Part 24 (1/2)
This, then, after all, was the quirk in Peakslow's head The boys grinned Jack was astounded
”Peakslow,” he exclainantly, ”you know that's an absurd claim!
You didn't find my horse and deliver hiive him up! The truckman has a better claim for the reward than you have, for he had him first; and then I don't see but the thief himself has a prior claim to either”
”You talk like a fool!” said Peakslow
”You _act_ like a fool and a knave!” Jack retorted, in a sudden blaze
”I won't have any more words with you Sue for the reward, if you think you can get it I' to take my horse!”
”Not till the reward is paid, if I live!” said Peakslow, his black eyes sparkling ”Zeph, step and hand out the old gun!”
CHAPTER XXII
THE WOODLAND SPRING
Very pale, with the bridle dangling fro dejectedly by his side (the sy always knehen his master was in trouble), Jack returned to the ”castle”
Lord Betterson,him in the door-yard, touched his hat and bowed
”Where--is--your--quadruped?” he asked, with a cool, deliberate politeness, which fell upon Jack's mood like drops of water on red-hot steel
”That villain! he claims the reward for him! But I never'll pay it in the world!”
Betterson shly characteristic!”
”He threatened to shoot me!”
”Very likely He has threatened to shoot _me_, on one or two occasions
I said, 'Shoot!'” (Jack wondered whether he said it with that condescending sreeable to have dealings with a person who talks of shooting his fellow-er, if you keep cool”
”I couldn't keep cool,” said Jack ”I got as mad as he was I could have shot _him_”
”That, my friend,” Lord Betterson replied, with a wave of the hand, ”was an error,--quite natural, but still an error You stay to dinner?”
”Thank you, I have pro given way to his anger; and he determined from that moment, whatever happened, to keep calm
As he threw his useless bridle down, and left Lion to guard it, he saw Wad starting off with a pail, and asked where he was going
”For water,” said Wad
”More water? I should think you all had enough for one day!”
”Yes, for the outer man,” drawled Wad ”Where's your horse?”