Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 3.djvu/72

 "'To rush from the table when it is reported that a wolf is in sight, and on coming back to find the cat has eaten your dinner.

"'To be returning quietly home from a walk, absorbed in profitable meditation, and suddenly find yourself in the embrace of a bear.'

"We might supplement this list ourselves," said the Doctor, "to almost any amount, for there is a sort of pleasure in enumerating troubles when one has got the better of them."

"I declare," said Altamont, "this Winter Journal is an amusing affair. I wish we could subscribe to it."

"Suppose we start one," said Johnson.

"For us five!" exclaimed Clawbonny; "we might do for editors, but there would not be readers enough."

"No, nor spectators enough, if we tried to get up a comedy," added Altamont.

"Tell us some more about Captain Parry's theater," said Johnson; "did they play new pieces? "

"Certainly. At first two volumes on board the Hecla were gone through, but as there was a performance once a fortnight, this répertoire was soon exhausted. Then they had to improvise fresh plays; Parry himself composed one which had immense success. It was called 'The Northwest Passage; or, 'The End of the Voyage.'"

"A famous title," said Altamont; "but I must confess, if I had chosen such a subject, I should have been at a loss for the dénouement."

"You are right," said Bell; " who can say what the end will be?"

"What does that matter?" replied Mr. Clawbonny. "Why should we trouble about the last act, while the first ones are going on well. Leave all that to Providence, friends; let us each play our own rôle as perfectly as we can, and since the dénouement belongs to the Great Author of all things, we will trust his skill. He will manage our affairs for us, never fear."

"Well, we'd better go and dream about it," said Johnson, "for it's getting late, and it is time we went to bed."

"You're in a great hurry, old fellow," replied the Doctor.

"Why would you sit up, Mr. Clawbonny. I am so