Jump to content

Page:Ballantyne--The Pirate City.djvu/285

From Wikisource
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE PIRATE CITY.
265

CHAPTER XXI.

SOCIAL INTERCOURSE IN THE CAVERN.

"Here you are," cried the sympathetic Irishman, enlarging on the nature of the viands, as he spread them temptingly before the hungry men; "here's food fit for a Dey, to say nothin' of a month. Here's a loaf—ain't it?—about a fut an' a half long an' three inch thick. Coorious to look at, but a good un to eat I make no doubt—that's a foundation for 'ee—there, cut 'im up an' fire away; ye can't listen properly to me discoorse till you git yer jaws to work. This here is a pie o' some sort, I shud say, havin' regard to the shape, only that ain't the sort o' wittles a Jew would send 'ee, is it? P'raps it's wild-boar, for I've seed no end o' them critters in the market. Maybe it's lion, for they do says there's lots o' the king o' beasts in the mountains hereabouts, though I can't say I've heerd 'em roar yet. Hows'ever, wotever it is, here it is, so go a-head.—Hallo!" exclaimed Flaggan remonstratively, as he cast a glance at the sleeping man beside him, "you've