When this novel first appeared in book form a notion got about that I had been bolted away with.

Some reviewers maintained that the work starting as a short story had got beyond the writer's con-trol.

One or two discovered internal evidence of the fact, which seemed to amuse them.

They pointed out the limitations of the narrative form.

They argued that no man could have been expected to talk all that time, and other men to listen so long.

It was not, they said, very credible.