И проиграли бой

           Jiminterposed,"That’snotso,Dan.We’regoingtoputyouonatruckandtakeyourightalong,rightattheheadoftheprocession."

           Dan’smouthdroppedopen,exposinghisfourlongsquirrel-teeth.Hishandssettledslowlytothebed."Honest?"hesaid."Onatruck?"

           "That’swhatthechiefsaid.Hesaidyouweretherealleader,andyouhadtogo."

           Danlookedverystern.Hismouthbecamedignifiedandmilitary."Hedamnwelloughtto.Heknows."Hestareddownathishands.Hiseyesgrewsoftandchild-like."I’lllead’em,"hesaidgently."Allthehundredso’yearsthat’swhattheworkin’stiffsneeded,aleader.I’lllead’emthroughtothelight.AlltheygottodoisjustwhatIsay.I’llsay,’Youguysdothis,’an’they’lldoit.An’I’llsay,’Youlazybastardsgetoverthere!’an’byChrist,they’llgit,’causeIwon’thavenolazybastards.WhenIspeak,theygottojump,rightnow."Andthenhesmiledwithaffection."Thepoordamnrats,"hesaid."Theyneverhadnobodytotell’emwhattodo.Theyneverhadnorealleader."

           "That’sright,"Jimagreed.

           "Well,you’llseesomechangesnow,"Danexclaimed."Youtell’emIsaidso.Tell’emI’mworkin’outaplan.I’llbeupandaroundinacoupledays.Tell’emjusttohavepatiencetillIgetoutan’lead’em."

           "SureI’lltell’em,"saidJim.

           Dr.Burtoncameintothetent."’Morning,Dan.Hello,Jim.Dan,where’sthemanItoldtotakecareofyou?"

           "Hewentout,"Dansaidplaintively."Wentouttogetmesomebreakfast.Henevercomeback."