This man, who could choke an ox with his monstrous
hands, had a moment before petted a cat, straightened out rugs,
watered the woman's flowers, and had dusted. He was harmless--now.
And yet in the same breath David sensed the fact that a single
word from St. Pierre's wife would be sufficient to fire his brute
strength into a blazing volcano of action. Such a henchman was
priceless--under certain conditions! And he had brought a warning
straight from the woman.
"I think I understand what you mean, Bateese," he said. "She says
that I am to make no effort to leave this bateau--that I am to be
killed if I try to escape? Are you sure she said that?"
"PAR LES MILLE CORNES DU DIABLE, you t'ink Bateese lie, m'sieu?
Concombre Bateese, who choke ze w'ite bear wit' hees two ban', who
pull down ze tree--"
"No, no, I don't think you lie. But I am wondering why she didn't
tell me that when she was here."
"Becaus' she have too much leetle bird heart, zat ees w'y. She
say: 'Bateese, you tell heem he mus' wait for St. Pierre. An' you
tell heem good an' hard, lak you choke ze w'ite bear an' lak you
pull down ze tree, so he mak' no meestake an' try get away.
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