"Not till I have got thee a kaross of jackal's fur."
"I'll never wear it!" said Phoebe violently, to divert him from his
purpose.
"Time will show," said Dick dryly. "These varmint are on and off
like shadows, and as cunning as Old Nick. We two will walk on quite
unconcerned like, and as soon as ever the varmint are at our heels you
give us the office; and we'll pepper their fur--won't we, doctor?"
"We--will--pepper--their fur," said Christopher, repeating what to him
was a lesson in the ancient and venerable English tongue.
So they walked on expectant; and by and by the four-footed shadows with
large lime-light eyes came stealing on; and Phoebe shrieked, and they
vanished before the men could draw a bead on them.
"Thou's no use at this work, Pheeb," said Dick. "Shut thy eyes, and let
us have Yuke."
"Iss, master: here I be."
"You can bleat like a lamb; for I've heard ye."
"Iss, master. I bleats beautiful;" and she showed snowy teeth from ear
to ear.
"Well, then, when the varmint are at our heels, draw in thy woolly head,
and bleat like a young lamb. They won't turn from that, I know, the
vagabonds."
Matters being thus prepared, they sauntered on; but the jackals were
very wary.
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