The Last of the Foresters Part 40

"It is my own quarrel. The house of Jinks, sir, can right its own wrongs."

"No doubt; but remember one circ.u.mstance. I myself hate O'Brallaghan with undying enmity."

"How is that, sir?"

"Can't you guess?"

"No."

"Why, he had the audacity to sell my plum-colored coat and and the rest of my suit to this Mr. Verty."

"Oh--yes."

"Abominable conduct! only because I did not call at the very moment to try on the suit. He would 'make me another,' forsooth, 'in the twinkle of an eye;' and then he began to pour out his disagreeable blarney.

Odious fellow!"

And Ralph turned aside his head to laugh.

"Leave him to me," said Mr. Jinks, arranging his sword with grace and dignity at his side; "if you wish to a.s.sist me, however, you may, sir.

Let us now enter this tavern, and partake of rum and crackers."

"By all means--there is just time."

"How, sir?" asked Mr. Jinks, as they moved toward the tavern.

"I have just ordered my horse."

"To ride?"

"Yes."

Jinks sighed.

"I must purchase a steed myself," he said.

"Yes?" rejoined Ralph.

"Yes. To make my visit to the perfidious Sallianna."

Ralph laughed.

"I thought you had abandoned her?"

"Never!"

"You wish to go and see her?"

"I will go this day!"

"Good! take half of my horse."

"Half?"

"Ride behind."

"Hum!"

"Come, my dear fellow, don't be bashful. He's a beautiful steed--look there, through the window."

"I see him--but think of the figure we would cut."

"Two sons of Aymon!" laughed Ralph.

"I understand: of Jupiter Ammon," said Jinks; "but my legs, sir--my legs?"

"What of 'em?"

"They require stirrups."

"All fancy--your legs, my dear Jinks, are charming. I consider them the chief ornament you possess."

"Really, you begin to persuade me," observed Mr. Jinks, becoming gradually tractable under the effect of the rum which he had been sipping for some minutes, and gazing complacently at his gra.s.shopper continuations in their scarlet stockings.

"Of course," Ralph replied, "so let us set out at once."

"Yes, yes! revenge at once!"

And the great Jinks wiped his mouth with the back of his hands;--brought his sword-belt into position, and a.s.suming a manner of mingled dignity and ferocity, issued forth with Ralph.

The latter gentleman, laughing guardedly, mounted into the saddle, and then rode to the spot at which Jinks awaited him.

"Come," he said, "there's no time to be lost;--recollect, your rival has gone before!"

The thought inspired Mr. Jinks with supernatural activity, and making a leap, he lit, so to speak, behind Ralph, much after the fas.h.i.+on of a monkey falling on the bough of a cocoanut tree.

The leap, however, had been somewhat too vigorous, and Mr. Jinks found one of his gra.s.shopper legs under the animal; while the other extended itself at right-angles, in a horizontal position, to the astonishment of the hostler standing by.

"All right!" cried Ralph, with a roar of laughter.

And setting spur to the terrified animal, he darted from the door, followed by general laughter and applause, with which the clattering of Mr. Jinks' sword, and the cries he uttered, mingled pleasantly.

This was the manner in which Jinks set out for revenge.

CHAPTER x.x.xII.

AN OLD BIBLE.