old pistol at the beast’s head.”

“Well, you’ve certainly had your revenge on the chief of the clan — even if the gun has made your nose bleed.

Hi, you boatmen! Haul that head up the bank, and we’ll boil it for the skull. The skin’s too knocked about to keep. Come along to bed now. This was worth sitting up all night for, wasn’t it?”

Curiously enough, the Jackal and the Adjutant made the very same remark not three minutes after the men had left.