would propose to turn back. All at once, I heard a queer It seemed to be close to the Sam stopped

noise ahead, like a rustle. roof and to be coming nearer.

Complex Narrative.

78. Although, as we have seen, the most simple. kind of action may suffice for an interesting narrative, yet, speaking generally, the interest may be enhanced by giving to the narrative a more complicated character. This may be accomplished by introducing into the action some obstacle to its further progress, or, what amounts to the same thing, by setting two opposing forces at work. The action then takes on the Consider one or

form of a struggle, combat, or chase. two simple illustrations.

Let us suppose that a mason is engaged in laying the last course of brick at the top of a tall chimney. It is after six o'clock and the workman is hungry, but he wishes to finish the course before he stops. So he continues to work. At last the final brick is in place. He throws down his trowel, puts on his coat, descends the scaffold to the ground, and goes to supper. These are incidents of a simple kind which a skilful writer of narrative might weave into a pleasing though not very exciting story. Now let us see if by introducing some obstacle we cannot increase the interest. Let us suppose that a high wind has been blowing all day. The workman, as he is placing the last brick, hears a crash and the sound of falling timbers. Looking over the side of the chimney, he discovers to his dismay that the whole structure of the scaffolding, weakened at some point by the buffetings of the wind, has fallen to the ground. There he is, two

hundred feet in the air, supperless, with nightfall coming on and no means of getting down or even of attracting the attention of his fellows. Here, it is obvious, is material for an exciting story. Or, to take an example of a different kind, suppose the case of a boy who walks home through a lonely path in the woods without meeting anything except a couple of squirrels; and suppose again the case of the same boy, who midway of the path encounters a ferocious bear. In both the story of the workman and the story of the boy the introduction of the obstacle - to the descent of the workman in one case, to the further progress of the boy in the otherbrings about a situation of an interesting and exciting kind. Our curiosity is strongly aroused to know what is going to happen next, and we wonder what the outcome will be.

A narrative in which an obstacle is interposed to interrupt the free action of the chief character or characters of the story, and thus to complicate the incidents, is said to have plot.

The clash between the character and the obstacle, or between the two opposing forces, is called the collision.

The attitude of strained expectancy with which we await the outcome of the struggle is termed suspense.

Every story which has plot, or complication of incidents, may thus be said to consist of two principal ele

ments:

(1) an actor, or a set of actors, who are trying to carry out some purpose; and

(2) an obstacle, consisting of things or persons, which opposes, either passively or actively, this purpose. Since the action goes on in a particular place or in particular places, we may add to the foregoing

(3) the element of the setting or surroundings of the story.

In the following narrative the two opposing characters are the Master and Mr. Henry. Either one may be considered as the chief character, to which the other is the obstacle. The plot arises from the collision between these two characters, the collision in this case taking the form of a duel. As we watch the combat our suspense increases steadily until the fall of the Master, when it reaches its highest point. The setting is indicated in the second, third, and seventh sentences,

66 a windless stricture of frost," "the blackness," "the frozen path," "the frosted trees."

I took up the candlestick and went before them, steps that I would give my hand to recall; but a coward is a slave at the best; and even as I went, my teeth smote each other in my mouth. It was as he had said, there was no breath stirring; a windless stricture of frost had bound the air; and as we went forth in the shine of the candles, the blackness was like a roof over our heads. Never a word was said, there was never a sound but the creaking of our steps along the frozen path. The cold of the night fell about me like a bucket of water; I shook as I went with more than terror; but my companions, bare-headed like myself and fresh from the warm hall, appeared not even conscious of the change.

"Here is the place," said the Master. candles."

"Set down the

I did as he bid me, and presently the flames went up as steady as in a chamber in the midst of the frosted trees, and I beheld these two brothers take their places.

"The light is something in my eyes," said the Master.

LAHQ

"I will give you every advantage," replied Mr. Henry, shifting his ground, "for I think you are about to die." He spoke rather sadly than otherwise, yet there was a ring in his voice.

66

Henry Durie," said the Master, "two words before I begin. You are a fencer, you can hold a foil; you little know what a change it makes to hold a sword! And by that I know you are to fall. But see how strong is my situation! If you fall, I shift out of this country to where my money is before me. If I fall, where are you? My father, your wife who is in love with me as you very well know your child even who prefers me to yourself: - how will those avenge me! Had you thought of that, dear Henry?" He looked at his brother with a smile; then made a fencing-room salute.

Never a word said Mr. Henry, but saluted too, and the swords rang together.

I am no judge of the play, my head besides was gone with cold, and fear, and horror; but it seems that Mr. Henry took and kept the upper hand from the engagement, crowding in upon his foe with a contained and glowing fury. Nearer and nearer he crept upon the man till, of a sudden, the Master leaped back with a little sobbing oath; and I believe the movement brought the light once more against his eyes. To it they went again, on the fresh. ground; but now methought closer, Mr. Henry pressing more outrageously, the Master beyond doubt with shaken confidence. For it is beyond doubt he now recognized himself for lost, and had some taste of the cold agony of fear; or he had never attempted the foul stroke. I cannot say I followed it, my untrained eye was never quick enough to seize details, but it appears he caught his brother's blade with his left hand, a practice not permitted. Certainly Mr. Henry only saved himself by leaping on one side; as

certainly the Master, lunging in the air, stumbled on his knee, and before he could move, the sword was through his body.

I cried out with a stifled scream, and ran in; but the body was already fallen to the ground, where it writhed a moment like a trodden worm, and then lay motionless.

79.

STEVENSON: Master of Ballantrae, pp. 137–139.

Assignments in Supplying the Obstacle.

A. Introduce into the following simple narrative some obstacle that will create suspense and plot-interest. Rewrite from the beginning if you wish.

Here I live with tolerable content: perhaps with as much as most people arrive at, and what, if one were properly grateful, one would perhaps call perfect happiness. Here is a glorious sunshiny day: all the morning I read about Nero in Tacitus, lying at full length on a bench in the garden: a nightingale singing, and some red anemones eyeing the sun manfully not far off. A funny mixture all this: Nero, and the delicacy of Spring; all very human, however. Then at half past one lunch on Cambridge cream cheese; then a ride over hill and dale; then spudding up some weeds from the grass; and then coming in, I sit down to write to you, my sister winding red worsted from the back of a chair, and the most delightful little girl in the world chattering incessantly. So runs the world away.

B. Supply some fitting obstacle for one of the following narrative subjects and write the story in full.

1. A little journey in an automobile. 2. Going for the mail. 3. How we put up our telephone line. 4. A visit to cousin Frank's. 5. A night in a haunted house. 6. How I paid back ten dollars. 7. Tacking round the Point.

8. Dressing for the party.