Atlas Nightshade

Day 33

"'Ow yes, they would,' says I, a-imitatin' of him. 'They always likes a

bone or two to clean their teeth on about tea-time, which you 'as a

bagful.'

"Well, it was a odd thing, but when the animiles see us a-talkin' they

lay down, and when I went over to Bersicker he let me stroke his ears

same as ever. That there man kem over, and blessed but if he didn't put

in his hand and stroke the old wolf's ears too!

"'Tyke care,' says I. 'Bersicker is quick.'

"'Never mind,' he says. 'I'm used to 'em!'

"'Are you in the business yourself?' I says, tyking off my 'at, for a

man what trades in wolves, anceterer, is a good friend to keepers.

"'No' says he, 'not exactly in the business, but I 'ave made pets of

several.' And with that he lifts his 'at as perlite as a lord, and walks

away. Old Bersicker kep' a-lookin' arter 'im till 'e was out of sight,

and then went and lay down in a corner and wouldn't come hout the 'ole

hevening. Well, larst night, so soon as the moon was hup, the wolves

here all began a-'owling. There warn't nothing for them to 'owl at.

There warn't no one near, except some one that was evidently a-callin' a

dog somewheres out back of the gardings in the Park road. Once or twice

I went out to see that all was right, and it was, and then the 'owling

stopped. Just before twelve o'clock I just took a look round afore

turnin' in, an', bust me, but when I kem opposite to old Bersicker's

cage I see the rails broken and twisted about and the cage empty. And

that's all I know for certing."

"Did any one else see anything?"

"One of our gard'ners was a-comin' 'ome about that time from a 'armony,

when he sees a big grey dog comin' out through the garding 'edges. At

least, so he says, but I don't give much for it myself, for if he did 'e

never said a word about it to his missis when 'e got 'ome, and it was

only after the escape of the wolf was made known, and we had been up all

night-a-huntin' of the Park for Bersicker, that he remembered seein'

anything. My own belief was that the 'armony 'ad got into his 'ead."

"Now, Mr. Bilder, can you account in any way for the escape of the

wolf?"

"Well, sir," he said, with a suspicious sort of modesty, "I think I can;

but I don't know as 'ow you'd be satisfied with the theory."

"Certainly I shall. If a man like you, who knows the animals from

experience, can't hazard a good guess at any rate, who is even to try?"

"Well then, sir, I accounts for it this way; it seems to me that 'ere

wolf escaped--simply because he wanted to get out."

From the hearty way that both Thomas and his wife laughed at the joke I

could see that it had done service before, and that the whole

explanation was simply an elaborate sell. I couldn't cope in badinage

with the worthy Thomas, but I thought I knew a surer way to his heart,

so I said:--

"Now, Mr. Bilder, we'll consider that first half-sovereign worked off,

and this brother of his is waiting to be claimed when you've told me

what you think will happen."

"Right y'are, sir," he said briskly. "Ye'll excoose me, I know, for

a-chaffin' of ye, but the old woman here winked at me, which was as much

as telling me to go on."

"Well, I never!" said the old lady.

"My opinion is this: that 'ere wolf is a-'idin' of, somewheres. The

gard'ner wot didn't remember said he was a-gallopin' northward faster

than a horse could go; but I don't believe him, for, yer see, sir,

wolves don't gallop no more nor dogs does, they not bein' built that

way. Wolves is fine things in a storybook, and I dessay when they gets

in packs and does be chivyin' somethin' that's more afeared than they is

they can make a devil of a noise and chop it up, whatever it is. But,

Lor' bless you, in real life a wolf is only a low creature, not half so

clever or bold as a good dog; and not half a quarter so much fight in

'im. This one ain't been used to fightin' or even to providin' for

hisself, and more like he's somewhere round the Park a-'idin' an'

a-shiverin' of, and, if he thinks at all, wonderin' where he is to get

his breakfast from; or maybe he's got down some area and is in a

coal-cellar. My eye, won't some cook get a rum start when she sees his

green eyes a-shining at her out of the dark! If he can't get food he's

bound to look for it, and mayhap he may chance to light on a butcher's

shop in time. If he doesn't, and some nursemaid goes a-walkin' orf with

a soldier, leavin' of the hinfant in the perambulator--well, then I

shouldn't be surprised if the census is one babby the less. That's

all."

I was handing him the half-sovereign, when something came bobbing up

against the window, and Mr. Bilder's face doubled its natural length

with surprise.

"God bless me!" he said. "If there ain't old Bersicker come back by

'isself!"

He went to the door and opened it; a most unnecessary proceeding it

seemed to me. I have always thought that a wild animal never looks so

well as when some obstacle of pronounced durability is between us; a

personal experience has intensified rather than diminished that idea.

After all, however, there is nothing like custom, for neither Bilder nor

his wife thought any more of the wolf than I should of a dog. The animal

itself was as peaceful and well-behaved as that father of all

picture-wolves--Red Riding Hood's quondam friend, whilst moving her

confidence in masquerade.

The whole scene was an unutterable mixture of comedy and pathos. The

wicked wolf that for half a day had paralysed London and set all the

children in the town shivering in their shoes, was there in a sort of

penitent mood, and was received and petted like a sort of vulpine

prodigal son. Old Bilder examined him all over with most tender

solicitude, and when he had finished with his penitent said:--

"There, I knew the poor old chap would get into some kind of trouble;

didn't I say it all along? Here's his head all cut and full of broken

glass. 'E's been a-gettin' over some bloomin' wall or other. It's a

shyme that people are allowed to top their walls with broken bottles.

This 'ere's what comes of it. Come along, Bersicker."

He took the wolf and locked him up in a cage, with a piece of meat that

satisfied, in quantity at any rate, the elementary conditions of the

fatted calf, and went off to report.

I came off, too, to report the only exclusive information that is given

to-day regarding the strange escapade at the Zoo.

_Dr. Seward's Diary._

_17 September._--I was engaged after dinner in my study posting up my

books, which, through press of other work and the many visits to Lucy,

had fallen sadly into arrear. Suddenly the door was burst open, and in

rushed my patient, with his face distorted with passion. I was

thunderstruck, for such a thing as a patient getting of his own accord

into the Superintendent's study is almost unknown. Without an instant's

pause he made straight at me. He had a dinner-knife in his hand, and,

as I saw he was dangerous, I tried to keep the table between us. He was

too quick and too strong for me, however; for before I could get my

balance he had struck at me and cut my left wrist rather severely.

Before he could strike again, however, I got in my right and he was

sprawling on his back on the floor. My wrist bled freely, and quite a

little pool trickled on to the carpet. I saw that my friend was not

intent on further effort, and occupied myself binding up my wrist,

keeping a wary eye on the prostrate figure all the time. When the

attendants rushed in, and we turned our attention to him, his employment

positively sickened me. He was lying on his belly on the floor licking

up, like a dog, the blood which had fallen from my wounded wrist. He was

easily secured, and, to my surprise, went with the attendants quite

placidly, simply repeating over and over again: "The blood is the life!

The blood is the life!"

I cannot afford to lose blood just at present; I have lost too much of

late for my physical good, and then the prolonged strain of Lucy's

illness and its horrible phases is telling on me. I am over-excited and

weary, and I need rest, rest, rest. Happily Van Helsing has not summoned

me, so I need not forego my sleep; to-night I could not well do without

it.

_Telegram, Van Helsing, Antwerp, to Seward, Carfax._

(Sent to Carfax, Sussex, as no county given; delivered late by

twenty-two hours.)

"_17 September._--Do not fail to be at Hillingham to-night. If not

watching all the time frequently, visit and see that flowers are as

placed; very important; do not fail. Shall be with you as soon as

possible after arrival."

_Dr. Seward's Diary._

_18 September._--Just off for train to London. The arrival of Van

Helsing's telegram filled me with dismay. A whole night lost, and I know

by bitter experience what may happen in a night. Of course it is

possible that all may be well, but what _may_ have happened? Surely

there is some horrible doom hanging over us that every possible accident

should thwart us in all we try to do. I shall take this cylinder with

me, and then I can complete my entry on Lucy's phonograph.