Part 37 (2/2)
Fred knocked the rifle up Will took it away and returned it to the corner
”All very easy for you round and all that sort of rot,” Brown grumbled ”It's my cattle he took! It'sme? Let me have a crack at hirinned Will
But Broas no match for the Greek without weapons--very likely no rinned, while Brown re
”Bah!” sneered Coutlass ”Of what use is being sulky? I found cattle in a village How should I knohose cattle they were? Why blaot the cattle, not I! They took them from me, and they'd have taken the them first! Gassharamminy! By blazes! We're all in the saentlemen! We're all in the power of the Germans, unless we can think of a way to escape! I and my party are under arrest So will you be by to-morrow! I shall tell a tale to-morrow that will keep you by the heels for a ate! Wait and see!”
”Get out of this tent!” growled Fred in the dead-level voice he uses when he means to brook no refusal
”Presently!”
Fredat him, but Coutlass was on his feet with the speed of a cat, and just outside the tent in ti of Fred's fist He withdrew about two yards and stood there grinning lad to make terms with lad to have me for a friend! Listen, you fools! Make terether and unearth that Tippoo Tib ivory, and I can arrange with these Ger you stop here! By the Twelve Apostles! You shall rot in a German jail until your joints creak!”
His Greek friend and the Goanese, supposing him in trouble perhaps, came and stood in line with him Very comfortless they looked, and of the three only Coutlass had courage of a kind
”They stole the cattle on the British side of the border,” Will said sotto voice ”No earthly use threatening them with German law”
”Keep away from our camp,” Fred Ordered them, ”or take the consequences! Mr Brown here is in no mood for pleasantries!”
”That drunkard Brown?” roared Coutlass ”He is in no mood for--oh, haw-hah-hee-ho-ha-ha-ha-ha! Drunkard Brown of Lue himself, and his friends won't let him! Oh, isn't that a joke! Oh, ha-ha-ha-hee-hee-ha-ho-ho!”
His two cohter like disgusting animals Fred took a short quick step forward Will followed, and Brown reached for the rifle again But I stopped all three of them
”Come back! Don't let's be fools!” I insisted ”I never saw a more obvious effort to start trouble in h,” Will adht!”
He returned into the tent and the Greeks, perhaps supposing he went for weapons, retreated, continuing to shout abuse at Broho, between a yearning to get drunk and sorrow for his stolen cattle, was growing tearful
”They got here first,” I argued ”They've had time to tell their own story That may account for our cold reception by the Germans He says they're under arrest That may be true, or it may be a trick
It's perfectly obvious Coutlass wanted to start a fight, and I' such a chance as it seee and see whether he has friends in ambush?”
”Drunkard Brown is on the town--on the town--on the town!” roared Coutlass and his friends froo and have a crack at 'eed Brown ”I tell you I don't care about jail! I don't care if I do get killed!”
Fred kept a restraining hand on hiap in the cactus hedge by which we had entered the enclosure It was only twenty yards away
Once through the gap he glanced swiftly to right and left--laughed--and carinned ”Six full-sized Nubians in unifor sticks and handcuffs! If we'd touched those Greeks they'd have jumped the fence and stretched us out! What the devil d'you suppose they want us in jail for?”