human
Hah! said Uncle Paul, at last;
gpt
Only one, uncle,
human
What!
gpt
I didn't see the other, uncle.
human
I asked you how many trout you got, Pickle.
gpt
Oh, about fifty, uncle. Creel's half full.
human
Ah! Then we will have some for high tea to-night, and some for breakfast in the morning, and give our landlady the rest. Nice woman that; full of stories about the prisoners, and Bony and his wretched scum. Ugh! The very name of the rascal raises my bile, and--There, I think I had better take you home and give you a dose.
gpt
Yes, let's go on back now, uncle, said the boy eagerly,
human
Humph! Then pray why did you grip hold of my arm again like that, and stare across yonder over my shoulder as if you could see a raven hiding in one of the holes?
gpt
Oh no, uncle, cried the boy, with a forced laugh.
human
I couldn't see anything.
gpt
Ha, ha! ejaculated Uncle Paul.
human
Now, look here, Pickle; you and I have always had a sort of tacit agreement that we'd play fair together, and that there should be a mutual confidence.
gpt
Yes, uncle, of course,
human
Very well, then, you are breaking truce. You are not playing the game, sir.
gpt
Uncle!
human
Pickle! Now then, sir, out with it. You have seen those French prisoners.
gpt
Uncle!
human
Yes, sir. Why did you pinch my arm--twice? Now then, honour!
gpt
I--I--You were talking about Bonaparte.
human
Well, what of that?
gpt
I was afraid he'd hear you, uncle.
human
What! cried the other, and his mouth opened wide.
gpt
Bony! Here?
human
No, uncle, of course not, but one of the young prisoners. He was escaping.
gpt
And you--you have turned traitor to your King, and been hiding a prisoner of war from his guard! Why, you young scoundrel! You lied to that sergeant, and said you hadn't seen them.
human
I didn't, uncle! cried the boy hotly.
gpt
It was you.
human
Eh? What? roared the elder.
gpt
You dare to! Eh?--Ah--so I did! But then I didn't know.
human
No, uncle, and if you had seen and heard the poor lad as I did, I am sure you wouldn't have betrayed him.
gpt
Betray! It isn't betraying, sir, to give up a prisoner of war.
human
I felt as if it would be, uncle, under such circumstances,
gpt
Look here, my boy, he said now quite softly,
human
I knew that there was something up, or you would have been wolfing more than your share of those sandwiches. I saw you keep squinting at that hole over yonder. So you have hid him away there?
gpt
No, uncle, said Rodd;
human
I did nothing, but just as the soldiers were coming up, and he'd been begging and praying me to save him, I just said that that would be a good place to hide.
gpt
Humph! grunted Uncle Paul.
human
It was very wrong, my boy--very wrong; but look here, Pickle, is the poor fellow badly wounded?
gpt
No, uncle; only exhausted. He looked just like that hunted deer we saw the other day.
human
Hah! said Uncle Paul, nodding his head.
gpt
Humph! Well, you know, my boy, it isn't the thing, and we should be getting into no end of trouble if it were known. It's against the law, you know, and if you had caught him and held him you would have got a big reward.
human
I say, uncle, he said,
gpt
Yes, Pickle; I'll play fair. It's your turn, said Uncle Paul.
human
What is it you want to say?
gpt
Only this, uncle. Would you have liked me to earn that reward?
human
Hah! I say, Pickle, my lad, would you like any more sandwiches?
gpt
No, uncle.
human
Then isn't it about time we began to make for home?