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Then Labouise, in great humor, got the gun and held it out to Maillochon, saying: "Each one in turn; we're going after big game, sister. Don't get so near or you'll kill it right away! You must make the pleasure last a little." He placed his companion about forty paces from the victim.
Maillochon asked: "Well, what are we going to do now?" Labouise answered: "Don't worry, sister. Get the thing on the boat; we're going to have some fun when night comes." They went and got the boat. The animal's body was placed on the bottom, covered with fresh grass, and the two men stretched out on it and went to sleep.
Still the dealer insisted: "Perhaps it's a buck?" Labouise stretched out his hand, exclaiming: "No, it's not that! It's not a buck. I should have seen the horns. No, it's not a buck!" "Why didn't you bring it with you?" asked the man. "Because, sister, from now on I sell from where I stand. Plenty of people will buy. All you have to do is to take a walk over there, find the thing and take it.
The woman stopped dragging her donkey and looked. Labouise continued: "What are you doing going to the locomotive show?" The woman made no reply. Chicot continued: "Say, your trotter's prime for a race. Where are you taking him at that speed?" At last the woman answered: "I'm going to Macquart, at Champioux, to have him killed. He's worthless." Labouise answered: "You're right.
You know our price! Take it or leave it!" The dealer decided: "It's a bargain for twenty francs!" And they shook hands over the deal. Then he took out four big five-franc pieces from the cash drawer, and the two friends pocketed the money. Labouise arose, emptied his glass and left. As he was disappearing in the shadows he turned round to exclaim: "It isn't a buck.
Perhaps we might make a deal." Labouise, who seemed perplexed, pretended to consult Maillochon with a glance. Then he answered in a slow voice: "This is how it is. We were in the bushes at Eperon when something passed right near us, to the left, at the end of the wall. Mailloche takes a shot and it drops. We skipped on account of the game people. I can't tell you what it is, because I don't know.
Labouise, in a few strokes, touched the beach, and his companion, jumping to the ground, picked up a little gray rabbit, not yet dead. Then the boat once more disappeared into the fog in order to get to the other side, where it could keep away from the game wardens. The two men seemed to be riding easily on the water.
Labouise grasped the animal by the bridle. Maillochon asked in surprise: "What do you expect to do with that carcass?" Chicot this time opened his other eye in order to express his gaiety. His whole red face was grinning with joy. He chuckled: "Don't worry, sister. I've got my idea." He gave five francs to the woman, who then sat down by the road to see what was going to happen.
He continually kept his left eye closed, as if he were aiming at something or at somebody, and when people jokingly cried to him, "Open your eye, Labouise!" he would answer quietly: "Never fear, sister, I open it when there's cause to." He had a habit of calling every one "sister," even his scavenger companion.
No risk for me." The innkeeper, growing suspicious, exclaimed "Supposing he wasn't there!" Labouise once more raised his hand and said: "He's there, I swear! first bush to the left. What it is, I don't know. But it's not a buck, I'm positive. It's for you to find out what it is. Twenty-five francs, cash down!" Still the man hesitated: "Couldn't you bring it?" Maillochon exclaimed: "No, indeed!
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