THE CAT'S HOLIDAY
suddenly, before a white-washed building, a burly little man in sailor's clothes jumped before him, blocked him with a ready foot, and scooped him up handily. At the same instant Owen slipped and fell headlong; struggling to his feet, dazed and muddy, he saw the man turn into the doorway.
Though the verandah lights had shone brightly down, the stairs within were dark. Chao Phya's new captor tramped overhead. As Scarlett stumbled upward, a faint light shone somewhere on the floor above, and a roaring bass filled the house:
… meeserable sinnerr when I'm soberr,
But I'm awfu', awfu' happy when I'm fou!
An I'm fou, the noo,
Absolutely fou,
But I adorre the country I was borrn in!
Me name is Jock …
The bang of a door shut off both light and song.
[ 181 ]
