On the edge of this green cauldron the Corsicans and my comrades sat
like so many witches, their figures magnified uncannily against the
void; and far beyond, above the rose-coloured crags, deep-set in
miles of transparent blue, shone the snow-covered central peaks of
the island.
As I rounded the corner, Mr. Fett hailed me with a shout and a vocal
imitation of a post-horn.
"Another," he cried, and slapped his thigh triumphantly. "Another
blossom added to the posy! Badcock, my flosculet, you owe me five
shillings. Permit me to explain, sir"--he turned to me--"that Mr.
Badcock has been staking upon an anthology, I upon the full basket
and the whole hog. It is cut and come again with these Corsicans;
and, talking of hogs--"
His chatter tailed off in a pitiful exclamation as the
litter-carriers came around the angle of the ridge with Nat's body
between them.
"Poor lad! Ah, poor lad!" I heard Billy say. Mr. Badcock nervously
disjointed his flute. "I warned him, sir. Believe me, my last words
were that, being in Rome, so to speak, he should do as the Romans
did--"
"There is one more," announced the girl, to her Corsicans, "and I
have sent for him.
Pages:
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313