Part 8 (2/2)
Then I felt foolish, for the re, and Beryl was a witness But she seely
”There was Trask,” went on the imp; ”when he first came out he couldn't hit a house unless he was shut up inside it He couldn't sit a horse either _Ja_, we used to have fun out of Trask”
”I should say _Mr_ Trask, George,” said Beryl
The correction was received with a lordly conte rascal went on--
”Can you sit a bucking horse, Mr Holt?”
”Did you ever hear what the e?” I said
”No What?”
”I've never tried”
He looked puzzled, then annoyed Beryl and Iris broke into a peal of laughter
”Don't see where any joke corunted ”But why not have a try now, Mr Holt? There's Bontebok up in the stable He always bucks when you first get on hio and tell Sixpence to saddle hie,” pronounced Iris decisively
”You're a great deal too cheeky I wonder Mr Holt stands it Besides, ant hiirl! I was fond of her already, but more than ever now that she had come to my rescue in that whole-hearted and tactful fashi+on For I did not want to make an exhibition of myself and furnish forth a circus entertainment with Beryl for audience; and it would have been difficult, unaided, to have backed out of as in effect a challenge, without jeopardising e Another tiht you are; I'll tell them to keep Bontebok up,” ca”
The young villain, you see, was not going to let me down so easily
”But I may not be Those circus tricks are all very well for an unfledged young ed buffer isn't always on for that sort of ga rascal ”Why, you and Brian were at school together”
”Oh, George, will you scoot?” interrupted Iris, eentle push ”You're getting such a bore, you know Go and un and go and shoot some mouse birds Brian and dad both want some tails to clean their pipes with”
”Can't Dad'd object It's Sunday”
”Well, anyhow--scoot I don't want you So long”
”I'o and rout out Brian”
Iris, you see, ruled the house, including George Including ht She was alher out of her perilous predicareat friends, and she teased me with the same freedom and whole-heartedness that she teased Brian, who idolised her; but in her bright, pretty, engaging little ways there was none of the covert ie's atte to stay with us altogether, Mr Holt,” she broke out suddenly an hour later as ere resting, having gained the objective of our Sunday afternoon stroll--a beautiful spot deep down in a kloof, where a pile of rocks all festooned with e water-hole, and on the lower side steep upsweeping slopes of foliage cut a sharp V of green and gold against the azure of an unclouded sky, while the varied call and whistle of birds kept up a continuous echo ofthat South African birds have no song is guilty of libel, for the varying and melodious cheeriness of the bird voices, at any rate in bush country, constitutes one of its greatest charms, and the very unfa with the wildness of the surroundings
”Well, for solad You're rather a good chap, you know, Mr Holt”
Beryl and I exchanged glances, she intensely aht