Королі та капуста
The Shamrock and the Palm
‘Notaword,orthey’llputusoffandmakeuswalk."VeevlaLiberty!"’Iadds,copperin’thesentimentbyshovin’abananaintothesourceofit.Iwascertainthegeneralwouldn’trecognizeme.Thenefariousworkofthetropicshadleftmelookin’different.Therewashalfaninchofroanwhiskerscoverin’meface,andmecostumewasapairofblueoverallsandaredshirt.
"‘Howyoucomeintheship,señor?’askedthegeneralassoonashecouldspeak.
"‘Bythebackdoor—whist!’saysI."Twasagloriousblowforlibertywestruck,’Icontinues;‘butwewasoverpoweredbynumbers.Letusacceptourdefeatlikebravemenandeatanotherbanana.’
"‘Wereyouinthecauseoflibertyfightin’,señor?’saysthegeneral,sheddin’tearsonthecargo.
"‘Tothelast,’saysI."TwasIledthelastdesperatechargeagainsttheminionsofthetyrant.Butitmadethemmad,andwewasforcedtoretreat.’TwasI,general,procuredthemuleuponwhichyouescaped.Couldyougivethatripebunchalittleboostthisway,general?It’sabitoutofmyreach.Thanks.’
"‘Sayyouso,bravepatriot?’saidthegeneral,againweepin’.‘Ah,Dios!AndIhavenotthemeanstorewardyourdevotion.BarelydidImylifebringaway.Carrambos!whatadevil’sanimalwasthatmule,señor!LikeshipsinonestormwasIdashedabout.Theskinonmyselfwasrippedawaywiththethornsandvines.Uponthebarkofahundredtreesdidthatbeastoftheinfernalbump,andcauseoutragetothelegsofmine.
