Page:Quartette - Kipling (1885).djvu/130

 —Shall we cut for partners! (They cut, Wilmot and Edith partners.)

—And for deal; it's ours. (Deals cards, glancing up at Nubbee Baksh as he deals).—Now, what does that fellow want again? He's been in and out all day like a dog at a fair. Your prisoner's safe, man! Give him a peg, and he won't run away! Will you, Smith? Peg láo.

—Not afraid for prisoner, sir; but that tiger leopard, sir, coming out of the river side jungle again, Sáhib, frightened the grass-cuts, and they say he's coming up this way.

(while Wilmot plays).—Yes, I didn't want to frighten you, Edith, but there has been a leopard about; the brute has eaten two dhobies' donkeys and several pariah dogs, and he may be proposing to breakfast off your Fido. I've been prowling about after him, but leopards are the most casual creatures; you never know where they'll turn up next.

(Aside: Like loafers).—A marauding quadruped is troublesome, sir, but he may be shot, while the biped—(Throws down his card viciously.)

(playing)—Is to be treated civilly at all events. (Takes trick and plays.)

—The leopard won't come out in daylight; no such luck. You may go, Nubbee Baksh.

(goes to opening where chick is rolled up. Cries outside of '"Bágh! Bàgh! máro!").—I think that leopard has arrived. (Excitedly: I saw him behind that bullock cart; now he's coming round; the horses are breaking loose. I go fetchBolts.)

(Bulthrop throws down his cards, rushes to the stand in corner, seizes gun and solah topee, and exit at back. Wilmot is following him.)

—Stop! you're a prisoner. I am no sportsman, Miss Edith, and I am unfamiliar with the use of lethal weapons; but you shall see that I may be depended upon to act in a crisis of this kind.

—Oh! don't be rash, Mr. Smallweed.

(Takes hog-spear from corner and brandishes it awkwardly, Wilmot and Edith carefully avoiding him).—If an arm of this kind can be used effectively against the mighty boar, why should the wily leopard be proof against it?