Короли и капуста

           ’

           "‘Carrambos!’saysthegeneral,fizzin’likealittlesoda-waterfountain,‘youfought,señor,withmyforcesinmynativecountry.Whydoyousaythelies?YoushallsayIamtheGeneralDeVega,onesoldier,onecaballero—’

           "‘Railroader,’saysIagain.‘Onthehog.Nogood.Beenlivin’forthreedaysonstolenbananas.Lookathim.Ain’tthatenough?’

           "Twenty-fivedollarsorsixtydays,waswhattherecordergavethegeneral.Hedidn’thaveacent,sohetookthetime.Theyletmego,asIknewtheywould,forIhadmoneytoshow,andO’Haraspokeforme.Yes;sixtydayshegot.’TwasjustsolongthatIslungapickforthegreatcountryofKam—Guatemala."

           Clancypaused.Thebrightstarlightshowedareminiscentlookofhappycontentonhisseasonedfeatures.Keoghleanedinhischairandgavehispartneraslaponhisthinly-cladbackthatsoundedlikethecrackofthesurfonthesands.

           "Tell’em,yedivil,"hechuckled,"howyougotevenwiththetropicalgeneralinthewayofagriculturalmanoeuvrings."

           "Havin’nomoney,"concludedClancy,withunction,"theysethimtoworkhisfineoutwithagangfromtheparishprisonclearingUrsulinesStreet.Aroundthecornerwasasaloondecoratedgeniallywithelectricfansandcoolmerchandise.Imadethatmeheadquarters,andeveryfifteenminutesI’dwalkaroundandtakealookatthelittlemanfilibusterin’witharakeandshovel.’Twasjustsuchahotbrothofadayasthishasbeen