PDF Converging Media A New Introduction To Mass Communication Fifth Edition Mcintosh Ebook Full Chapter
PDF Converging Media A New Introduction To Mass Communication Fifth Edition Mcintosh Ebook Full Chapter
PDF Converging Media A New Introduction To Mass Communication Fifth Edition Mcintosh Ebook Full Chapter
https://textbookfull.com/product/media-impact-an-introduction-to-
mass-media-shirley-biagi/
https://textbookfull.com/product/media-culture-mass-
communication-in-a-digital-age-richard-campbell/
https://textbookfull.com/product/communication-cultural-and-
media-studies-fifth-edition-john-hartley/
https://textbookfull.com/product/everyday-encounters-an-
introduction-to-interpersonal-communication-fifth-canadian-
edition-schweitzer/
Digital Arts An Introduction to New Media Bloomsbury
New Media Series Cat Hope
https://textbookfull.com/product/digital-arts-an-introduction-to-
new-media-bloomsbury-new-media-series-cat-hope/
https://textbookfull.com/product/analysis-with-an-introduction-
to-proof-fifth-edition-pearson-new-international-edition-steven-
r-lay/
https://textbookfull.com/product/mass-media-revolution-j-charles-
sterin/
https://textbookfull.com/product/introduction-to-health-physics-
fifth-edition-thomas-e-johnson/
https://textbookfull.com/product/mass-media-and-american-
politics-sarrell-m-west/
Converging
Media
Media
Fifth Edition
A New Introduction to
Mass Communication
John V. Pavlik
Rutgers University
Shawn McIntosh
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
With offices in
Argentina Austria Brazil Chile Czech Republic France Greece
Guatemala Hungary Italy Japan Poland Portugal Singapore
South Korea Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine Vietnam
Printing number: 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To my parents,
Dennis and Kathie
—S.M.
GLOSSARY G-1
NOTES N-1
CREDITS C-1
INDEX I-1
vii
Sales and Readership of Magazines 90 CONVERGENCE CULTURE: Freesheets: Riding the Rails
of Newspapers’ Future? 85
Outlook for Magazines 91
Media Careers 93 MEDIA PIONEERS: Ruben Salazar 87
LOOKING BACK AND MOVING FORWARD 94
MEDIA MATTERS 94
FURTHER READING 95
Features
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES: Global Ebook
Marketplace 70
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES: Mistaken Identity: One MEDIA PIONEERS: Kalle Lasn 316
Life Lost, Another Ruined 303
Features
ETHICS IN MEDIA: Can Imagery Lead to Action? 395
GLOSSARY G-1
NOTES N-1
CREDITS C-1
INDEX I-1
Converging Media provides extensive content on the twelve core values and compe-
tencies of the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Commu-
nications (ACEJMC). As a nationally elected member of the ACEJMC from 2004
to 2007, John V. Pavlik recognized that the ACEJMC-based learning goals provide
a useful benchmark for assessing student learning. By covering the twelve core
values and competencies, this text provides a strong foundation for students to
become well-rounded journalists and experts in mass communication.
1. FREEDOM OF SPEECH: Understand and apply the • Regulation of journalism and mass communication in the
principles and laws of freedom of speech and press for the digital age including libel and censorship (p. 328, 349)
country in which the institution that invites ACEJMC is located, • Fairness (p. 344)
as well as receive instruction in and understand the range of • The public’s right to know (p. 310)
systems of freedom of expression around the world, including
• Media systems around the world (p. 418)
the rights to dissent, to monitor and criticize power, and to
assemble and petition for redress of grievances.
2. HISTORY: Demonstrate an understanding of the history • Origins of photography, movies, television, and video
and role of professionals and institutions in shaping games (p. 126, 128, 146)
communications. • History of journalism (p. 230)
• History of advertising (p. 264)
• History of public relations (p. 282)
• History of media law and the regulation of electronic
media (p. 325)
• Early research on media effects (p. 359)
• History of recorded music and radio (p. 99, 112)
• History of print media (books, newspapers,
magazines) (p. 66, 76, 89)
• History of the Internet (p. 168)
3. GENDER, RACE, AND SEXUALITY: Demonstrate an • Effects of media and advertising on women
understanding of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and men (p. 377)
and, as appropriate, other forms of diversity in domestic • Role of women in the history of newspapers (p. 232)
society in relation to mass communications. • Diversity in the newsroom (p. 254)
• Minority newspapers (p. 232, 254)
4. GLOBAL SOCIETY: Demonstrate an understanding of the • Relationships among various global and local media
diversity of peoples and cultures and of the significance and sources (p. 424)
impact of mass communications in a global society. • Cultural and socioeconomic impact of global
media (p. 426)
• “International Perspectives” boxes throughout
(example, p. 70)
• International theories of the press (p. 413)
• Media in a global society appears as a theme in several
chapters
5. THEORY: Understand concepts and apply theories in the • Photography, movies, and television (p. 135, 147)
use and presentation of images and information. • Grammar of media (p. 44)
• Information overload in the digital age (p. 218)
• Major media theories and research (p. 359, 370, 376)
6. ETHICS: Demonstrate an understanding of professional • “Ethics in Media” boxes throughout (example, p. 55)
ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, • Chapter on media ethics, including accuracy and the
accuracy, fairness, and diversity. pursuit of truth (p. 295)
• Chapter on communication law and regulation in the
digital age (p. 323)
• Fairness and diversity (p. 318)
7. CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKING: Think critically, • “Convergence Culture” boxes throughout
creatively, and independently. (example, p. 211)
• “Media Matters” at end of chapters (example, p. 34)
• Discussion Questions throughout
• Critical-Thinking Questions in selected image captions
(example, p. 335)
• Foundations for critically examining media presented
early in the text (example, p. 39)
8. RESEARCH: Conduct research and evaluate information by • Chapter on media theory and research teaches
methods appropriate to the communications professions in students to evaluate research methods and
which they work. findings (p. 378)
9. WRITING ABILITY: Write correctly and clearly in forms and • Appropriate writing style for particular media and for
styles appropriate for the communications professions, the communities and purposes that media
audiences, and purposes they serve. professionals serve (p. 243)
• Importance of clear and accurate writing in news
creation (p. 240)
10. EVALUATION OF WORK: Critically evaluate their own work • Media Matters and Critical Thinking Questions
and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, throughout the text encourage self-reflection in the
appropriate style, and grammatical correctness. form of spoken and written responses while promoting
group discussion and peer evaluation of work.
11. NUMERICAL AND STATISTICAL CONCEPTS: Apply basic • Data for students to analyze about newspaper circulation
numerical and statistical concepts. and readership and advertising impact (p. 84)
• Pricing structure of the recording industry (p. 106)
• Figures and tables throughout apply numerical and
statistical concepts (example, p. 73)
• “US Media Giants” (pullout at the back of the book)
12. TECHNOLOGY: Apply tools and technologies appropriate • Social media (p. 191)
for the communications professions in which they work. • Interactive media (p. 161)
• Role of mobile media, such as the iPad, in delivering
video (p. 183)
• Mobile media and digital books (p. 74)
• Impact of touch screens on human–computer
interface (p. 165)
• Use of digital technology in journalism (p. 248)
• Impact of digital technology and mobile media on
advertising (p. 274)
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES
Crying in a BMW (Chapter 1) p. 11
Mobile Telephony in the Developing World (Chapter 2) p. 50
Global Ebook Marketplace (Chapter 3) p. 70
Trusting in the Power of the Airwaves (Chapter 4) p. 121
The Internet of Babel (Chapter 6) p. 164
Social Networks of Influential Languages (Chapter 7) p. 201
Covering Islam (Chapter 8) p. 238
Hair-Raising Subway Billboard Ad Gets Noticed (Chapter 9) p. 280
Mistaken Identity: One Life Lost, Another Ruined (Chapter 10) p. 303
The Rise and Fall of Russian Media (Chapter 11) p. 339
Theories Old, Theories New, Theories Borrowed . . . (Chapter 12) p. 374
Crowdsourcing Election Monitoring (Chapter 13) p. 402
ETHICS IN MEDIA
Interactively Mapping Gun Owners (Chapter 1) p. 22
When Media Report Rape Allegations (Chapter 2) p. 55
Mashed-Up and Mixed-Up Musical Ethics (Chapter 4) p. 111
The Photojournalist’s Dilemma: Immersion in Conflict (Chapter 5) p. 130
Cyberbullying: New Twists on an Old Problem (Chapter 7) p. 219
Maintaining Standards in the Digital Age (Chapter 8) p. 252
Fooling Most of the People Most of the Time . . . Digitally (Chapter 9) p. 288
xix
MEDIA PIONEERS
Steve Jobs (Chapter 1) p. 10
Marshall McLuhan (Chapter 2) p. 48
Ruben Salazar (Chapter 3) p. 87
Amanda Palmer (Chapter 4) p. 104
Kathleen Kennedy (Chapter 5) p. 141
Super Mario (Chapter 6) p. 176
Jack Dorsey (Chapter 7) p. 206
Mary Ann Shadd Cary and Ida B. Wells (Chapter 8) p. 232
Madam C. J. Walker (Chapter 9) p. 265
Doris E. Fleischman (Chapter 9) p. 284
Kalle Lasn (Chapter 10) p. 316
Anthony Lewis (Chapter 11) p. 330
danah boyd (Chapter 12) p. 371
Bill Adair (Chapter 13) p. 406
Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim (Chapter 14) p. 426
TIMELINES
History (and Pre-history) of Newspapers (Chapter 3) p. 78
Milestones in Early Radio-Technology Development (Chapter 4) p. 113
Development of Photography (Chapter 5) p. 128
Selected Milestones in Early Motion Pictures (Chapter 5) p. 132
Milestones in the Development of the Internet (Chapter 6) p. 168
Milestones in the Development of Video Games (Chapter 6) p. 174
Social-Networking Sites (Chapter 7) p. 208
TABLES
Table 1-1: Traditional Theories or Models of Analog Media p. 24
Table 2-1: Reframing Political Issues for Conservatives p. 42
Table 2-2: Reframing Political Issues for Liberals p. 43
Table 3-1: Top Ten U.S. Paid-Circulation Magazines p. 91
Table 3-2: Digital Issues a Significant Portion of Magazine Sales p. 92
Table 4-1: The Major Record Labels and Their Main Subsidiary Labels p. 103
Table 4-2: Most Popular Radio Programming Genres p. 119
Table 5-1: Ownership Among Major and Subsidiary Film Studios p. 140
Table 5-2: Top Multichannel Video-Programming Distributors in the United
States, 2014 p. 155
FIGURES
Figure 1-1: Three Types of Convergence and Their Influence on Media p. 8
Figure 1-2: “Media Iceberg” p. 15
Figure 1-3: Average Consumer Download Speed by Country (2015) p. 17
Figure 1-4: Shannon and Weaver Mathematical Theory p. 28
Figure 1-5: Schramm–Osgood Model p. 29
Figure 2-1: Semiotic Signifier and Signified p. 41
Figure 3-1: Book Publishing Products and Services Segmentation p. 72
Figure 3-2: Book Publishing Industry Revenue Growth, 2009–2014 p. 73
Figure 3-3: Top 10 U.S. Newspapers by Circulation, in millions, 2014 p. 76
Figure 3-4: Major Newspaper Chains in the United States p. 82
Figure 3-5: Print Versus Online Ad Revenue (2003–2012) p. 85
Figure 3-6: Newspaper Print Ad Revenue Declines p. 86
Figure 6-1: Client/Server and Peer-to-Peer Networks p. 172
Figure 7-1: Social Media as a Pathway to News: Facebook Leads the Way p. 212
Figure 8-1: Salary Range for Journalists by Experience p. 253
Figure 9-1: Salaries for Advertising Account Managers by Experience p. 289
Figure 9-2: Salaries for Corporate PR Specialists by Experience p. 290
Figure 10-1: The Potter Box p. 307
Figure 13-1: Political Polarization and Media Habits p. 405
Figure 14-1: 2015 World Press Freedom Index p. 421
Figure 14-2: World Internet Users and Penetration Rates p. 423
Preface
With the potential to strengthen or to undermine personal freedom, media con-
vergence is a double-edged sword. Digital technologies, including mobile and
social media, have empowered citizens to access, interact with, and generate con-
tent and stories around the world and on demand. In recent years, Twitter and
similar services have helped citizens throughout the globe organize protests
against government policy, oppressive regimes, and corporate malfeasance. At the
same time, however, these powerful digital tools have enabled governments, cor-
porations, and others to conduct sweeping surveillance of citizens and even inter-
national leaders around the world, as demonstrated by the epic Edward Snowden
revelations and the more recent June 2015 WikiLeaks about the NSA spying on
the last three French presidents.
Privacy may be little more than a memory in an age when ubiquitous high-
definition cameras, big data analytics, and social media are generating massive
databases with information on nearly every man, woman, and child around the
globe. Even when we are not being spied on, we may be eagerly revealing too much
about ourselves. As Alessandro Acquisti, professor of information technology and
public policy at Carnegie Mellon University, observed in a 2013 60 Minutes inter-
view with Lesley Stahl, “Most of us have fully identified, high-definition frontal
photos of ourselves online.” On Facebook alone, users have posted billions of
photos of themselves, their friends, and their relatives. And Facebook’s increas-
ingly refined facial-recognition technology will continue to facilitate being tagged
by friends and being tracked by those whose intentions may be less friendly.
The existence of such vast repositories of data, valuable for security and com-
mercial purposes (such as individually targeted advertising), raises concerns for
civil liberties, particularly the right to privacy and freedom of speech. Another
related issue involves who has the right to own and control this information, espe-
cially with telecommunications companies and Internet giants contributing to the
NSA’s surveillance program.
Meanwhile, the digitization of media and the convergence of media formats
and industries proceed unabated. Research indicates that we now spend more
time using digital devices than we do with any other medium, including televi-
sion. Digital content is more likely to be viewed on a tablet or a smartphone than
on a laptop or desktop computer. Digital distribution is now the dominant format
for music, television, and radio, whether delivered terrestrially, by satellite, or via
the Internet.
Thanks to tablets and e-readers, the popularity of ebooks has surged. Follow-
ing significant declines in print circulation, newspapers and magazines are expe-
riencing growth in tablet, smartphone, and online distribution. Digital movies,
television, and video-game distribution is now mainstream, with companies such
as Netflix and Amazon producing and streaming their own original television
shows. Tablets and other mobile devices are blurring the lines between Internet,
movies, and television while allowing technology companies such as Google,
Apple, and Amazon to challenge traditional media distributors.
Our engagement with media has also changed, becoming more active as mass
and interpersonal communications converge. Anyone can broadcast a personal
opinion on Twitter or via other social media; and increasingly, people do so while
xxii
The fifth edition of Converging Media follows the class-tested formula of the
previous edition by offering
Supplements
Adopters of the fifth edition of Converging Media will be pleased to know that
Oxford University Press offers a comprehensive support package for both students
and instructors, for all kinds of introductory mass-communication courses.
For Students
• The Companion Website at www.oup.com/us/pavlik offers a wealth of
study and review resources, including learning objectives, summaries, chap-
ter quizzes, flashcards, activities, discussion questions, suggested reading,
and links to a variety of media-related websites.
For Instructors
• Ancillary Resource Center (ARC) at www.oup-arc.com. This conveni-
ent, instructor-focused website provides access to all of the up-to-date
teaching resources for this text—at any time—while guaranteeing the se-
curity of grade-significant resources. In addition, it allows OUP to keep in-
structors informed when new content becomes available. The following
items are available on the ARC:
• The Instructor’s Manual and Test Bank provides sample syllabi, teach-
ing tips, exercises, and test questions that will prove useful to both new
and veteran instructors. The Instructor’s Manual includes chapter over-
views, learning objectives, detailed chapter/lecture outlines, discussion
topics, and suggested activities for each chapter.
• The comprehensive Computerized Test Bank offers over eight hundred
exam questions in multiple-choice, short-answer, and essay formats, with
each item classified according to Bloom’s taxonomy and tagged to page
and section references in the text,
• Newly revised PowerPoint-based lecture slides highlight key con-
cepts, terms and examples, and incorporate images from each chapter.
With streamlined text, more visual support, and additional lecture tips in
the notes section, these presentations are ready to use and fully editable
to make preparing for class faster and easier than ever.
• Course cartridges for a variety of Learning Management Systems, includ-
ing Blackboard Learn, Canvas, and Moodle, allow instructors to create their
own course websites integrating student and instructor resources available
on the Ancillary Resource Center and Companion Website. Contact your
Oxford University Press representative for access or for more information
about these supplements or customized options.
Acknowledgments
Creating a book such as this is very much a collaborative effort, and the authors
have benefited greatly from the advice and wisdom not only of the reviewers but
of those who adopted the first, second, third, and fourth editions of the book.
insure privacy except from the ubiquitous boy of an inquiring turn of mind.
But Lee had fallen upon a good plan to get rid of this nuisance.
Had the urchins merely come to have a look across the fence and gone
away quietly it would not have mattered very much; but it had been their
custom not only to look but to settle down to games, and shout and scream.
Wallace had often been sent to reason with them; but they got used to him
at last, and even Bruin lost all petrifying power over them. But one day,
behold a placard stuck up some distance from the camp, which read thus:
BEWARE
OF THE
DREADED DOOROOCOOLIE.
The usual crowd of urchins seemed to gather that afternoon from all
directions simply to read this notice, and various were the theories
advanced concerning it.
'Mebbe there's nae dooroo—— What is't ca'ed, Jock?'
'The dooroocoolie, Wullie,' said Jock, spelling it out.
'Maybe it's just put up there to frighten us,' said another boy. 'I'm gaun to
stop and ha'e some fun. I'm nae flegged at [afraid of] dooroocoolies.'
'And so am I.'
'And so am I.'
Presently Skeleton was seen coming towards them, with a face about a
yard long.
'Hallo, Skelie!'
'Hallo, cheeks-o'-branks!'
'Hallo, auld death's-heid!'
'I've come to warn you boys to go away quietly. The dreaded
dooroocoolie hears you, and at any moment he may break his clanking
chains and devour you.'
'Bah! Skelie. Boo! Skelie. Gang aff an' bile yer heid, Skelie. We're nae
feart at your dooroocoolie.'
'See that heap o' stanes?' said a bigger ragamuffin. 'Weel, if you let your
doorie oot we'll brak his banes, and maybe ye'll get a stane behin' the lug
yersel', into the bargain.'
'Hoo mony o' us could the doorie eat at a time? He maun be gey [very]
big an' gey hungry to eat a hale [whole] laddie.'
Said Skeleton, 'I'm your friend, boys, and I wouldn't like to see your
life's blood "dye the heather." The dreaded dooroocoolie is a species of
antediluvian alligator. He is as long as the Kirk of Hillhead. He would
devour one boy easily, and kill all the rest for to-morrow's consumption.'
'Gang hame to your wife, Skelie; ye have consumption yersel.'
'Ha'e ye a pictur' o' the doorie?'
'I have that. Wait a minute.'
They did wait, while two men came forward and proceeded to put up a
poster of a terrible-looking dragon, bigger and uglier than that which St
George of Merrie England was supposed to have slain. When about the
same time the roaring of some strange wild-beast was heard coming from
near the bear's enclosure the boys were awed into silence, and one or two
proposed going off to play in a neighbouring field. But presently, with a
strong rope about its neck, the end of which appeared to be held back by all
the men in the camp, the fearsome monster himself stalked awkwardly forth
into the open—an alligator or dragon-like animal, with a mouth that could
have swallowed a calf. The noisy boys were now paralysed with fear. They
found their feet, however, when the beast opened his great red mouth, with
its rows of sabre teeth, and roared like a lion. The workmen dropped their
hammers and bolted, two fisher-wives with creels on their backs fled
screaming, and the boys were off like March dust.
The dooroocoolie was a dread reality then. And never after this was the
camp annoyed by the yells of naughty boys at play.
The dooroocoolie was often to be heard but very seldom seen. It was
firmly believed in, nevertheless, by the good country people far and near,
and had become in time a capital advertisement for the show.
Stronger palisades were placed round what was supposed to be the
animal's enclosure, but he was not allowed to come out. There was a peep-
hole, however, through which any one coming to the show about dusk and
staying for the evening's entertainment could have a look at the awful
monster lying apparently asleep.
How many of Biffins Lee's company, or his 'properties' as he called
them, were in the secret it is quite impossible to say; but in case this part of
the story should seem to be mere romance it is as well to explain how the
dreaded dooroocoolie was got up and placed on the boards, so to speak.
The antediluvian reptile, then, was merely an automaton, its skin
pumped full of air like an india-rubber tire, and its springs wound up to set
him agoing. Lee had a large gramophone with a very loud lion's roar record
on it, and this was the dreaded dooroocoolie's voice. It had cost Lee some
money and trouble to get that record from a German Zoo, but it must be
confessed it was very effective.
On this lovely August forenoon Antony had heard the wondrous beast
roaring, and marvelled not a little.
But Lotty was sent off to tell him, and explain all about it, after enjoining
secrecy.
The child patted his hand as if she had been some old aunt of his.
'You were not afraid, were you, Mr Blake?' she said.
'Well, Lotty, a voice like that isn't calculated to raise the drooping spirits
of a lone man like me. Have you done rehearsal?'
'Oh yes, and now, if you please, we can ramble off to the hills with
Wallace. But we could ride, Mr Blake, if you prefer it. There is one big,
wild black horse that only I can manage; but I have taken Skeleton up
behind me sometimes, and I'm sure I could manage with you.'
Antony laughed. He didn't quite fancy this style of riding, being really a
good cross-country man, and having taken part in many a steeplechase.
'I'm a little afraid,' he said modestly. 'Had we not better walk?'
Lotty was dressed for the hill, and very charming she looked in her
bright but light half-gipsy cloak, her kirtle of red, and silken bandana
gracefully worn on the head, which did not hide her marvellous hair,
however.
She carried a long but pretty shepherd's crook; and, with the huge raven-
black Newfoundland with the pink tongue and alabaster teeth bounding and
flashing round her, Lotty was really a picture.
Everybody, fisher-folks and farmer-folks, had a kind word and a smile
for the child, and doubtless they meant what they said.
Here are the remarks Antony could not help hearing from two fisher-
wives:
'Oh my! does it no' do your heart good to look at the lammie?' [little
lamb].
'An' what a bonny callant yon is! He'll be fae [from] the sooth, I'se
warrant ye.'
There was one tall hill rising up behind the forest, and it was towards
this they bent their steps. They were going to climb it, to look around them
on the landscape and seascape.
But they had not journeyed more than two miles, and were high up on a
heather-clad brae, when Lotty stopped and called Wallace. At the same time
she took a satchel from her shoulder and strapped it round the dog.
'Go to granny's,' she said. 'Good boy—away!'
Wallace trotted off. But he stopped when at a little distance, and looked
back.
'Yes, Wallace, we'll wait,' cried Lotty, and the noble fellow disappeared.
'Where has he gone, Lotty?'
'To the witch's cottage—my fairy godmother's.'
Lotty threw herself on the sward, and Antony too sat down.
She culled a bunch of bluebells growing near, and tying them deftly with
a bit of grass, she pinned them to her kerchief. They were just the colour of
the child's eyes. As she did so she sang:
Lotty was not an affected child; perhaps in culling the bouquet she
hardly knew what she was doing; only beauty is ever attracted by beauty
and to it.
See yonder great velvet droning bee. Fox-glove-bells are swinging
crimson against the green of tall fern-leaves. He enters a bell to drink of the
honey. Beauty to beauty. And yonder again a splendid steel-blue, gauzy-
winged dragon-fly has alighted on a pink bramble-blossom, and is
trembling all over with the joy that is in him; and there are bees on the
white clover, bees on the reddening heather-bloom, and a blue-butterfly on
the flat yellow blossom of a frog-bit, while a hawk-fly has just alighted on
the blood-tipped orange of the bird's-foot trefoil.
But the charm of the early August day who dare to try to paint! Afar
away the blue sea dotted with brown-sailed boats here and there, a sea calm
as the sky above it, only breaking here and there into circling snow where a
rock lifts its dark head; a beach that is all green because the tide is high;
sailing sea-birds everywhere; dark rooks in crowds, for the love-time has
long gone by; nearer and beneath this brae-land the heads of swelling,
stately pine-trees; forest to the right and left, forests in the rear, and afar off
the brown mountain raising its stern and rocky head up into the heavenly
ether; and a gentle breeze fanning all the flowers. 'An' it's oh to be young!'
CHAPTER VI.
I N this day's climb Antony could not help admiring the strength and
agility of his child-companion; she was indeed an infant prodigy, thanks
perhaps to her very extraordinary training. With her, or compared to her,
Blake hardly felt fit. Perhaps neither did Wallace, who zigzagged back and
fore to make the ascent more easy, as dogs always do when climbing. But
they gained the summit at last, and only mountaineers know the joy of
resting a while on a hill-top.
Wallace lay down to pant, with half a yard more or less of pink tongue
hanging over his right jowl, and Antony threw himself on the ground. No
heather here, hardly even moss, and a strong wind blowing.
Antony was for a time too tired to talk much; but he asked a question
now and then, and Lotty answered him often quaintly enough—for
instance, when he said, 'I have not seen your mother yet, Lotty.'
'I never had a mother, Mr Blake,' she innocently made answer.
'But, child, everyone must have had a mother.'
'Ye-es. At least I suppose so. But I think my mother must have ceased to
be a property some time before I came.'
'Do you love your father, Lotty?'
'Except when he beats me.'
The child was lying back against recumbent Wallace, and on her bare
arm above the elbow Antony thought he saw a wale. He seized her by the
hand and uncovered the streak.
'Lotty,' he said, 'who struck you with a cane? And, Lotty, I saw a blue
mark on your leg while in the boat. Who kicked you, child?'
'Father. Oh, don't tell! He'd kill me. And I'm only a property, and
sometimes so awkward and naughty.' Her eyes were swimming in tears. 'I'm
sure I have a cold,' she said, wiping them. 'But you won't tell father, ever,
ever, ever?'
'Never, never, never,' promised Antony.
She grew calmer and happier now, and told him all the story of her
young life as far as she knew it, and a deal about her many strange
wanderings from the silvery Tweed to the rapid Spey with the Queerest
Show.
It was a fascinating story, but there was much sorrow in it; and the tiny
lace handkerchief was quite wet before she finished.
'How old is Wallace?'
'Oh, only a year; but he is mine—my friend, although of course he is
only a property.'
'And Skeleton and Mary?'
'They've always been with us. I should die if they left. Will you stop
long, Mr Blake? Do; and Mrs Pendlebury and I will try to make you happy
—especially I.'
'You droll child! But won't your fairy godmother be expecting us?'
Crona came to her cottage-door to welcome them. She wore the 'mutch,'
but was daintily dressed to receive company. Close by was a little shed or
bower entirely thatched with green rushes; and underneath this, on a table
covered by a snow-white cloth a most dainty repast was laid out, and the
witch herself was asked by Antony to preside.
Tod Lowrie hid himself into a ball, and was asleep in the sunshine, with
his tail right over his face. Perhaps Wallace thought he was in the way, for
he got his nose under the fox and rolled him right away into a dark corner.
No doubt Tod Lowrie was awake; but, fox-like, he pretended not to be.
Joe the raven was perched on a rafter, looking sly and demoniac. Every
now and then he would say with a sigh, 'Well, well, such is life!' then hold
back his head and laugh weirdly.
At first Tim the tame mouse was not to be seen, but Lotty pointed him
out to Antony. Tim was seated on the edge of the cat's dish, and every now
and then he stretched a little white hand or paw down into pussy's milk,
then drew it up and licked it clean.
Crona's white scones and butter, and the meatpies which no doubt had
been in the parcel that Lotty sent by Wallace, were very delicious. But there
were fried mountain-trout also, and fruit to follow. But the wine was the
water from a neighbouring rill.
There was something so very unreal about all Antony's present
surroundings, and one thing with another, that more than once he thought he
must be dreaming, especially when Tim suddenly appeared on the table,
and Lotty quietly fed him from a teaspoon.
The raven kept on saying things with that eldritch, screaming laugh.
Presently it was, 'Joe, Joe, don't you!' He had hopped down to the ground,
and was slyly approaching a hassock placed there for pussy, and the cat was
asleep on it, but her tail hung down.
'Joe, Joe, don't you. He! he! he! Joe, go back to perch. Joe, see what
you'll catch!'
He was near enough now, and gave the floating tail a most cruel pinch.
Pussy screamed. Joe only backed astern and was beginning to laugh
when he received a smack on the face that made him stagger.
'You—you—you wretch!' he screamed; but he flew back to his perch and
laughed now till the welkin rang.
Tim disappeared.
The cat was angrily wagging her tail, and no doubt making up her mind
to pay Joe out first chance.
Tod Lowrie got up and stretched himself, and Wallace placed his great
wise head on the tablecloth close to Crona's elbow. Then every pet had a tit-
bit, and peace was restored once more.
'Come over often to see poor Crona,' said the witch to Antony when
leaving. 'There is that in your eye which Crona loves.'
He held out his hand to shake 'good-bye.' Crona took it and looked at the
palm. Then her face clouded.
Antony Blake was not slow to mark the change, and laughingly asked if
she saw anything strange in his palm.
'It was but a cursory glance,' she said. 'I could not say. There may be
nothing in palmistry, but, again, there may be something. Come again, and
come alone.'
The last words were spoken in almost a whisper, and Antony went away
wondering.
. . . . . . .
Biffins Lee was an up-to-date gipsy, and did not trust entirely to horses
to take the Queerest Show around the country when he made up his mind to
change ground. He had a very smart and pretty steam-engine, which hauled
three immense vans. Others came on behind with horses.
The engine at present was stored on his own camping-ground here—
which, by the way he rented from a neighbouring 'laird'—and was carefully
housed and taken care of. His horses were farmed cheaply enough.
Whatever the man's character may have been, one could not help admiring
his business capabilities—that is, if admiration can be bestowed on mere
cleverness in making money.
Frank Antony was not long in finding out that the man had one other
reason for pitching camp so far north as this: he did a roaring trade in
Shetland and Icelandic ponies, and had agents even in Shetland and Iceland
picking these up and shipping them south.
But the Queerest Show paid even here, because seldom a week in winter
passed that he did not have some strange addition to it; and when he got
tired of this he let it go and had a change. Once, indeed, during the summer
holiday season—so Mary the Skeleton's wife told Antony—he hired for
exhibition purposes the whole of a celebrated hunter's trophies in the shape
of skins of lions, elephants' skeletons, and marvels no end from the far
interior of Africa. He had dwarfs too, sometimes, and wild men from every
region on earth.
Biffins Lee knew the secret of making his dwarfs look still smaller and
his wild men wilder.
In brief, everybody visited the Queerest Show from every town within a
radius of a hundred miles, always certain they would see marvels well
worth looking at and remembering afterwards.
But he had palmists as well, and nearly every one in the camp did a little
bit of fortune-telling. Girls from cities and towns afar off came to have their
future told, and, strangely enough, many of the forecasts came true.
Over and above all its other attractions, there was a 'grand ball' every
fortnight in the large marquee, and lads and lassies came very long
distances in order to attend it, for even the youngest English schoolgirl must
know how very fond the Scots are of music and dancing.
The camp was well situated for this sort of winter entertainment, as it lay
half-way between two rather important towns, the 'longshore pathway being
shorter far than the journey by train, and ten times more pleasant.
These neighbouring towns were on very friendly terms with each other.
They challenged each other to games of cricket, 'gowf,' football, and to
curling on an adjoining lake when the ice was strong. Moreover, the weekly
half-holiday was not on the same day in these towns, so that visits could be
more easily exchanged.
Antony had not been more than a week here before he formed a resolve,
a strange one perhaps for a young Englishman; but then he was no ordinary
young man, hating London society as we have already seen, and with it
everything Cockney. He loved Nature in all her shows and forms—quite as
much so, perhaps, as the poet Burns or that divine naturalist Richard
Jefferies. To Antony Blake the most modest, wee, God-painted beetle that
crawled on the grass or cornstalks was not a 'creature' but 'a little person,'
with its own living to make in its own way—all so different to our own
ways—its own loves and fears, and troubles and trials quite as hard to bear,
perhaps, as those of human beings. He was not of their world, but that did
not prevent him from sympathising with them. There was one other trait in
Antony's character which surely was an honourable one: he was careful not
to inflict pain.
So the resolve he made was to stay in his caravan all winter; not quite
close to the gipsy camp though. He had his palace-on-wheels removed to a
pitch about five hundred yards off, and had his own little enclosure. This
would be quieter, and enable him to study more of the seaside flora and
fauna.
'If you like, captain,' said Biffins Lee, 'to have a little quiet
companionship at times of a winter's evening, you know, I'll tell you what I
propose.'
Antony would listen.
'Well,' said Biffins, 'I don't mind the "Silver Queen" lying at anchor in
your enclosure. There will be nobody in it but Mary the stout lady and little
Lotty. They'll do for you in the way of cooking and that sort of thing, and
the child can thrill you with her violin whenever you long to be thrilled.'
'This is really kind of you, Mr Lee,' said Antony, 'and I gladly accept.
And I suppose Wallace can come too?'
'Oh yes; Wallace is as much a property of Lotty's as Lotty herself and
Mary are properties of mine.'
Antony smiled faintly. It was the first time in his life he had ever heard a
daughter designated as a property. And at this moment he could not help
thinking of those wales on Lotty's arm and leg.
So the 'Silver Queen' and the beautiful saloon caravan 'Gipsy Queen'
were both anchored together inside Antony's compound, and he settled
down to enjoy a life that promised to be almost idyllic.
The word 'anchored' used in the last sentence is quite the correct one,
because, on this wild coast, so terrible are the storms that at times sweep
inland from the sea that no caravan not firmly attached to the ground by
pegs and ropes could stand the wind's fierce force.
Chops himself could be spared to run messages, and could often visit the
little camp to see how things were going on.
Bruin, it soon appeared, was also going to be a pretty constant morning
visitor, for no animal ever seemed to enjoy a hearty breakfast more than that
great bear did.
Had Antony Blake desired to enter society there were many old and
wealthy families in the neighbourhood who would have given the youthful
Englishman a right hearty welcome; but he determined from the very first
to be the recluse and the student, so mildly and pleasantly, but firmly,
refused all invitations.
Not far from the camp, almost running past it indeed, was a stream
which flowed right into the sea; and in the sea, some distance beyond, our
hero was fond of having a morning swim. Wallace the Newfoundland used
always to go with him; and once, but for this strong and faithful fellow, he
would never have reached the shore. For he had swam out that day as far as
his strength would permit, and foolishly attempted to land against the
current of the river, not knowing that it was of great force a good way out to
sea.
The dog did not, on this occasion, seize him and drag him in, but
permitted Antony to lay hold of his collar and so be assisted or towed.
But only a week after, this athletic young Saxon had an adventure which,
as it has a bearing on the progress of this 'ower true tale,' must be related in
the next chapter.
CHAPTER VII.
T HE small river or streamlet close to Antony's camp was called the Burn
o' Bogie, and here in a pretty little boathouse, thatched and cosy, which
Chops had built with his own hands, lay Lotty's yacht the Jenny Wren.
A seaworthy morsel of a boat it was, but certainly not broad enough in
the beam for safety, though she suited Lotty very well indeed.
Nay, more, Wallace often went with his little mistress. For so very young
a dog he was wondrous wise; he used to sit or lie amidships exactly in the
spot where his Lotty placed a shawl for him. And Wallace must have
weighed nearly nine stone, so he might easily have capsized the skiff,
especially when under sail.
On such occasions Lotty would only have to say very quietly before she
hauled off the sheet, 'Trim boat, Wallace,' and some instinct taught him he
must keep well up towards the weaker side.
But, athlete though he was, Antony was no sailor; nevertheless he
wished to be, and was glad enough to be taught even by so young a little
skipper as Lotty. On fine days she took him out with her on purpose, and
with a very few lessons he could manage, or thought he could, fairly well.
Well, one forenoon he rashly determined to have a little cruise all by
himself.
He forgot that with Lotty in the bows the yacht was not so much down
by the stern as his weight, when alone, placed it. Indeed, while sailing, if
she entrusted the tiller and sheet to him, she herself—the little skipper—
crept right for'ard into the bows and issued her orders from that position—
orders which he took very seriously indeed, for if he had not done so the
Jenny Wren might have broached-to or gone slick on her beam-ends.
It was some considerable time before Antony got up to obeying all
orders, or even understanding them: 'Ease sheet!' 'Down helm!' 'Luff a
little!' &c. And indeed it is not certain that Lotty, mischievous little mouse,
didn't sometimes invent an order for the sake of confusing her charge
somewhat.
'What is it? How is it?' he would cry. 'Tell me in plain English, Lotty.
What am I to do with this bit of stick?' The bit of stick was the tiller.
Sometimes she would laugh right out at the serious aspect of his face;
but she would praise him when he did well.
That was an unfortunate forenoon for Antony, when, confident in his
own seamanship, he made
He found himself in the water next moment ... with the Jenny Wren on her
side.
LASS. Page 71.