idethecouch,andIexaminedthecontents.Hisnamewaswrittenuponatabwithinit—MapleWhite,LakeAvenue,Detroit,Michigan.ItisanametowhichIampreparedalwaystoliftmyhat.Itisnottoomuchtosaythatitwillranklevelwithmyownwhenthefinalcreditofthisbusinesscomestobeapportioned.
"Fromthecontentsoftheknapsackitwasevidentthatthismanhadbeenanartistandpoetinsearchofeffects.Therewerescrapsofverse.Idonotprofesstobeajudgeofsuchthings,buttheyappearedtometobesingularlywantinginmerit.Therewerealsosomerathercommonplacepicturesofriverscenery,apaint-box,aboxofcoloredchalks,somebrushes,thatcurvedbonewhichliesuponmyinkstand,avolumeofBaxter's'MothsandButterflies,'acheaprevolver,andafewcartridges.Ofpersonalequipmentheeitherhadnoneorhehadlostitinhisjourney.SuchwerethetotaleffectsofthisstrangeAmericanBohemian.
"IwasturningawayfromhimwhenIobservedthatsomethingprojectedfromthefrontofhisraggedjacket.Itwasthissketch-book,whichwasasdilapidatedthenasyouseeitnow.Indeed,IcanassureyouthatafirstfolioofShakespearecouldnotbetreatedwithgreaterreverencethanthisrelichasbeensinceitcameintomypossession.Ihandittoyounow,andIaskyoutotakeitpagebypageandtoexaminethecontents."
Hehelpedhimselftoacigarandleanedbackwithafiercelycriticalpairofeyes,takingnoteoftheeffectwhichthisdocumentwouldproduce.
Ihadopenedthevolumewithsomeexpectationofarevelation,thoughofwhatnatureIcouldnotimagine.Thefirstpagewasdisappointing,however,asitcontainednothingbutthepictureofaveryfatmaninapea-jacket,withthelegend,"JimmyColverontheMail-boat,"writtenbeneathit.TherefollowedseveralpageswhichwerefilledwithsmallsketchesofIndiansandtheirways.Thencameapictureofacheerfulandcorpulentecclesiasticinashovelhat,sittingoppositeaverythinEuropean,andtheinscription:"LunchwithFraCristoferoatRosario."Studiesofwomenandbabiesaccountedforseveralmorepages,andthentherewasanunbrokenseriesofanimaldrawingswithsuchexplanationsas"ManateeuponSandbank,""TurtlesandTheirEggs,""BlackAjoutiunderaMiritiPalm"—thematterdisclosingsomesortofpig-likeanimalandfinallycameadoublepageofstudiesoflong-snoutedandveryunpleasantsaurians.Icouldmakenothingofit,andsaidsototheProfessor.
"Surelytheseareonlycrocodiles?"
"Alligators!Alligators!ThereishardlysuchathingasatruecrocodileinSouthAmerica.Thedistinctionbetweenthem——"
"ImeantthatIcouldseenothingunusual—nothingtojustifywhatyouhavesaid."
Hesmiledserenely.
"Trythenextpage,"saidhe.
Iwasstillunabletosympathize.Itwasafull-pagesketchofalandscaperoughlytintedincolor—thekindofpaintingwhichanopen-airartisttakesasaguidetoafuturemoreelaborateeffort