The gentle giant responded to this reasonable request; the books dropped; and Doe, looking reproachfully at his executioner, set about massaging his elbow.
"Ray," he said, when the operation was complete, "is there any known means of removing this nightmare?"
Immediately his uplifted arm was seized in White's huge paw. Doe's eyes were sparkling, his cheeks red, and his hair tumbled. His right arm being now held, he laughed more loudly and nervously and raised his left.
"By Jove, White," he cried, "if you rouse my ire, I'll get up and lick you. Let go of my hand—it's not yours. Oh, shut up, you great swine! Hang it, Ray"—(this with a shriek, half of laughter, half of anticipation)—"he's got my left hand as well—O, White, I'm sorry."
White held both his victim's wrists in one hand. Too honourable to take advantage of this, he swung his books at a distance and said:
"You've got to play at the nets, do you hear?"
My friend simulated anger. Struggling to get free, he ejaculated:
"I'll not be ordered about by an Iguanodon. I'm not that sort of man. O, White, I said I was—he, he, ha!—sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I didn't see it in that light—"
"Whack" came the books gently on his back.
"Oh, please, Moles White, please stop. There's a dear old Iguanodon. Ow—Ow—Ow!"