Part 13 (1/2)
”I say, don't, little un. You're growing too clever, and attempts at jokes like that don't seem to fit out here in this hungry desert. Mind what you are about, or you'll spoil the tooth.”
”I'm minding; but what did you mean about your _Nil desperandum_?”
”That I'll never despair. When we've tried everything we can out here, and failed, we'll go back home and settle in London. Something always turns up, and you're so handy, that we'll start as dentists, and you shall extract all the teeth.”
”All right, Joe. My word! this is a tight one. But people wouldn't have their teeth taken out with hammer and chisel.”
”You could use laughing gas.”
”They wouldn't laugh much, gas or no gas,” cried d.y.k.e, ”if I got hold of their teeth with the pincers, like this. I say, this is a tough one.
He never had toothache in this. You have a go: your muscles are stronger than mine.”
”No; have another try.”
”But it makes me so hot.”
”Never mind. Remember my crest and motto--doubled fist for determination, and 'Never despair.'”
”Who's going to despair over a big tooth?” cried d.y.k.e, holding on to the pincers with both hands, giving a good wrench, and tearing out the tusk.
”That's got him. Phew! it was a job. I say, they'll look well as curiosities.”
”Yes, they're a fine set,” said Emson, taking out his little double gla.s.s, and beginning slowly to sweep the plain.
”See anything?” asked d.y.k.e, as he rose to his feet, and put the hammer, chisel, and pincers in a leather case buckled behind his saddle, and washed his hands, drily, in sand.
”Not yet.”
”Oh, do see something! We must get a buck of some kind to take home with us.”
”Yes, we ought to get something, or Jack will forsake us because we are starving him; and take away his wife. You'll have to cook then, little un.”
”Won't matter, if there's nothing to cook,” said d.y.k.e sharply. ”But, I say, Joe, you do think we are getting on better with the birds? Only two chicks have died since we took home those eggs.”
”Only two,” said Emson, rather bitterly. ”That's one a week. Easily calculate how long we shall be in getting to the end of our stock.”
”I say, what about your motto? Who's looking on the black side?”
”Guilty, my lord. Come along; jump up. We will have something or another to take back for a roast.”
d.y.k.e sprang upon his horse, the dog gave a joyful bark, and they cantered off, d.y.k.e placing his rifle on his rein hand, while he rearranged the tusks in his pocket, to keep them from rattling.
”Which way are we going?” he said.
”Let's try west; we may perhaps see ostriches.”
”Oh, don't talk about them,” cried d.y.k.e; ”I do get so tired of the wretches. I say, that young c.o.c.k number two showed fight at me this morning, and kicked. He just missed my leg.”
”What? Oh, you must be careful, old chap. I can't afford to have your leg broken. But, I say, I had a look at the stores this morning before we started.”
”I saw you, and wondered what you were doing.”