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Chapter 29
Eithergivemeananswerincivility,andthatoutofhand;orbythetopofGlencoe,Iwillramthreefeetofironthroughyourvitals.”
“Eh,man,”criedmyuncle,scramblingtohisfeet,“givemeameenit!What’slikewrongwithye?I’mjustaplainmanandnaedancingmaster;andI’mtryintobeasceevilasit’smorallypossible.Asforthatwildtalk,it’sfairdisrepitable.Vitals,saysyou!AndwherewouldIbewithmyblunderbush?”hesnarled.
“PowderandyourauldhandsarebutasthesnailtotheswallowagainstthebrightsteelinthehandsofAlan,”saidtheother.“Beforeyourjotteringfingercouldfindthetrigger,thehiltwoulddirlonyourbreast-bane.”
“Eh,man,whae’sdenyingit?”saidmyuncle.“Pititasyeplease,hae’tyourainway;I’lldonaethingtocrossye.Justtellmewhatlikeye’llbewanting,andye’llseethatwe’llcanagreefine.”
“Troth,sir,”saidAlan,“Iaskfornothingbutplaindealing.Intwowords:doyewanttheladkilledorkept?”
“O,sirs!”criedEbenezer.“O,sirs,me!that’snokindoflanguage!”
“Killedorkept!”repeatedAlan.
“O,keepit,keepit!”wailedmyuncle.“We’llhavenaebloodshed,ifyouplease.”
“Well,”saysAlan,“asyeplease;that’llbethedearer.”
“Thedearer?”criesEbenezer.“Wouldyefyleyourhandswi’crime?”
“Hoot!”saidAlan,“they’rebaithcrime,whatever!Andthekilling’seasier,andquicker,andsurer.Keepingthelad’llbeafashiousjob,afashious,kittlebusiness.
