Page:While the Billy Boils, 1913.djvu/44

 standing the boot on the bar counter, but keeping my hand on it in an absent-minded kind of way. Presently I yawned and stretched myself, and said in a careless way:

'Ah, well! How's the slate?'

He scratched the back of his head and pretended to think.

'Oh, well, we'll call it thirty bob.'

Perhaps he thought I'd slap down two quid.

'Well, I says, 'and what will you do supposing we don't pay you?'

He looked blank for a moment. Then he fired up and gasped and choked once or twice; and then he cooled down suddenly and laughed his nastiest laugh―he was one of those men who always laugh when they're wild―and said in a nasty, quiet tone:

'You thundering, jumped-up crawlers! If you don't (something) well part up I'll take your swags and (something) well kick your gory pants so you won't be able to sit down for a month―or stand up either!'

'Well, the sooner you begin the better,' I said; and I chucked the boot into a corner and bolted.

He jumped the bar counter, got his boot, and came after me. He paused to slip the boot on but he only made one step, and then gave a howl and slung the boot off and rushed back. When I looked round again he'd got a slipper on, and was coming―and gaining on me, too. I shifted scenery pretty quick the next five minutes. But I was soon pumped. My heart began to beat against the ceiling of my head,