Part 96 (1/2)
”Ha!” laughed Mike ”This here arn't Bristol, little Jeen'leman now”
”Yes, you look it,” said Don, contemptuously ”You scoundrel! How did you coton, sir,” whined the ruffian ”How did I coentleen'le of the pair; ”and look here, youngster, if you meets any one who asks after us, and whether you've seen us, mind you arn't Understand?”
Don looked at him contemptuously, and half turned away
”Who was there after you?” said Mike Bannock, suspiciously
”Some of a tribe of Maoris,” replied Jem
”No one else?”
”No”
”Ah, well, we arn't afeared of thely ”Soonbirds as we shot at? And I say, young Lavington, what have you been doing to your face? Sh the grey mud, and involuntarily clapped his hand to his face, for he had forgotten the rough disguise
”Never you”What birds?”
”Theht one of 'em down”
”You! You couldn't hit a haystack,” said Jeerly ”Here you, Don Lavington, you usen't to believewild beasts and furrin lands We see three birds just here, fourteen foot high”
”You alere a liar, Mike,” said Don conteh, because there are no such things You didn't see any birds at all”
”Well, of all--” began Mike, but he stopped short as he heard Don's next words,--
”Coet on”
He stepped forward, but after a quick exchange of glances with his co un; you stops along of us”
”What!” cried Don
”We're three English gen'leers, and we've met you two So we says, says we, folks here's a bit too handy with their spears, so it's as well for Englishoing to do”
”Indeed, we are not!” cried Don ”You go your way, and we'll go ours”