finvestigation.Thus,althoughwefoundSouthamptonfullofPressmen,weabsolutelyrefusedtogiveanyinformation,whichhadthenaturaleffectoffocussingpublicattentionuponthemeetingwhichwasadvertisedfortheeveningofNovember7th.Forthisgathering,theZoologicalHallwhichhadbeenthesceneoftheinceptionofourtaskwasfoundtobefartoosmall,anditwasonlyintheQueen'sHallinRegentStreetthataccommodationcouldbefound.ItisnowcommonknowledgethepromotersmighthaveventuredupontheAlbertHallandstillfoundtheirspacetooscanty.
Itwasforthesecondeveningafterourarrivalthatthegreatmeetinghadbeenfixed.Forthefirst,wehadeach,nodoubt,ourownpressingpersonalaffairstoabsorbus.OfmineIcannotyetspeak.ItmaybethatasitstandsfurtherfrommeImaythinkofit,andevenspeakofit,withlessemotion.Ihaveshownthereaderinthebeginningofthisnarrativewherelaythespringsofmyaction.Itisbutright,perhaps,thatIshouldcarryonthetaleandshowalsotheresults.AndyetthedaymaycomewhenIwouldnothaveitotherwise.AtleastIhavebeendrivenforthtotakepartinawondrousadventure,andIcannotbutbethankfultotheforcethatdroveme.
AndnowIturntothelastsupremeeventfulmomentofouradventure.AsIwasrackingmybrainastohowIshouldbestdescribeit,myeyesfellupontheissueofmyownJournalforthemorningofthe8thofNovemberwiththefullandexcellentaccountofmyfriendandfellow-reporterMacdona.WhatcanIdobetterthantranscribehisnarrative—head-linesandall?Iadmitthatthepaperwasexuberantinthematter,outofcomplimenttoitsownenterpriseinsendingacorrespondent,buttheothergreatdailieswerehardlylessfullintheiraccount.Thus,then,friendMacinhisreport: