Page:Artabanzanus (Ferrar, 1896).djvu/177

Rh noise, but I managed to secure the following valuable fragment, which I give with many apologies:

The Doctor pulled up his horses, and the balloon driver stopped his song.

'Well Obeltub,' said the former, 'how are you getting on? How do you find yourself today, my dear and respected old friend? Getting ready for your next journey, I see. Rejoice, thou honourable pilot, I'm going with you, my boy!'

Obeltub grinned frightfully, and grunted in a very jocular manner, expressive, I thought, of derision and incredulity.

'Fact, 'pon my honour,' resumed the Doctor; 'I've made it all right. Your master is going to take me at last; he will keep his promise this time, and be as true, and generous, and faithful as you are yourself. So pump up a grand supply of lightning, stow away plenty of thunder, put in a lot of old moons for ballast, and have two of your fastest comets ready in tandem!'

Obeltub growled terribly, and scowled as who should say, 'I take no orders from you; be off, or it will be the worse for you.' He did not come within my friend's jurisdiction.

'And I shall not forget, my boy,' said he, laughing, and with difficulty suppressing a roar, 'to bring you a clothes-brush and a comb, and a bottle of scented oil for your hair and a tooth-brush, and a pot of my patent paste, and