d; 'what kind of books?' I had an idea he
could take no interest in anything save grammars and dictionaries.
Somehow, in spite of all his acquirements, one didn't associate that
transitory creature with books at all. 'Eh?' he said, harshly, 'I don't
understand. You understand, I wish for books.' 'Yes, what sort?' I
asked again. 'It doesn't matter,' he muttered, calmly, taking the
finished article from the lathe and putting it beside the screws, 'all
books are the same. It doesn't matter at all. You have books, eh?' I
said I had one or two, but I needed them. As a matter of fact, I had
only brought one or two engineering works with me and a funny old
leather-bound Norie's Navigation of my father's. My mother didn't know
whether I'd need it or not. I didn't. I had plenty to do without going
into navigation. It was a queer old thing, though, designed for men of
the old school who came aft from the forecastle and had to learn the
three Rs. 'You need them, eh? Ah, well, that is all right. I read many
books, yes. Plenty English books.' I saw light all at once. 'How much
for these?' I asked Mister George. He turned to look at the gauges of
the freezing plant and then glanced back at me over his shoulder. 'I
care nothing for money,' he said. 'It is the root of evil. But books!
Knowledge is power, yes.'

"It was confusing. Here was another victim of words, words he didn't even
clearly understand. He lived apparently in a copy-book world, full of
shining maxims and idiotic generalities. For an instant I had a queer
feeling of talking to one of those automatons one sees on the
stage--figures with gramaphones in their interiors, and who utter
strange, disconcerting sounds.

"'I will give you a book,' I said at last, taking up the things, 'and
many thanks for these. They said we couldn't get them made here, but
you see they were wrong.'

"He didn't understand a word of this explanation, I believe. He smiled,
moved his fez round and round his head as if on a socket, and remarked,
'Yes, you all right now, eh?'

"'Yes,' I said, patiently, 'but if you want a book on navigation,
mathematics and so on, I can let you have it.'

"He nodded, but I don't think he followed me. So I took my screws and
washer, and telling him I would return, hurried back to the ship. You
know, I felt triumphant. I had scored, not only over my shipmates, but
over him, over Africa, over the whole of the universe that wasn't Me,
myself. I had taken a step for