I must whip him until he can not walk. And then
I will send him back for you to nurse, cherie, and for that
blessing I think he will willingly take my punishment! Is it not
so, m'sieu?"
He was smiling and no longer excited when he turned to David.
"M'sieu, I will fight you. And the wagers shall stand. And in this
hour let us be honest, like men, and make confession. You love ma
belle Jeanne--Marie-Anne? Is it not so? And I--I love my Carmin,
whose brother you hanged, as I love no other woman in the world.
Now, if you will have it so, let us fight!"
He began stripping off his shirt, and with a bellow in his throat
Concombre Bateese slouched away like a beaten gorilla to explain
to St. Pierre's people the change in the plan of battle. And as
that news spread like fire in the fir-tops, there came but a
single cry in response--shrill and terrible--and that was from the
throat of Andre, the Broken Man.
XXI
As Carrigan stripped off his shirt, he knew that at least in one
way he had met more than his match in St. Pierre Boulain. In the
splendid service of which he was a part he had known many men of
iron and steel, men whose nerve and coolness not even death could
very greatly disturb.
Pages:
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269