextendedoverathousandyears-IwouldforegoallprofitandhonorfromallthatIshouldmakeofhisspeechIwouldtakenoshareinthecommotionthatwouldfollowthroughouttheparticularcorneroftheearththatcallsitself“theworld。”ThethingshouldbeputforthanonymouslyNay，IwouldmakeothermenbelievethattheyhadwrittenitTheywouldhirebull-hidedself-advertisingEnglishmentobellowitabroadPreacherswouldfoundafreshconductoflifeuponit，swearingthatitwasnewandthattheyhadliftedthefearofdeathfromallmankind。
　　EveryOrientalistinEuropewouldpatronizeitdiscursivelywithSanskritandPalitextsTerriblewomenwouldinventuncleanvariantsofthemen’sbelieffortheelevationoftheirsisters。
　　ChurchesandreligionswouldwaroveritBetweenthehailingandre-startingofanomnibusIforesawthescufflesthatwouldariseamonghalfadozendenominationsallprofessing“thedoctrineoftheTrueMetempsychosisasappliedtotheworldandtheNewEra“；andsaw，too，therespectableEnglishnewspapersshying，likefrightenedkine，overthebeautifulsimplicityofthetaleThemindleapedforwardahundred-twohundred-athousandyearsIsawwithsorrowthatmenwouldmutilateandgarblethestory；thatrivalcreedswouldturnitupsidedowntill，atlast，thewesternworldwhichclingstothedreadofdeathmorecloselythanthehopeoflife，wouldsetitasideasaninterestingsuperstitionandstampedeaftersomefaithsolongforgottenthatitseemedaltogethernewUponthisIchangedthetermsofthebargainthatI
　　wouldmakewiththeLordsofLifeandDeathOnlyletmeknow，letmewrite，thestorywithsureknowledgethatIwrotethetruth，andIwouldburnthemanuscriptasasolemnsacrificeFiveminutesafterthelastlinewaswrittenIwoulddestroyitallButI
　　mustbeallowedtowriteitwithabsolutecertainty。
　　TherewasnoanswerTheflamingcolorsofanAquariumpostercaughtmyeyeandIwonderedwhetheritwouldbewiseorprudenttolureCharlieintothehandsoftheprofessionalmesmerist，andwhether，ifhewereunderhispower，hewouldspeakofhispastlivesIfhedid，andifpeoplebelievedhimbutCharliewouldbefrightenedandflustered，ormadeconceitedbytheinterviews。
　　Ineithercasehewouldbegintolie，throughfearorvanityHewassafestinmyownhands。
　　“Theyareveryfunnyfools，yourEnglish。”saidavoiceatmyelbow，andturningroundIrecognizedacasualacquaintance，ayoungBengalilawstudent，calledGrishChunder，whosefatherhadsenthimtoEnglandtobecomecivilizedTheoldmanwasaretirednativeofficial，andonanincomeoffivepoundsamonthcontrivedtoallowhissontwohundredpoundsayear，andtherunofhisteethinacitywherehecouldpretendtobethecadetofaroyalhouse，andtellstoriesofthebrutalIndianbureaucratswhogroundthefacesofthepoor。
　　GrishChunderwasayoung，fat，full-bodiedBengalidressedwithscrupulouscareinfrockcoat，tallhat，lighttrousersandtangloves。
　　ButIhadknownhiminthedayswhenthebrutalIndianGovernmentpaidforhisuniversityeducation，andhecontributedcheapseditiontoSachiDurpan，andintriguedwiththewivesofhisschoolmates。
　　“Thatisveryfunnyandveryfoolish。”hesaid，noddingattheposter“IamgoingdowntotheNorthbrookClubWillyoucometoo？”
　　Iwalkedwithhimforsometime“You’arenotwell。”hesaid。
　　“Whatisthereinyourmind？Youdonottalk。”
　　“GrishChunder，you’vebeentoowelleducatedtobelieveinaGod，haven’tvou？”
　　“Oah，yes，here！ButwhenIgohomeImustconciliatepopularsuperstition，andmakeceremoniesofpurification，andmywomenwillanointidols。”
　　“Andbanguptulsiandfeastthepurohit，andtakeyoubackintocasteagainandmakeagoodkhuttrjofyouagain，youadvancedsocialFree-thinkerAndyou’lleatdesifood，andlikeitall，fromthesmellinthecourtyardtothemustardoiloveryou。”
　　“Ishallverymuchlikeit。”saidGrishChunder，unguardedly。
　　“OnceaHindu-alwaysaHinduButIliketoknowwhattheEnglishthinktheyknow。”
　　“I’lltellyousomethingthatoneEnglishmanknowsIt’sanoldtaletoyou。”
　　IbegantotellthestoryofCharlieinEnglish，butGrishChunderputaquestioninthevernacular，andthehistorywentforwardnaturallyinthetonguebestsuitedforitstellingAfterallitcouldneverhavebeentoldinEnglishGrishChunderheardme，noddingfromtimetotime，andthencameuptomyroomswhereIfinishedthetale。
　　“Beshak。”hesaid，philosophically“Lekindarwazabandhai。
　　Withoutdoubt，butthedoorisshut。IhaveheardofthisrememberingofpreviousexistencesamongmypeopleItisofcourseanoldtalewithus，but，tohappentoanEnglishman-acow-fedMalechk-anoutcastByJove，thatismostpeculiar！”