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saw a table with writing materials on it； and sat down there to answer letters； until ultimately we were retrieved。
Another strange experience was when we found ourselves in a bachelor house； of which the host； poor fellow — having； we understood； been crossed in love — was in the habit of looking upon the wine when it was red。 In that house there was practically nothing to eat； for the reason that its owner ate practically nothing。 I remember a certain pink and underdone veal and ham pie which； as I was extremely unwell at the time； did not excite appetite； also an egg which I asked for in place of the pie — but I will not dwell upon that egg！ On the other hand； we literally swam in 1845 — yes； 1845 vintage port。 It was going at lunch； it was going at dinner； it was always going — I may add； it always went！
Our host； a most kindly…natured and wealthy man； finding out that I liked old furniture； took me to an attic which was stuffed with Jacobean oak and Georgian Chippendale。 I admired the pieces； whereon he said in a careless voice； “If you like them； take them away。 I don’t care for them。”
I was greatly tempted； but in all the circumstances did not feel justified in accepting this liberal offer。
But I must not continue the record of such reminiscences of our journeyings； since of these truly there is no end。
In the year 1903； which I spent at home； I wrote another work of a rural character； called “A Gardener’s Year。” This first appeared serially in the Queen； and was afterwards brought out in a handsome volume of nearly four hundred pages by Messrs。 Longman。 It went through two editions and gave pleasure to a good many people。
Also I wrote a romance of chivalry called “The Brethren；” of which the scene is laid in the Holy Land in the time of the Crusaders。 Personally it is a favourite with me； but my historical tales have never been quite so popular as are those which deal with African adventure。
Chapter 19 PSYCHICAL
With eldest daughter to Egypt — Return by Italy and Spain — Abu Simbel with Carter — Bee’s nest 2000 years old — “The Way of the Spirit” — Dedicated to Kipling — Death of H。 R。 H。‘s retriever Bob — Appears to him in dream — Report published in Journal of Society for Psychical Research — Lasting effect on H。 R。 H。‘s mind — More dream…pictures — Sir Oliver Lodge。
Early in 1904 I took my daughter Angela on a trip to Egypt； returning by way of Italy and Spain。 We went out on one of the new P。 & O。 boats which was making her maiden voyage； and experienced the most awful weather。 We began by grounding in the Thames and； after a short stop to bury a Lascar overboard — who； poor fellow； had died of the cold — ran into a terrific gale in the Channel。 The wind…gauges registered its pace at about eighty miles the hour； after which their bottoms were blown out or something happened to them。 Then the fore…hatch was stove in and filled with water； as did the passages along which we had to walk from the cabins。 Time after time did we stop to try and make that hatch good with four…inch teak planks； but always these were broken by the force of the sea。
Our subsequent misfortunes were many。 We were taken in closer to Ushant than I thought pleasant； the new engines heated； the chief engineer went mad with the strain and； when at length we did reach Port Said； had to be carried ashore raving。 I believe that he died not long afterwards。 One night this poor fellow； dressed in full uniform； rushed from cabin to cabin； telling the passengers to get up as the ship was sinking！
We took the turn into the Mediterranean about twenty…four hours late； and in the dense darkness caused by a fearful squall nearly went ashore on the coast of Africa； as the Delhi did in after years — I saw her wreck only the other day。 When the light came I had a nearer view of that shore than I ever wish to see again — from the deck of an ocean liner。 In Gibraltar harbour we fouled our anchor in a man…of…war’s mooring chains and had to slip it。 In the Gulf of Lyons we encountered a very bad mistral while we were trying to sling another anchor into its place。 There it hung over the bow； bumping against the side of the ship。 By this time the Lascars seemed to be practically useless； and the first officer was obliged to slide down the chain and sit on the fluke of the anchor； shouting directions。 It was a strange sight to see this plucky young gentleman swinging about there over the deep。 He was — and I trust still is — a man of whom the country might be proud； but I have long forgotten his name。 In the end we crawled into Marseilles at three knots the hour； where some of the passengers left the ship； one of them explaining； for the fort of the rest of us； that he had the strongest presentiments that she was going to sink。
Our next adventure was a sandstorm blowing from the coast of Africa which turned the day to darkness and covered the decks with a kind of mud。 Then suddenly the vessel was put about； and it was discovered that the soundings showed that we were unfortably near the coast of Crete。 As the dear old captain； who had been much cut about by a sea that knocked him down on the bridge； remarked； “he knew what was behind him and did not know what was before”； also that “where he had once been he could go again。” Subsequently our fore well…deck filled three times to the bulwarks； shipping seas in the most unaccountable manner。
However； we came to Port Said at length； and got ashore at about midnight as best we could。 Never was I more glad to find myself on land again。
I enjoyed that trip in Egypt very much。 The place has a strange fascination for me； and if I could afford it I would go there every year。 On this my second visit we went as far as the wonderful rock…temple of Abu Simbel； near the Second Cataract of the Nile。 Also I had the good fortune to be with Mr。 Carter； then the local custodian of antiquities at Luxor； when we visited the tomb of Queen Nefer…tari； which； with the exception of the discover； who； I think； was Professor Scaparelli； we were； I believe； the first white men to enter。
It was wonderful to see those paintings of her late Majesty as fresh as the day that the artist left them。 In