!Tention, page 129 by George Manville Fenn

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130

Now, just look here."

The little man shrugged his shoulders again, shook his head, and then looked compassionately at the boy.

"That's better," said Punch. "Now, sir, do try and understand, there's a good fellow. Just look here!"

The boy tapped him on the shoulder now, and pointed towards the wood.

"Now, look here, sir; it's like this."

Punch made-believe to present a musket, after giving a sharp click, click with his tongue in imitation of the cocking of the piece, cried Bang! and then gave a jump, clapped his hand to his right leg, staggered, threw himself down, and then struggled up into a sitting position, to sit up nursing his leg, which he made-believe to bind up with a bandage. Then, holding out his hand to the little priest, he caught hold of him, dragged himself up, but let himself fall back, rolled over, and lay looking at him helplessly.

"Understand that?" he cried, as he sprang to his feet again. "You must be jolly stupid if you can't. Now then, look here, sir," he continued, pointing and gesticulating with great energy, "my poor comrade is lying over yonder under a tree, wounded and starving. Come and help me to fetch him, there's a good old chap."

The priest looked at him fixedly, and then, taking his cue from the boy, he pointed in the direction Punch had indicated, nodded, clapped the boy on the shoulder, and began to walk by his side.

"There, I thought I could make you understand," cried Punch eagerly. "But you might say something. Ain't deaf and dumb, are you?"

The little priest shook his head, muttered to himself, and then, bending down, he tapped his own leg, and looking questioningly in his would-be guide's face, he began to limp.

"Yes, yes, yes!" cried Punch excitedly. And, imitating his companion, he bent down, tapped his own leg, then limped as if walking with the greatest of difficulty and made-believe to sink down helplessly.

"Good! I understand," said the little priest in Spanish. "Wounded. L

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