Volume I Part 53 (1/2)
”Stand back, co better Just wait, John Bull, you will soon know et the best of you, and then ill divide the spoils”
”Yes, yes!” the others cried, ”let us divide!”
”Keep quiet,” said the Englishht with knives, do you? Pah, I have no objection; but you will allowa knife, to make use of this weapon!” and thereupon he drew frohtly polished poniard about three or four inches long, which lookedelse
The shabby lot laughed at hi the Catalonian knives they handled with the sailor's poniard, it appeared like a sewing-needle
”Perhaps you think I am a tailor?” said the Provencal, scornfully; ”and have you not also a e knives, and that is all,” said the sailor, contemptuously ”Listen I make you an offer: if you can touch me, the money is yours; and, reed Comrades, step aside!”
With a push of his foot the Provencal cleared one of the tables; the rest did the sa tables and chairs aside for an open space
The host alone reh of these occurrences, and was in nowise astonished Even the feuests seemed to take an interest in the co the spectacle to come, and now and then the call went forth: ”The impertinent fool!” ”Well, the Provencal will teach him better!” ”Just look, the poniard is set with diamonds!”
”Where could he have stolen it?” ”Perhaps frouests, however, did not share in the general noise He was ain both his hands, so that his face could not exactly be recognized Raven black long hair, slightly tinged with gray, fell down on his broad shoulders; the man wore sailor's clothes, but they looked tattered and worn out Before hie, half-emptied bottle of liquor He sat motionless, and, in spite of the noise around hilance of the English sailor was at different times directed toward him, and it even seemed as if he wanted to speak to him, but nobody noticed it
Now the Provencal approached the English with spread-out legs, half-naked, hairy arht hand, and a vulgar smile on his thick lips, and many a one would have considered twice before he ventured on such a task His age was, no doubt, about forty, and his glaring eyes glanced continually froain at his co to say:
”Just be a little patient, I'll procure the prize for us”
The Englishre when compared with his opponent, and yet his dark eyes looked around steadily and quietly Either he plays with the danger threatening him, or he is not able to see it; one stroke of the Provencal was sufficient to batter down the Englishman, and what use is the neat little weapon in coe knife?
”Are you ready?” shouted aloud the Provencal
”Yes, bandit,” sounded loudly in reply
The sailor leaned with his back to the wall; a retrograde an to press hilittered--a juround The poniard of the Englishman had penetrated deeply into the hand which held the knife; a dark stream of blood flowed from the wound, when the sailor drew out the point of the blade, and the Provencal screaler, you will suffer for it”
Breathing heavily he stepped back a few paces, and again swinging his knife, he threw it quickly at the face of the sailor The sailor had lifted his left hand, and in a second struck the weapon as it fell; the knife whirled around, and the next ht it in his hand Triu round the knife in his left, and the poniard in his right hand; the Provencal uttered a heavy curse, and withdrawing the knife froain attack his opponent
The Englishman allowed him to approach; but as soon as he was ready to jump at him, he threay poniard and knife, took hold of the Provencal by his wrists, and as easily as if he were but a child, pitched hilasses, placed upon a table soe; and the breaking of the bottles and glasses scattered glass all over the place, causing iant bled fro to his comrades, he called aloud:
”Kill hi me?”
Irresolute, the crowd stared at the sailor, and he, taking advantage of the momentary quietness, jumped over tables and benches into a corner, where the solitary guest sat, and placed his hand upon his shoulder:
”Up!” he called with penetrating voice, ”up in the name of Manuelita!”
As if touched by an electric shock, the lance at the sailor, he gave a yell and leaped right in the abonds, and with herculean power he knocked down all ere near hie:
”Aith you, bandits! Whoever touches a hair on this man's head dies!”