Part 20 (1/2)

”To meet you, of course,” retorted the major. ”That's why. I knew it was part of your scheme to come here. You and I were to be put into the pantry and then old Bludgeyhat was to come and rescue us. I was the one to make the scheme, wasn't I?”

”No. It was Bludgeonhead,” said Jimmieboy, who didn't know whether to believe the major or not.

”That's just the way,” said the major, indignantly, ”he gets all the credit just because he's big and I don't get any, and yet if you knew of all the wild animals I've killed to get here to you, how I met Fortyforefoot and bound him hand and foot and refused to let him go unless he would permit me to spend a week in his ice-chest, for the sole and only purpose that I wished to meet you again, you'd change your mind mighty quick about me.”

”You bound Fortyforefoot? A little two-inch fellow like you?” said Jimmieboy.

”Why not?” asked the major. ”Did you ever see me in a real sham battle?”

”No, I never did,” said Jimmieboy.

”Well, you'd better never,” returned the major, ”unless you want to be frightened out of your wits. I have been called the living telescope, sir, because when I begin to fight, in the fiercest manner possible, I sort of lengthen out and sprout up into the air until I am taller than any foe within my reach.”

”Really?” queried Jimmieboy, with a puzzled air about him.

”Do you doubt it?” asked the major.

”Well, I should like to see it once,” said Jimmieboy. ”Then I might believe it.”

”Then you will never believe it,” returned the major, ”because you will never see it. I never fight in the presence of others, sir.”

As the major spoke these words a heavy footstep was heard on the stairs.

”What is that?” cried the major, springing to his feet.

”I do not ask you for your gold, Nor for an old straw hat-- I simply ask that I be told Oh what, oh what is that?”

”It is a footstep on the stairs,” said Jimmieboy.

”Oh, dear! Oh, dear!” moaned the major ”If it is Fortyforefoot all is over for us. This is what I feared.

”I was afraid he could not wait, The miserable sinner, To serve me up in proper state At his to-morrow's dinner.

Alas, he comes I greatly fear In search of Major Me, sir, And that he'll wash me down with beer This very night at tea, sir.”

”Oh, why did I come here--why----”

”I shall!” roared a voice out in the pa.s.sage-way.

”You shall not,” roared another voice, which Jimmieboy was delighted to recognize as Bludgeonhead's.

”I am hungry,” said the first voice, ”and what is mine is my own to do with as I please. I shall eat both of them at once. Stand aside!”

”I will toss you into the air, my dear Fortyforefoot,” returned Bludgeonhead's voice, ”if you advance another step; and with such force, sir, that you will never come down again.”

”Tut, tut! I am not so easily tossed. Stand aside,” roared the voice of Fortyforefoot.

The two prisoners in the pantry heard a tremendous scuffling, a crash, and a loud laugh.

Then Bludgeonhead's voice was heard again.