odoubtthatIshowitinmybearing.Suddenly,justaswereachthevessel,thereisashoutbehindus.ItisProfessorChallenger,whohadpromisedtoseeusoff.Herunsafterus,apuffing,red-faced,irasciblefigure.
"Nothankyou,"sayshe"Ishouldmuchprefernottogoaboard.Ihaveonlyafewwordstosaytoyou,andtheycanverywellbesaidwhereweare.IbegyounottoimaginethatIaminanywayindebtedtoyouformakingthisjourney.Iwouldhaveyoutounderstandthatitisamatterofperfectindifferencetome,andIrefusetoentertainthemostremotesenseofpersonalobligation.Truthistruth,andnothingwhichyoucanreportcanaffectitinanyway,thoughitmayexcitetheemotionsandallaythecuriosityofanumberofveryineffectualpeople.Mydirectionsforyourinstructionandguidanceareinthissealedenvelope.YouwillopenitwhenyoureachatownupontheAmazonwhichiscalledManaos,butnotuntilthedateandhourwhichismarkedupontheoutside.HaveImademyselfclear?Ileavethestrictobservanceofmyconditionsentirelytoyourhonor.No,Mr.Malone,Iwillplacenorestrictionuponyourcorrespondence,sincetheventilationofthefactsistheobjectofyourjourneybutIdemandthatyoushallgivenoparticularsastoyourexactdestination,andthatnothingbeactuallypublisheduntilyourreturn.Good-bye,sir.Youhavedonesomethingtomitigatemyfeelingsfortheloathsomeprofessiontowhichyouunhappilybelong.Good-bye,LordJohn.Scienceis,asIunderstand,asealedbooktoyoubutyoumaycongratulateyourselfuponthehunting-fieldwhichawaitsyou.Youwill,nodoubt,havetheopportunityofdescribingintheFieldhowyoubroughtdowntherocketingdimorphodon.Andgood-byetoyoualso,ProfessorSummerlee.Ifyouarestillcapableofself-improvement,ofwhichIamfranklyunconvinced,youwillsurelyreturntoLondonawiserman."
Soheturneduponhisheel,andaminutelaterfromthedeckIcouldseehisshort,squatfigurebobbingaboutinthedistanceashemadehiswaybacktohistrain.Well,wearewelldownChannelnow.There'sthelastbellforletters,andit'sgood-byetothepilot.We'llbe"down,hull-down,ontheoldtrail"fromnowon.Godblessallweleavebehindus,andsendussafelyback.