And Captain Wicks (or, rather, Captain
Kirkup) showed himself the man to make the best of his
advantage. For hard upon two days he walked a verandah
with Topelius, for hard upon two days his partners
watched from the neighbouring public-house the field of
battle; and the lamps were not yet lighted on the
evening of the second before the enemy surrendered.
Wicks came across to the Sans Souci, as the saloon was
called, his face nigh black, his eyes almost closed and
all bloodshot, and yet bright as lighted matches.
"Come out here, boys," he said; and when they were some
way off among the palms, "I hold twenty-four," he added
in a voice scarcely recognisable, and doubtless
referring to the venerable game of cribbage.
"What do you mean?" asked Tommy.
"I've sold the trade," answered Wicks; "or, rather,
I've sold only some of it, for I've kept back all the
mess beef, and half the flour and biscuit, and, by God,
we're still provisioned for four months! By God, it's
as good as stolen!"
"My word!" cried Hemstead.
"But what have you sold it for?" gasped Carthew, the
captain's almost insane excitement shaking his nerve.
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