Collected works > Edinburgh edition, 1894-98 - Works of Robert Louis Stevenson > Volume 20, 1896 - Travels and excursion, Volume III

THE BEACH OF FALESA
drink. His body was covered with grey hair and
crawled over by flies ; one was in the corner of his
eye — he never heeded ; and the mosquitoes hummed
about the man like bees. Any clean-minded man
would have had the creature out at once and buried
him ; and to see him, and think he was seventy, and
remember he had once commanded a ship, and come
ashore in his smart togs, and talked big in bars and
consulates, and sat in club verandahs, turned me
sick and sober.
He tried to get up when I came in, but that was
hopeless ; so he reached me a hand instead, and
stumbled out some salutation.
* Papa's 1 pretty full this morning,' observed Case.
' We 've had an epidemic here ; and Captain Randall
takes gin for a prophylactic — don't you, Papa ? '
' Never took such a thing in my life ? ' cried the
captain indignantly. 'Take gin for my health's
sake, Mr. Wha 's-ever-your-name — 's a precautionary
measure.'
■ That 's all right, Papa,' said Case. ' But you '11
have to brace up. There 's going to be a marriage —
Mr. Wiltshire here is going to get spliced. '
The old man asked to whom.
■ To Uma,' said Case.
' Uma ! ' cried the captain. ' Wha 's he want
Uma for ? 's he come here for his health, anyway ?
Wha' 'n hell 's he want Uma for ? '
' Dry up, Papa,' said Case. ' 'Tain't you that 's to
marry her. I guess you 're not her godfather and
Please pronounce pappa throughout.
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