As he was about to pass it she wheeled round,
wiping the tears from her eyes with her hand, and said:
"I forgot, I sent for you to thank you for your presents; that," and she
pointed to the lion skin, "which they tell me you killed with some kind
of thunder to save the life of that old cannibal, and this," and she
pulled off the necklace of claws, then added, "as I am too bad to wear
it, you had better take it back again," and she threw it with all her
strength straight into Jeekie's face.
Fearing worse things, the much maltreated Jeekie uttered a howl and
bolted through the door, while Alan, picking up the necklace, returned
it to her with a bow. She took it.
"Stop," she said. "You are leaving the room without your mask and my
women are outside. Come here," and she tied the thing upon his head,
setting it all awry, then pushed him from the place.
"Very poor joke, Major, very poor indeed," said Jeekie when they had
reached their own apartment. "Lady make love to _you_; _you_ play prig
and lecture lady about holy customs of her country and she box _my_ ear
till head sing, also kick me all over and throw sharp claws in face.
Please you do it no more.
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