“The beautiful idea!” returned Ney. “I’ll do the same.”
161But each stopped with the liquor at his mouth. It was consolation for lack of food, but if one refrained and the other partook–well, there would be a light sleeper and a heavy sleeper. With the tempting fumes in their nostrils, they waited, each for the other, to quaff first. And neither did. Finally Rodrigo proposed that they equalize the perils of indulgence. Accordingly each lowered the contents of his flask by three swallows, after which they compared the extent of the ebb tide in either bottle.
“But, voyons,” Ney objected, “you haven’t taken as much as I have!”
Rodrigo admitted the impeachment, and amiably took another draught. But the swallow proved too large, and Ney in his turn tried to balance that one, only to fail likewise. This entailed another effort from Rodrigo, which resulted in still another exaggeration.
“Now you’ve had more than I have,” Michel complained, growing vague on the real point at issue.
“Bien, señor, suppose you try a little of this. It’s catalan, genuine, too, smuggled at Tampico.”
“Mine’s cognac,” said Ney. “Have some?”
They exchanged flasks, and that night in the forest their snores were discordant and loud. Ney half awoke once, and remembered that he seemed to have heard the tramp of many horses. Toward morning, when it was not yet light, he was aroused for good by a savage tightening around his waist and a tremendous pull. He sat up, and heard his prisoner scuffling and swearing near him.
“You’ve tied me, you sneaking animal without shame!”
“It’s you that’s tied me, tête de voleur!”