In Search of an Unknown Race — page 195: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

VAN. 183 Van’s reappearance. He brought with him the com- pass, cup, matchbox, and the fly leaf of the journal kept by the two explorers, Edward Bampton and Carl schmidt. ‘“ Here are my proofs,” quietly observed Van, extend- ing them to Lord Bampton. As the Englishman received them he turned quite pale, for the two first named imple- ments were marked with his brother’s initials, while the inscription on the fly leaf of the note-book told its own story. As delicately as possible, Van very briefly related the story of his capture and escape from the Mumurus, and told Lord Bampton and his astonished companion of the embalmed heads. His description of the features established their identity beyond a doubt. Lord Bampton who was of course greatly shocked at what he had heard, thanked Van warmly for his narra- tive, as well as for the relics of his brother’s sad fate. But in vain the explorers sought to draw from him an account of his further adventures. ‘‘For good and sufficient reasons, I am not at liberty to speak of my experiences in the interior,” he replied, courteously but firmly, and, seeing that he was in ear- nest, they forbore further questioning. ‘‘What d’ye think of Yankee enterprise mow, Lord Bampton?” pertinently asked Mr. Boltrope, with an ex- asperating grin, as Van, raising his hat. walked away. ‘‘Clear case of young America beating old England,” frankly admitted the former, and after that, Van had no reason to complain of lack of attention. Indeed, as one and another of the cabin passengers heard concerning the young adventurer, he received rather more notice than was altogether agreeable, Eomicbooks: Gc