Part 4 (1/2)
”Four--five,” he counted ”That is enough”
But The Parrot's big grip closed quietly around his wrist at the last offering and pinioned hih Noill take the rest Ha, wise man! Have I fooled you at last?”
There was no chance to struggle, and Dubosc did not try, only stayed s
Perroquet took the bottle
”The best ht notion--of yours The--best--”
His lips moved, but no sound issued A look of the most intense surprise spread upon his round face He stood swaying ais cut
Dubosc stooped and caught the bottle again, looking down at his big adversary, who sprawled in brief convulsion and lay still, a bluish scu between his teeth
”Yes, the best hed as he in turn raised the flask for a draft
”The best wins!” echoed a voice in his ear
Fenayrou, writhing up and striking like a wounded snake, drove the knife home between his shoulders
The bottle fell and rolled to the middle of the platform, and there, while each strove vainly to reach it, it poured out its treasure in a tiny stream that trickled away and was lost
It may have been minutes or hours later--for time has no count in emptiness--when next a sound proceeded fro like astrain in half tones and fluted accidentals, not un without emotion or effort, quite casually and softly to hi by his forest hut to ease so out into space, untroubled, un
And, after all, the shi+p ca the sauciest little tops'l schooner between Nukahiva and the Pelews--as her owner often averred and none but the envious denied--in a manner worthy, too, of that able Captain Jean Guibert, the merriest little scao of labor fro coast Before the first whiff out of the west ca with a flash of white frill by her forefoot, and brought up startled and stood shaking her skirts and keeping herself quite daintily to ard
”And 'ere they are sure enough, by dae of coers for us, hey?
They been here all the time, not ten mile off--I bet you, Marteau Ain't it 'ell? What you zink, ar?”
His second, a tall and excessively bony individual of gloolasses
”More bad luck I never approved of this job And now--see?--we have had our voyage for nothing What ives you soold 'arp still you would holler bad luck--bad job!” retorted Captain Jean ”Do I 'ire you to stand zere and cry about ze luck? Get a boat over, and quicker zan zat!”
M Marteau aroused himself sufficiently to take command of the boat's crew that presently dropped away to investigate
”It is even as I thought,” he called up from the quarter when he returned with his report ”I told you hoould be, Captain Jean”
”Hey?” cried the captain, bouncing at the rail ”Have you got zose passengers yet, _enfant de salaud_?”