8O	JOURNEY WITHOUT MAPS
chimney, repeating the one word, "Shilling—
shilling." The sweep began to clean, but he couldn't
finish, in the airless room and the appalling stench,
But the stench didn't keep out the cold of a hard
winter, and when a policeman broke in because no
smoke had been seen from the chimney, he found
Mr. Charles Seitz frozen to death on his straw in
the upper room. They didn't care to undress him;
he was so verminous that the fleas jumped on them
from his wrists; they put round his shoulders the
web with which coffins are lowered into the grave,
and dragged him head first down the stairs. Then
they crammed him quickly into his coffin, rags and
all, and nailed him down. It was terrible weather for
grave-diggers, the ground hard enough for an electric
drill six inches down.
Major Grant said with relish that the shabbiest
adventure he had ever had was in a flat off the Strand
with two bawds. They wouldn't give him change for
his note or give him his note back; it was only a
question of ten shillings, but he suddenly grew tired
of being cheated; he had made a bargain and he'd
stick to it. He sat on the bed and wouldn't leave the
flat; they threatened him and badgered him, but he
wouldn't move; through a crack in the blind he could
see the flame and flicker of the Strand reflected in
the windows of a winehouse. They gave in and he
went home.
Buckland digging in the garden turned up a she-
mandrake. He said that it was good for cows and pigs
to keep them in condition; he put some snails on one
side to take home for his supper. Buckland was \a
<didicoi; which was the name they gave in Gloucester-