Page:WW Jacobs--The lady of the barge.djvu/219

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A Tiger's Skin
197

come in just after Henery Walker. 'I see 'im with the tiger after 'im."

" ' Wot ?' ses Henery, staring at him.

" 'I see it all, Henery,' ses Bob Pretty, 'and I see your pluck. It was all you could do to make up your mind to run from it. I believe if you'd 'ad a fork in your 'and you'd 'ave made a fight for it."

"Everybody said 'Bravo!'; but Henery Walker didn't seem to like it at all. He sat still, looking at Bob Pretty, and at last 'e ses, 'Where was you ?' 'e ses.

" 'Up another tree, Henery, where you couldn't see me,' ses Bob Pretty, smiling at 'im.

Henery Walker, wot was drinking some beer, choked a bit, and then 'e put the mug down and went straight off 'ome without saying a word to anybody. I knew 'e didn't like Bob Pretty, but I couldn't see why 'e should be cross about 'is speaking up for 'im as 'e had done, but Bob said as it was 'is modesty, and 'e thought more of 'im for it.

After that things got worse than ever; the wimmen and children stayed indoors and kept the doors shut, and the men never knew when

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