Part 21 (1/2)
”Oh Lord!” groaned the other.
”What's the matter?”
Russell gave a fresh groan.
”This kik kik-cursed kik-kik-country!” he at length e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed.
”Oh, well,” said Harry, ”it isn't the country, it's the people.”
”Do you think they're really Kik-kik-Carlists?”
”Well, yes. I don't see any reason why they shouldn't be.”
”I was thinking that they might be bub-bub-bandits.”
”Well, there isn't any very great difference between the two, so far as we are concerned.”
”But isn't there any law among the Kik-kik-Carlists? Can't we appeal to Did-did-Don Carlos?”
”Oh yes, of course--if we could only get at him, and if he could only get at us; but these two things are just what can't be done. And so I'm afraid we'll have to make up our minds to pay the piper.”
At this Russell again gave a heavy groan.
”Don't be alarmed,” said Hurry, in a soothing tone. ”We can beat them down.”
”No,” moaned Russell, ”we can't do anything. And I've got too much about me altogether.”
”You haven't carried any large sum of money with you, surely?” cried Harry. ”Why, man, you're mad!”
”But I didn't think there'd be any danger on the railway,” said Russell.
”If your money is in bills of exchange you'll be right enough,” said Harry.
Russell shook his head.
”No,” said he, ”it's worse than that.”
”How?”
”My money is in bub-bub-bonds--Spanish bub-bub-bonds.”
”Bonds!” repeated Harry.
”Yes,” groaned Russell--”kik-kik-coupon bub-bub-bonds.”
”Coupon bonds! Why, man, what in Heaven's name are you doing with coupon bonds in this country?”
”Why, they're Spanish bonds, and I was taking them out of the country to England.”
”Whew!” whistled Harry. ”In how much?”