human
Lord, man, quoth I,
gpt
I am no enemy!
human
I know it! said he, shaking tousled head.
gpt
But 'tis become nat'ral to me to slink and crawl and blench like any lashed cur, all along o' these accursed Spaniards; I've had more kicks and blows than I've lived days,
human
Have ye suffered so much then?
gpt
Suffered! cried he with a snarl.
human
I've done little else. Aha, when I think o' what I've endured, I do love my little blowpipe--
gpt
Blowpipe?
human
Aye--this! And speaking, from somewhere among the pitiful rags that covered his lank carcase he drew forth a small wooden pipe scarce two foot long and having a bulbous mouthpiece at one end.
gpt
The Indians use 'em longer than this--aye, six foot I've seen 'em, but then, Lord! they'll blow ye a dart from eighty to a hundred paces sometimes, whereas I never risk shot farther away than ten or twenty at most; the nearer the surer, aha!
human
What of the two Spaniards I struck down last night?
gpt
In the bushes yonder, said he and with jerk of thumb.
human
I hid 'em, master, they being a little unsightly--black and swol--as is the natur' o' this poison!