Page:Eekhoud - The New Carthage.djvu/163

Rh of the north would stop short and declare he could go no further unless he were given a drink.

Vingerhout having turned a deaf ear to this demand, the thirsty one dragged along grumbling, ready to give vent to the same declaration a few steps further along. Although two other recruits had upheld the petition of their comrade by a suggestive smacking of their lips and gestures worthy of Tantalus, the recruiter paid no more attention to them than he had before.

At the third liquor shop, that is to say, the sixth house, the sufferer gave in, and, with an oath of despair, deserted the troop for the bar, which drew him more irresistibly than any magnet. His two partisans dragged along until the next temptation presented itself, and then, after a supreme but unsuccessful plea to their recruiter, they resumed their libations to the god Gin.

Laurent began to understand why Vingerhout had enlisted the contingent.

"Those three were drunkards and licensed loafers!" said the baes. "I engaged them more to ease my conscience than for any other reason, for I was sure that they would give me the slip at the first turn. And I am not sure of the others!"

Jean had good reason to distrust their force of character. The dockyard to which they were going being about a kilometer further on, a few more defections became manifest, one man debouching the other, so that when they finally arrived at their destination, there only remained to Vingerhout the five hands that he required.

"We ought to thank our lucky stars that even they did not give us the slip at the last minute, and so