Milan was nearer ninety miles than eighty miles off. By the
strict road it was over ninety. And so I was forced to consider and to
be anxious, for how would this money hold out?
There was nothing for it but forced marches, and little prospect of
luxuries. But could it be done?
I thought it could, and I reasoned this way.
'It is true I need a good deal of food, and that if a man is to cover
great distances he must keep fit. It is also true that many men have
done more on less. On the other hand, they were men who were not
pressed for time - I am; and I do not know the habits of the country.
Ninety miles is three good days; two very heavy days. Indeed, whether
it can be done at all in two is doubtful. But it can be done in two
days, two nights, and half the third day. So if I plan it thus I shall
achieve it; namely, to march say forty-five miles or more to-day, and
to sleep rough at the end of it. My food may cost me altogether three
francs. I march the next day twenty-five to thirty, my food costing me
another three francs. Then with the remaining two francs and ten
centimes I will take a bed at the end of the day, and coffee and bread
next morning, and will march the remaining twenty miles or less (as
they may be) into Milan with a copper or two in my pocket. Then in
Milan, having obtained my money, I will eat.'
So I planned with very careful and exact precision, but many accidents
and unexpected things, diverting my plans, lay in wait for me among
the hills.
And to cut a long story short, as the old sailor said to the young
fool -
LECTOR. What did the old sailor say to the young fool?
AUCTOR. Why, the old sailor was teaching the young fool his compass,
and he said - -
'Here we go from north, making round by west, and then by south round
by east again to north. There are thirty-two points of the compass,
namely, first these four, N., W., S., and E., and these are halved,
making four more, viz., NW., S W., SE., and NE. I trust I make myself
clear,' said the old sailor.
'That makes eight divisions, as we call them. So look smart and
follow. Each of these eight is divided into two symbolically and
symmetrically divided parts, as is most evident in the nomenclature of
the same,' said the old sailor. 'Thus between N. and NE. is NNE.,
between NE. and E. is ENE., between E. and SE. is...'
'I see,' said the young fool.
The old sailor, frowning at him, continued -
'Smart you there. Heels together, and note you well. Each of these
sixteen divisions is separated quite reasonably and precisely into
two. Thus between N. and NNE. we get N. by E.,' said the old sailor;
'and between NNE. and NE. we get NE. by E., and between NE. and ENE.
we get NE. by E.,' said the old sailor; 'and between ENE. and E. we
get E. by N., and then between E. and ESE. we get...'
But here he noticed something dangerous in the young fool's eyes, and
having read all his life Admiral Griles' 'Notes on Discipline', and
knowing that discipline is a subtle bond depending 'not on force but
on an attitude of the mind,' he continued -
'And so TO CUT A LONG STORY SHORT we come round to the north again.'
Then he added, 'It is customary also to divide each of these points
into quarters. Thus NNE. 3/4 E. signifies...'
But at this point the young fool, whose hands were clasped behind him
and concealed a marlin-spike, up and killed the old sailor, and so
rounded off this fascinating tale.
Well then, to cut a long story short, I had to make forced marches.
With eight francs and ten centimes, and nearer ninety than eighty-five
miles before the next relief, it was necessary to plan and then to
urge on heroically. Said I to myself, 'The thing can be done quite
easily. What is ninety miles? Two long days! Who cannot live on four
francs a day? Why, lots of men do it on two francs a day.'
But my guardian angel said to me, 'You are an ass! Ninety miles is a
great deal more than twice forty-five. Besides which' (said he) 'a
great effort needs largeness and ease. Men who live on two francs a
day or less are not men who attempt to march forty-five miles a day.
Indeed, my friend, you are pushing it very close.'
'Well,' thought I, 'at least in such a glorious air, with such Hills
all about one, and such a race, one can come to no great harm.'
But I knew within me that Latins are hard where money is concerned,
and I feared for my strength. I was determined to push forward and to
live on little. I filled my lungs and put on the spirit of an attempt
and swung down the valley.
Alas! I may not linger on that charge, for if I did I should not give
you any measure of its determination and rapidity. Many little places
passed me off the road on the flanks of that valley, and mostly to the
left. While the morning was yet young, I came to the packed little
town of Bodio, and passed the eight franc limit by taking coffee,
brandy, and bread.
