 People crossed the river by the ferry in Exmouth to go to the railway station. The Ferry worked from sunrise to sunset.
 One night between twelve and one o’clock, Mr D suddenly awoke hearing a voice ordering him to go down to the ferry.
 The second time the same voice told Mr D the same message with the addition that the boatman was waiting.
 It was foolish to do what the voice said. He was sure there was no boatman at that time. As sleep was impossible, he went to the ferry. It was a short walk to it.
 Mr D was astonished when he went to the ferry because he found the boatman waiting and saying that he had waited for him nearly for an hour.
 When he arrived at the station, a further idea had gained possession of his mind to go to Exter to complete the purpose of his strange journey.
 When he arrived at Exter he blamed himself for coming to the place and decided to return home by the next train.
 The waiter apologized for the delay as the hotel was full because of the cases they had in the law court. He told Mr D about the cases and his own ideas.
 Mr D didn’t return to Exmouth as he had decided because he became interested in the cases and decided to go to the court.
 The case he attended was that of a man accused of murder. Although he had not been seen doing the act of murder, he would be considered guilty by witnesses.
 The prisoner’s only hope was to prove that the witnesses were talking about the wrong man and to show that he had not been there at that time.
 There was only one gentleman who could prove what he said but, he didn’t know who he was or where to look for him. So, he was ready to accept his fate.
 When Mr D looked at the helpless man carefully, he suddenly began to remember the events. He himself was the man who could prove his innocence.
 To make sure of the events he remembered Mr D turned to his notebook and found the very words he had written including the date.
 Mr D made known to the court his wish to be examined for the sake of the man.
 As a witness he gave his evidence that the man was mending a window at the time of murder and giving all the details. The man was set free.

Q & A

1- What was Mr D?
- He was a young man studying at Cambridge University in summer. * من هو الأستاذ "دي"؟
 كان شاب يدرس في جامعة كامبرج في الصيف.
2- What was the ferry used for in Exmouth?
-It was used for crossing the river to go to the railway station. * ما هو إستخدام المعدية في إكسموس؟
 كانت تستخدم لعبر النهر للذهاب الي محطة القطار.
3- How long did the ferry work every day?
-The ferry worked from sunrise to sunset. * كم المدة التي تعمل فيها المعدية كل يوم؟
 كانت تعمل من شروق الشمس الي الغروب.
4- What did Mr D hear during his sleep?
- A commanding voice ordering him to go down to the ferry. * ماذا سمع الأستاذ "دي" أثناء نومه؟
 صوت يأمره أن يذهب إلي المعدية.
5- What did the commanding voice say to him?
- To go down to the ferry. * ماذا قال له الصوت؟
 أن يذهب إلي المعدية.
6- What did the voice tell Mr D the second time?
-To go down to the ferry and the boatman was waiting for him * ماذا قال له الصوت في المرة الثانية؟
 أن يذهب إلي المعدية والمركبي كان ينتظره.
7- Why did it seem foolish for Mr D to obey that voice?
- As it was mid-night, there was no boat and it was imaginary voice. * لماذا من الغباء أن يطيع هذا الصوت؟
 لأنه منتصف الليل ولايوجد مركب إنه صوت خيالي.
8-Why did Mr D find it impossible to ignore the second voice?
- Because it was so commanding. * لماذ من المستحيل تجاهل الصوت الثاني؟
 لأنه كان شديد الأمر.
9- Why did he decide to go to the ferry?
- As sleep was impossible and it was a short walk. * لماذا قرر أن يذهب إلي المعدية؟
 لأن النوم كان مستحيل وأنها مشية قصيرة.
10- Why was Mr D astonished when he went to the ferry?
-He found the boatman waiting and saying he waited for him for an hour. * لماذا اندهش الأستاذ "دي" عندما ذهب إلي المعدية؟
 وجد المركبي ينتظره وقال أنه انتظره لمدة ساعة.
11- Why was the ferryman in the boat at that time?
- It seemed that he received his orders too. * لماذا كان المركبي في المركب في ذلك الوقت؟
 يبدو أنه تلقي أوامره أيضاً.
12- How was the boatman called as Mr D thought?
- By someone in a passing boat. * كيف تم استدعاء المركبي كما يعتقد الأستاذ "دي"؟
 بواسطة شخص ما في قارب ماراً.
13- Why did Mr D go to Exeter?
- Because the word Exeter kept sounding in his head. * لماذا ذهب الأستاذ "دي" إلي اكستير؟
 لأن كلمة اكستير مازالت تتردد في رأسه.
14- What did he do when he reached Exeter?
- He wandered aimlessly about the streets and blamed himself and decided to return home. * ماذا فعل عندما وصل اكستير؟
 تجول بلهدف في الشوارع و لام نفسه وقرر أن يرجع للبيت.
15- Why did he go to a hotel?
- To have breakfast. * لماذا ذهب إلي الفندق؟
 لكي يتناول الأفطار.
16- What made the waiter apologize to Mr D?
- For the delay because the hotel was full. * ما الذي جعل الجرسون يعتذر للأستاذ "دي"؟
 لتأخره لأن الفندق كان ممتلئ.
17- Why was the hotel at Exeter full of people?
- As a lot of people were going to the court to attend the cases. * لماذا الفندق كان ممتلئ بالناس؟
 لأن كثير من الناس ذهبوا إلي المحكمة ليحضروا القضية.
18- How did Mr D know about the cases in the court?
- The waiter told him about them. * كيف عرف الأستاذ "دي" عن القضية؟
 الجرسون أخبره.
19- What did the waiter tell Mr D about the cases?
-The history of the cases which tried and his ideas about the cases. * ماذا الجرسون أخبر الأستاذ "دي"؟
 تاريخ القضية و أفكاره عن القضية.
20-Why didn’t Mr D return to Exmouth as he had decided?
- Because he decided to go to the court. * لماذا الأستاذ "دي" لم يعود إلي اكسموس؟
 لأنه قرر أن يذهب إلي المحكمة.
21- Why did Mr D decide to go to the courthouse?
-He became interested in the waiter's account of the cases. * لماذا قرر الأستاذ "دي" بأن يذهب إلي المحكمة؟
 إنه أصبح مهتم بوصف الكاتب للقضية.
22- What was the case he attended?
-It was the case of a prisoner who was accused of murder. * ما هي القضية التي حضرها؟
 إنها قضية مسجون متهم بجريمة قتل.
23- Why did the case cause unusual excitement?
- Although no one saw him doing the act of murder, the witnesses accused him. * لماذا تسبب القضية اثارة غير عادية؟
 بالرغم أنه لاأحد رأه يرتكب القتل فالشهود يتهموه.
24- What was the prisoner’s only hope?
- To prove that the witnesses were talking about the wrong man and to show that he had not been there at the time. * ما هو أمل المسجون الوحيد؟
 أن يثبت أن الشهود يتكلموا عن الرجل الخطأ و أنه لم يكن هناك في هذا الوقت.
25- Why couldn't the prisoner prove his innocence?
-Because he didn't know the name or the address of the gentleman who could prove he didn't commit the crime. * لماذا لم يسنطيع الكاتب اثبات براءته؟
 لأنه لا يعرف اسم ولا عنوان الرجل الذي يثبت أنه لم يرتكب الجريمة.
26-Why was it certain that the prisoner would be found guilty?
- As the witnesses saw him in the place of the crime. * لماذا من المؤكد أن المسجون مذنب؟
 لأن الشهود رأه في مكان الجريمة.
27- What did the prisoner say to defend himself?
- He was mending a window at Mr G’s house at M on the day and at the hour of the murder. * ماذا قال المسجون ليدافع عن نفسه؟
 هو كان يصلح شباك في منزل الأستاذ "جي" في "ام" في يوم و ساعة الجريمة.
28- How did the prisoner feel?
- He was hopeless, sad and ready to accept his fate * كيف كان يشعر المسجون؟
 هو كان يائساً وحزيناً ومستعد لقبول مصيره.
29- Why was the prisoner hopeless?
-As he didn't know the name and address of the man who could prove his innocence. * لماذا المسجون يائساً؟
 لأنه لا يعرف إسم و عنوان الرجل الذي يستطيع أن يثبت براءته.
30- Why did Mr D go to M?
- To visit his friend Mr G. * لماذا ذهب الأستاذ "دي" إلي "ام"؟
 لكي يزور صديقه الأستاذ "جي".
31- What did Mr D do when he didn't find Mr G?
-He waited in the library reading. * ماذا فعل الأستاذ "دي" عندما لم يجد الأستاذ "جي"؟
 هو انتظر في المكتبة يقرأ.
32- What did Mr D do to pass the time?
- He watched the man mending the window and talked to him. * ماذا فعل الأستاذ "دي" ليمرر الوقت؟
 شاهد الرجل يصلح الشباك وتكلم معه.
33- How could Mr D prove that the prisoner was innocent?
- He told the court that he saw him mending the window at M at the time of the murder. * كيف إيتطاع الأستاذ "دي" براءة المسجون؟
 أخبر المحكمة أنه رأئه يصلح الشباك في "ام" في وقت الجريمة.
34-How did Mr D make sure of the events he remembered?
- He found the words he wrote including the date in his notebook. * كيف تأكد الأيتاذ "دي" من الأحداث الثي تذكرها؟
 وجد الكلمات التي كتبها متضمنه التاريخ في مفكرته.
35- What was the result of Mr D’s evidence?
- The prisoner was set free. * ما هي نتيجة الأيتاذ "دي"؟
 المسجون أطلق سراحه.

1) "Go to the ferry the boatman waits."
a- By whom was this statement said? {By the commanding voice}
b- Why did Mr D decide to go down to the ferry? {As sleep was impossible}
c- What made Mr D astonished when he went to the ferry?
{As he found the boatman waiting for him}
2) "It is impossible that I could have done this thing."
a - Who said these words ? {it was said by the accused man}
b - What thing was he talking about ? {that he committed that crime}
c - Did he really commit that crime? Give reasons
{No, he didn’t. As at the same time he was sent to Mr. G's house to mend a window}
3) "There is a special reason that would make him remember me".
a - Who was the speaker talking about? {Mr D}
b - What was the speaker accused of? {the act of murder}
c - How could that person prove that the speaker was innocent?
{He told the court that he saw him mending the window at M at the time of the murder}
4) “ Well, you’ve kept me waiting long enough tonight……. ”
a- Who was the speaker? {the boatman}
b- What did Mr D realize when he heard these words?
{the boatman received the same orders}
c- How long had the speaker waited for Mr D? {for an hour}
5) “There is one gentleman , who could prove that I was there…... ”
a- Who was that gentleman referred to ? {Mr. D}
b- How did that gentleman prove to be helpful ?
{when he told the court that the prisoner was not guilty}
c- Why was the speaker in great difficulty ?
{because all the witnesses accused him}