An American Visitor by Joyce Cary

Author:Joyce Cary
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2016-08-31T00:00:00+00:00

But just as this lively figure was passing beyond the light of the watch-fire, Marie was seen approaching into it at the head of half a dozen carriers with pots and calabashes on their heads. At once she turned aside towards the sergeant, the sergeant towards her. The two figures darted towards each other with gestures of an amusing likeness, two ardent spirits, and conferred with the most vigorous gestures. It was like a dramatic interlude by a couple of marionettes in an Italian tragedy. One expected them both to turn their arms inside out, go back at the knee, or suddenly retreat to the wings in one jump of twenty feet. In fact, their separation was as abrupt as their meeting. The sergeant, after pointing in a couple of seconds, first at the roof of the chapel then at the bush, then, turning right round, at the troops, and finally with his chin and whole body inclined upwards, at the sky, saluted with a jerk and flew into the darkness; Marie rushed back to the labourers and could be heard abusing them with great indignation for standing there and doing nothing.

‘I suppose no one had the idea of sending out any pickets,’ said Stoker’s voice, causing Gore to turn round with unusual quickness. He was feeling apologetic to the man.

‘I don’t suppose so.’

‘Unless Goshi had the sense. Nothing to do with me, of course. It’s your funeral.’

‘Are you putting out any pickets?’

‘Naturally. They’ve been there since we came. They’re lying low near those fires. I’m not going to have my men scuppered because you people can’t agree among yourselves.’

‘Suppose I go along to Goshi?’ cried Marie who had been listening to this conversation literally on tiptoe.

Stoker was already returning to his men. He did not like women, and he ignored them if he could.

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