was winged； and ballad…singing dead。 The piano in Bezuquet's shop mouldered away under a green fungus； and the Spanish flies dried upon it； belly up。 Tartarin's expedition had a put a stopper on everything。
Ah； you ought to have seen his a success in the parlours。 He was snatched away by one from another； fought for； loaned and borrowed； ay； stolen。 There was a no greater honour for the ladies than to go to Mitaine's Menagerie on Tartarin's arms； and have it explained before the lion's den how such large game are hunted； where they should be aimed at； at how many paces off； if the accidents were numerous； and the like of that。
Tartarin furnished all the elucidation desired。 He had read 〃The Life of a Jules Gerard； the Lion…Slayer；〃 and had lion…hunting at his finger ends； as if he had been through it himself。 Hence he orated upon these matters with great eloquence。
But where he shone the brightest was at dinner at Chief Judge Ladeveze's； or brave Commandant Bravida's （the former captain in the Army Clothing Factory； you will keep in mind）； when coffee came in； and all the chairs were brought up closer together； whilst they chatted of his future hunts。
Thereupon； his elbow on the cloth； his nose over his Mocha； our hero would discourse in a feeling tone of all the dangers awaiting him thereaway。 He spoke of the long moonless night lyings…in… wait； the pestilential fens； the rivers envenomed by leaves of poison…plants； the deep snow…drifts； the scorching suns； the scorpions； and rains of grasshoppers； he also descanted on the peculiarities of the great lions of the Atlas； their way of fighting； their phenomenal vigour； and their ferocity in the mating season。
Heating with his own recital； he would rise from table； bounding to the middle of the dining…room； imitating the roar of a lion and the going off of a rifle ： crack！ bang！ the zizz of the explosive bullet gesticulating and roaring about till he had overset the chairs。
Everybody turned pale around the board： the gentlemen looking at one another and wagging their heads； the ladies shutting their eyes with pretty screams of fright； the elderly men combatively brandishing their canes； and； in the side apartments； the little boys； who had been put to bed betimes； were greatly startled by the sudden outcries and imitated gun…fire； and screamed for lights。 Meanwhile； Tartarin did not start。
XI。 〃Let's have it out with swords gentleman； not pins〃
A DELICATE question： whether Tartarin really had any intention of going； and one which the historian of Tartarin would be highly embarrassed to answer。 In plain words； Mitaine's Menagerie had left Tarascon over three months； and still the lion…slayer had not started。 After all； blinded by a new mirage； our candid hero may have imagined in perfectly good faith that he had gone to Algeria。 On the strength of having related his future hunts； he may have believed he had performed them as sincerely as he fancied he had hoisted the consular flag and fired on the Tartars； zizz； phit； bang！ at Shanghai。
Unfortunately； granting Tartarin was this time again dupe of an illusion； his fellow…townsfolk were not。 When； after the quarter's expectation； they perceived that the hunter had not packed even a collar…box； they commenced murmuring。
〃This is going to turn out like the Shanghai expedition；〃 remarked Costecalde； smiling。
The gunsmith's comment was welcomed all over town； for nobody believed any longer in their late idol。 The simpletons and poltroons all the fellows of Bezuquet's stamp； whom a flea would put to flight； and who could not fire a shot without closing their eyes were conspicuously pitiless。 In the club…rooms or on the esplanade； they accosted poor Tartarin with bantering mien：
〃And furthermore； when is that trip coming off？〃
In Costecalde's shop； his opinions gained no credence； for the cap… poppers renounced their chief！
Next； epigrams dropped into the affair。 Chief Judge Ladevese； who willingly paid court in his leisure hours to the native Muse； composed in local dialect a song which won much success。 It told of a sportsman called 〃Master Gervais；〃 whose dreaded rifle was bound to exterminate all the lions in Africa to the very last。 Unluckily； this terrible gun was of a strange kind： 〃though loaded daily； it never went off。〃
〃It never went off〃 you will catch the drift。
In less than no time； this ditty became popular； and when Tartarin came by； the longshoremen and the little shoeblacks before his door sang in chorus
Muster Jarvey's roifle Allus gittin' chaarged； Muster Jarvey's roifle 'il hev to git enlaarged； Muster Jarvey's roifle's Loaded oft don't scoff； Muster Jarvey's roifle Nivver do go off！〃
But it was shouted out from a safe distance； on account of the double muscles。
Oh； the fragility of Tarascon's fads！
The great object himself feigned to see and hear nothing； but； under the surface； this sullen and venomous petty warfare much afflicted him。 He felt aware that Tarascon was slipping out of his grip； and that popular favour was going to others； and this made him suffer horribly。
Ah； the huge bowl of popularity！ it's all very well to have a seat in front of it； but what a scalding you catch when it is overturned！
Notwithstanding his pain； Tartarin smiled and peacefully jogged on in the same life as if nothing untoward had happened。 Still； the mask of jovial heedlessness glued by pride on his face would sometimes be suddenly detached。 Then； in lieu of laughter； one saw grief and indignation。 Thus it was that one morning； when the little blackguards yelped 〃Muster Jarvey's Roifle〃 beneath his window； the wretches' voices rose even into the poor great man's room； where he was shaving before the glass。 （Tartarin wore a full beard； but as it grew very thick； he was obliged to keep it trimmed orderly。）
All at once the window was violently opened； and Tartarin appeared in shirt…sleeves and nightcap； smothered in lather； flourishing his razor and shaving…brush； and roaring with a formidable voice ；
〃Let's have it out with swords； gentlemen； not pins！〃
Fine words； worthy of history's record； with only the blemish that they were addressed to little scamps not higher than their boot… boxes； and who were quite incapable of holding a smallsword。
XII。 A memorable Dialogue in the little Baobab Villa。
Amid the general falling off； the army alone stuck out firmly for Tartarin。 Brave Commandant Bravida （the former captain in the Army Clothing Department） continued to show him the same esteem as ever。 〃He's game！〃 he persisted in saying an assertion； I beg to believe； fully worth the chemist Bezuquet's。 Not once did the brave officer let out any allusion to the trip to Africa； but when the public clamour grew too loud； he determined to have his say。
One evening the luckless Tartarin was in his study； in a brown study himself； when he saw the commandant stride in； stern； wearing black gloves； buttoned up to his ears。
〃Tartarin；〃 said the ex…captain authoritatively； 〃Tartarin； you'll have to go！〃
And there he dwelt； erect in the doorway frame； grand and rigid as embodied Duty。 Tartarin of Tarascon comprehended all the sense in 〃Tartarin； you'll have to ago！〃
Very pale； he rose and looked around with a softened eye upon the cosy snuggery； tightly closed in； full of warmth and tender light upon the commodious easy chair； his books； the carpet； the white blinds of the windows； beyond which trembled the slender twigs of the little garden。 Then； advancing towards the brave officer； he took his hand； grasped it energetically； and said in a voice somewhat tearful； but stoical for all that：
〃I am going； Bravida。〃
And go he did； as he said he would。 Not straight off though； for it takes time to get the paraphernalia together。
To begin with； he ordered of Bompard two large boxes bound with brass； and an inscription to be on them：
… I TARTARIN； OF TARASCON I I Firearms； &c。 I …
The binding in brass and the lettering took much time。 He also ordered at Tastavin's a showy album； in which to keep a diary and his impressions of travel； for a man cannot help having an idea or two strike him even when he is busy lion…hunting。
Next； he had over from Marseilles a downright cargo of tinned eatables； pemmican compressed in cakes for making soup； a new pattern shelter…tent； opening out and packing up in a minute； sea… boots； a couple of umbrellas； a waterproof coat； and blue spectacles to ward off ophthalmia。 To conclude； Bezuquet the chemist made him up a miniature portable medicine chest stuffed with diachylon plaister； arnica； camphor； and medicated vinegar。
Poor Tartarin！ he did not take these safeguards on his own behalf； but he hoped； by dint of precaution and delicate attentions； to allay Sancho…Tartarin's fury； who； since the start was fixed； never left off raging day or night。
XIII。 The Departure。
EFTSOON arrived the great and solemn day。 From dawn all Tarascon had been on foot； encumbering the Avignon road and the approaches to Baobab Villa。 People were up at the windows； on the roofs； and in the trees； the Rhone bargees； porters； dredgers； shoe…blacks； gentry； tradesfolk； warpers and weavers； taffety… workers； the club members； in short the whole town； moreover； people from Beaucaire had come over the bridge； market…gardeners from the environs； carters in their huge carts with ample tilts； vinedressers upon handsome mules； tricked out with ribbons； streamers； bells； rosettes； and jingles； and even； here and there； a few pretty maids from Arles； come on the pillion behind their sweethearts； with bonny blue ribbons round the head； upon little iron…grey Camargue horses。
All this swarm squeezed and jostled before our good Tartarin's door； who was going to slaughter lions in the land of the Turks。
For Tarascon； Algeria； Africa； Greece； Persia； Turkey； and Mesopotamia； all form one great hazy country； almost a myth； called the land of the Turks。 They say 〃Tur's；〃 but that's a linguistic digression。
In the midst of all this throng； the cap poppers bustled to and fro； proud of their captain's triumph； leaving glorious wakes where they had passed。
In front of