Light Freights | Page 4

is only thirty shillings,' ses
Reddish, wiping 'is eyes. 'I'll give you a pound for 'im.'
"Old Sam looked at Russet, and Russet looked at Ginger, and then they
all larfed.
"'Well, there's no getting over you, I can see that,' ses Reddish, at last.
'Is he strong?'
"'Strong? Strong ain't the word for it,' ses Sam.
"'Bring 'im to the back and let 'im 'ave a wrestle with one o' the brown
bears, Ted,' ses 'is wife.
"''E'd kill it,' ses old Sam, hastily.
"'Never mind,' ses Reddish, getting up; 'brown bears is cheap enough.'
"They all got up then, none of 'em knowing wot to do, except the wild
man, that is, and he got 'is arms tight round the leg o' the table.
"'Well,' ses Ginger, 'we'll be pleased for 'im to wrestle with the bear,

but we must 'ave the 'un-dered quid fust, in case 'e injures 'isself a little.'
"Ted Reddish looked 'ard at 'im, and then he looked at 'is wife agin.
"I'll just go outside and talk it over with the missus,' he ses, at last, and
they both got up and went out.
"'It's all right,' ses old Sam, winking at Ginger.
"'Fair cop,' ses Ginger, who was still rubbing his leg. 'I told you it
would be, but there's no need for Beauty to overdo it. He nearly 'ad a
bit out o' my leg.'
"'A'right,' ses the wild man, shifting along the 'earthrug to where Peter
was sitting; 'but it don't do for me to be too tame. You 'eard wot she
said.'
"'How are you feeling, old man?' ses Peter, in a kind voice, as 'e tucked
'is legs away under 'is chair.
"'Gurr,' ses the wild man, going on all fours to the back of the chair,
'gur--wug--wug----'
"'Don't play the fool, Beauty,' ses Peter, with a uneasy smile, as he
twisted 'is 'ead round. 'Call 'im off, Sam.'
"'Gurr,' ses the wild man, sniffing at 'is legs; 'gurr.'
"'Easy on, Beauty, it's no good biting 'im till they come back,' ses old
Sam.
"'I won't be bit at all,' ses Russet, very sharp, 'mind that, Sam. It's my
belief Beauty's gone mad.'
"'Hush,' ses Ginger, and they 'eard Ted Reddish and 'is wife coming
back. They came in, sat down agin, and after Ted 'ad 'ad another good
look at the wild man and prodded 'im all over an' looked at 'is teeth, he
spoke up and said they'd decided to give a 'undered pun for 'im at the
end o' three days if 'e suited.

"'I s'pose,' ses Sam, looking at the others, 'that we could 'ave a bit of it
now to go on with?'
"'It's agin our way of doing business,' ses Ted Reddish. 'If it 'ud been a
lion or a tiger we could, but wild men we never do.'
"'The thing is,' ses Mrs. Reddish, as the wild man started on Russet's
leg and was pulled off by Sam and Ginger, 'where to put 'im.'
"'Why not put 'im in with the black leopard?' ses her 'usband.
"'There's plenty o' room in his cage,' says 'is wife thoughtfully, 'and it
'ud be company for 'im too.'
"'I don't think the wild man 'ud like that,' ses Ginger.
"'I'm sartain sure 'e wouldn't,' says old Sam, shaking 'is 'ead.
"'Well, we must put 'im in a cage by hisself, I s'pose,' ses Reddish, 'but
we can't be put to much expense. I'm sure the money we spent in cat's
meat for the last wild man we 'ad was awful.'
"'Don't you spend too much money on cat's meat for 'im,' ses Sam, ''e'd
very likely leave it. Bringing 'im 'ome, we used to give 'im the same as
we 'ad ourselves, and he got on all right.'
"'It's a wonder you didn't kill 'im,' ses Reddish, severely. 'He'll be fed
very different 'ere, I can tell you. You won't know 'im at the end o' three
days.'
"'Don't change 'im too sudden,' ses Ginger, keeping 'is 'ead turned away
from the wild man, wot wos trying to catch 'is eye. 'Cook 'is food at fust,
'cos 'e's been used to it.'
"'I know wot to give 'im,' ses Reddish, offhandedly. 'I ain't been in the
line twenty-seven years for nothink. Bring 'im out to the back, an' I'll
put 'im in 'is new 'ome.'
"They all got up and, taking no notice of the wild man's whispers,

follered Ted Reddish and 'is wife out to the back, where all the wild
beasts in the world seemed to 'ave collected to roar out to each other
what a beastly place it was.
"'I'm going to put 'im in "'Appy Cottage" for a time,' says Reddish;
'lend a hand 'ere, William,' he says, beckoning to one of 'is