United States or Lithuania ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Thank you," said Punch. "I didn't want to bother you, you know, comrade, only you see I ain't like you I don't know a dozen languages, French and Latin, and all the rest of them; and when you get on talking to that contrabando chap it worries me. Seems as if you are saying all sorts of things about me. He will keep looking at me all the time he's talking.
"Well, ain't we got the chance? We was too busy to think of eating all yesterday, and while we were lying tied up there like a couple of calves in a farmer's cart." "Well, are we much better off now, Punch?" "Much better much better off! I should think we are! It was talking about poor Mr Contrabando that made me think of it. Poor chap!
"Why, that's what I was thinking," said Punch; "and if we had gone on a little farther I think we should have got to the place where the Frenchies attacked us. Of course I ain't sure, because it was all in the darkness. But, I say, Mr Contrabando and his fellows have given up the pursuit. I haven't heard anything of them for hours now."
I call it more than awkward, for we did nearly get the poor old chap into a bad scrape that first night. Tell you what, though. You ask Mr Contrabando to come some night and show us the way." "Show us the way where?" "Anywhere. Up into the passes, as he calls them, right up in the mountains, so that we shall know which way to go when we want to join the Bri'sh army."
I'm afraid, Punch, it's all over with the poor King and his followers." "Yes," said Punch thoughtfully, as he trudged on as close as he could get to his companion. "It's a bad lookout for them, comrade; but somehow I seem to think more of Mr Contrabando. I liked him. Good luck to the poor chap!
"That's it," said Punch; "and our friends, after beating off the enemy, have gone back to their what-you-may-call-it quarters mine, didn't they call it?" "Yes." "Well, then, that's what we have got to do get away from here and go back and join Mr Contrabando again." "Impossible, Punch, even if we were free." "Not it!
They would fight ever so much better. Yes, if I was a king I'd lead my own men. They'd like seeing him, and fight for him all the better. Of course I wouldn't have him do all the dirty work, but Look there, comrade; there's Mr Contrabando making signals to you. We are going to begin. Come on!"
Add hereunto another disaster that befell them, the taking of sixty sails of their ships about the mouth of Tagus in Portugal by the Queen's ships that were laden with "ropas de contrabando," viz., goods prohibited by her former proclamation into the dominions of Spain.
There was another yell, and another which seemed to fill the entry to the old mine with a hundred echoes, while as the boys were busily reloading a figure they did not recognise came running towards their coign of vantage at the top of his speed. "Quick, Punch! An enemy! Bayonets!" cried Pen. "Tain't," grumbled Punch. "Nearly ready. It's Contrabando."
Whereupon Punch exclaimed, "I never saw such a fellow as you are to sleep! Do wake up. Here's Mr Contrabando waiting to speak to you, and he looks as if he wanted to go away." "Punch!" exclaimed Pen, starting up. "Punch it is. Are you awake now?" "Awake? Yes. Have I been dreaming?"
Word Of The Day