Abaft The Funnel Chapter 17 - A Supplementary Chapter

Abaft The Funnel Chapter 18 - Chautauguaed

In which our observant narrator reflects upon the peculiarities of the white man's attitudes toward the native peoples and labouring classes both abroad and at home, noting the incongruities of earnest convictions divorced from the practical realities of life and death. Amidst these musings, he recounts gentle seaside scenes and introduces a quaint tale told amid the London fog, illustrating the whimsical human spirit caught between earnestness and folly.

Abaft The Funnel Chapter 17 - A Supplementary Chapter

In which the narrator visits Chautauqua and observes with keen irony the peculiar blend of earnest self-improvement and strict Sabbath observance enforced by denominational fervour, revealing the strange constraints placed upon its visitors. He then shares a wild tale of a disastrous cable-car venture in Bow Flume, before lamenting the dreariness of London and the seasonal rhythms of life far from the tropics.

Abaft The Funnel Chapter 16 - Sleipner Late Thurinda

In which a fierce and convoluted dispute unfolds between rival government departments, revealing the delicate balance of power and the complexities of official rivalries, while a determined woman intervenes with a mixture of resolve and reproach to steer the course of justice. Meanwhile, the narrative lightly transports us to the curious and bustling educational retreat of Chautauqua, a place of earnest lectures, spirited debates, and the mingling of youthful charm and earnest purpose amidst the genteel surroundings of an American lake.

Abaft The Funnel Chapter 15 - His Brother's Keeper

In which a mysterious grey horse with nutmeg markings haunts the races and riders at Ghoriah, casting a shadow of superstition and suspicion over the once-trusty mare Thurinda, leading to ill-fated encounters and uneasy reckonings among the sporting fraternity. Meanwhile, amidst the folly and intrigue of the Simla Season, the social dance of alliances and betrayals unfolds under the shrewd gaze of Mrs. Hauksbee, with reputations entwined like figures in a well-played game.

Abaft The Funnel Chapter 14 - The Likes o' Us

In which a watchful narrator recounts the uneasy confinement of a disturbed man named Stovey, whose strange behaviour and secret designs keep his companion on edge, guarded by an ever-vigilant attendant and punctuated by an uncanny, protective presence of a large brindled dog. Meanwhile, the narrative shifts to the tale of a horse named Thurinda and her unlikely rider Hordene, whose fortunes intertwine with high-stakes racing and subtle suspicions among the racing fraternity.