Page:While the Billy Boils, 1913.djvu/264

 critically examining the skirts of the old blue over-shirt he wore. 'I might get a strip or two more off, but it's short enough already. Let's see; how long have I been awearin' of that shirt; Oh, I remember, I bought it jist two days afore Five Bob was pupped. I can't afford a new shirt jist yet; howsomenever, seein' it's Brummy, I'll jist borrow a couple more strips and sew 'em on agen when I git home.'

He up-ended Brummy, and placing his shoulder against the middle of the lower sheet of bark, lifted the corpse to a horizontal position; then taking the bag of bones in his hand, he started for home.

'I ain't a-spendin' sech a dull Christmas arter all,' he reflected, as he plodded on; but he had not walked above a hundred yards when he saw a black iguana sidling into the grass by the side of the path.

'That's another of them theer dang things! ' he exclaimed. 'That's two I've seed this mornin'.'

Presently he remarked: 'Yer don't smell none too sweet, Brummy. It must 'a' been jist about the middle of shearin' when yer pegged out. I wonder who got yer last cheque. Shoo! theer's another black gohanner―theer must be a flock on 'em.'

He rested Brummy on the ground while he had another pull at the bottle, and, before going on, packed the bag of bones on his shoulder under the body, but he soon stopped again.

'The thunderin' jumpt-up bones is all skew-whift,' he said. ' 'Ole on, Brummy, an' I'll fix 'em;' and he leaned the dead man against a tree while he settled the bones on his shoulder, and took another pull at the bottle.