Nothing Excited His Indignation So Much As Any Wanton
Destruction Committed Among The Cows, And In His View Shooting A Calf
Was A Cardinal Sin.
Henry Chatillon and Tete Rouge were of the same age; that is, about
thirty.
Henry was twice as large, and fully six times as strong as
Tete Rouge. Henry's face was roughened by winds and storms; Tete
Rouge's was bloated by sherry cobblers and brandy toddy. Henry
talked of Indians and buffalo; Tete Rouge of theaters and oyster
cellars. Henry had led a life of hardship and privation; Tete Rouge
never had a whim which he would not gratify at the first moment he
was able. Henry moreover was the most disinterested man I ever saw;
while Tete Rouge, though equally good-natured in his way, cared for
nobody but himself. Yet we would not have lost him on any account;
he admirably served the purpose of a jester in a feudal castle; our
camp would have been lifeless without him. For the past week he had
fattened in a most amazing manner; and indeed this was not at all
surprising, since his appetite was most inordinate. He was eating
from morning till night; half the time he would be at work cooking
some private repast for himself, and he paid a visit to the coffee-
pot eight or ten times a day. His rueful and disconsolate face
became jovial and rubicund, his eyes stood out like a lobster's, and
his spirits, which before were sunk to the depths of despondency,
were now elated in proportion; all day he was singing, whistling,
laughing, and telling stories.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 441 of 486
Words from 117338 to 117608
of 129303
