Page:The life of the insects by Čapek brothers.pdf/73

 Second Snail. Come back, come back.

Tramp. That’s for you, rattlebones! You felt that, eh? ’Ere, get yer knee off my chest—I only want to live. I won’t give yer my life, yer old skull and crossbones yer.—Ow! it’s ’is foot on my head.

[Falls.

First Snail. I thay, thnail.

Second Snail. What?

First Snail. ’E ’th thtruggling with death.

Second Snail. We’ll have a look, eh?

Tramp. Let me live—what will it matter to you? Only this once—till to-morrow. Let me breathe—stop, don’t strangle me—I don’t want to die—I ’aven’t enjoyed life yet—not ’alf—

[Falls.

First Snail. What fun, eh?

Second Snail.I thay, thnail!

First Snail. What?

Second Snail. He’th done for.

Tramp. You strangle a man when ’e’s down, do you, coward? Stop, let me tell you—all I want’s another moment—let me live—go away—I’ve more to tell you—I’ve learned how to live.

First Snail. Well, it’th all up with him.

Second Snail. Oh dear, oh dear! What a mithfortune! How we shall mith him, my dear.

First Snail. What are you talkin’ about? It’s nothing to do with uth.

Second Snail. That’s what people thay when thomebody dies.

First Snail. Oh yeth. Well, we won’t futh about it.

Second Snail. No! No! Ith the way of the world.