П’ятнадцятирічний капітан

The King of Kazounde is Offered a Punch

           

           Theevening’sprogramthencomprisedapunchfirst,apunishmentafterwards.

           DickSand,closelyshutupinhisdarkprison,wouldonlycomeouttogotohisdeath.Theotherslaves,soldornot,hadbeenputbackinthebarracks.Thereonlyremainedatthe"tchitoka,"thetraders,theoverseersandthesoldiersreadytotaketheirpartofthepunch,ifthekingandhiscourtallowedthem.

           Jose-AntonioAlvez,advisedbyNegoro,didthethingwell.Theybroughtavastcopperbasin,capableofcontainingatleasttwohundredpints,whichwasplacedinthemiddleofthegreatplace.Barrelsholdingalcoholofinferiorquality,butwellrefined,wereemptiedintothebasin.Theysparedneitherthecinnamon,northeallspice,noranyoftheingredientsthatmightimprovethispunchforsavages.

           Allhadmadeacirclearoundtheking.MoiniLounggaadvancedstaggeringtothebasin.Onewouldsaythatthisvatofbrandyfascinatedhim,andthathewasgoingtothrowhimselfintoit.

           Alvezgenerouslyheldhimbackandputalightedmatchintohishand.

           "Fire!"criedhewithacunninggrimaceofsatisfaction.

           "Fire!"repliedMoiniLounggalashingtheliquidwiththeendofthematch.

           Whataflareandwhataneffect,whenthebluishflamesplayedonthesurfaceofthebasin.Alvez,doubtlesstorenderthatalcoholstillsharper,hadmingledwithitafewhandfulsofseasalt.Theassistants’faceswerethengiventhatspectrallividnessthattheimaginationascribestophantoms.

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