Белая птичка
Pilkington’s
“Thefollowing,”Iannounced,“isonethatOliversaid:’Trulydearcomrade,thoughtheperilsofthesehappeningsaregreat,andourprivationscalculatedtobreakthestoutestheart,yettoberewardedbysuchfairsightsIwouldendurestillgreatertrialsandstillrejoiceevenasthebirdonyonderbough.’”
“That’soneIsaid!”crowedOliver.
“Ishotthebird,”saidDavidinstantly.
“Whatbird?”
“Theyonderbird.”
“No,youdidn’t.”
“DidInotshootthebird?”
“ItwasDavidwhoshotthebird,”Isaid,“butitwasOliverwhosawbyitsmulti-colouredplumagethatitwasoneofthePsittacidae,anexcellentsubstituteforpartridge.”
“Youdidn’tseethat,”saidOliver,ratherswollen.
“Yes,Idid.”
“Whatdidyousee?”
“Isawthat.”
“What?”
“Youshutup.”
“Davidshotit,”Isummedup,“andOliverknewitsname,butIateit.DoyourememberhowhungryIwas?”
“Rather!”saidDavid.
“Icookedit,”saidOliver.
“Itwasservedupontoast,”Iremindedthem.
“Itoastedit,”saidDavid.
“Toastfromthebread-fruit-tree,”Isaid,“which(asyoubothremarkedsimultaneously)bearstwoandsometimesthreecropsinayear,andalsoaffordsaserviceablegumforthepitchingofcanoes.”
“Ipitchedminebest,”saidOliver.
“Ipitchedminefarthest,”saidDavid.
“AndwhenIhadfinishedmyrepast,”saidI,“youamazedmebyhandingmeacigarfromthetobacco-plant.”
“Ihandedit,”saidOliver.
“Isnickedofftheend,”saidDavid.
“Andthen,”saidI,“yougavemealight.
