И проиграли бой

           Macsethislanterndownbesidethemattress."Goingtobeallright,Lisa,"hesaid.Gentlyhetriedtoliftthedirtyquiltwhichcoveredher.Londonandthewhite-facedboylookedon.InapanicofmodestyLisaheldthequiltdownabouther."Comeon,Lisa,I’vegottogetyouready,"Macsaidpersuasively.Stillsheclutchedatthequilt.

           Londonsteppedover."Lisa,"hesaid."Youdoit."HerfrightenedeyesswungtoLondon,andthenreluctantlysheletgoherholdonthequilt.Macfoldeditbackoverherbreastandunbuttonedhercottonunderwear."Jim,"hecalled."Gooutandfishmeapieceofclothandgetmesomesoap."

           WhenJimhadbroughthimasteamingclothandathin,hardpieceofsoap,Macwashedthelegsandthighsandstomach.HeworkedsogentlythatsomeofthefearleftLisa’sface.

           Themenbroughtintheboiledcloths.

           Thepainscamequickerandquicker.

           Itwasdawnwhenthebirthstarted.Oncethetentshookviolently.Maclookedoverhisshoulder."London,yourkid’sfainted,"hesaid."Bettertakehimoutintheair."WithalookofprofoundembarrassmentLondonslungthefrailboyoverhisshoulderandcarriedhimout.

           Thebaby’sheadappeared.Macsupporteditwithhishands,andwhileLisasquealedweakly,thebirthwascompleted.Maccutthecordwithasterilizedpocket-knife.

           Thesunshoneonthecanvasandthelanternhissedon.JimwrungoutthewarmclothsandhandedthemtoMacwhenhewashedtheshrunkenlittlebaby.