“But the men?” whispered Rob. “They ran away as if they knew what it was.”
“Tchah! They don’t know. Their heads are full of bogies. Soon as they hear a noise, and can’t tell what it is, they say it’s an evil spirit or a goblin or ghost. Babies they are. Why, if I was to go near a lot of natives in the dark, hide myself, and let go with Scotch bagpipes, they’d run for miles and never come nigh that part of the forest again.”
All at once the chorus in the forest was resumed, with so much force that it sounded as if the various creatures had been holding their noises back and were now trying hard to make up for the previous check.
That was Rob’s opinion, and he gave it in a whisper to his companion.
“Then, it’s gone,” said Joe. “I say, didn’t you feel scared?”
“Horribly.”
“Then I’m not such a coward after all. I felt as if I must run.”
“So you did when the serpent came.”
“Well, isn’t it enough to make one? You English fellows have the credit of being so brave that you will face anything without being frightened; but I believe you are frightened all the same.”
“Of course we are,” said Rob, “only Englishmen will never own they are frightened, even to themselves, and that’s why they face anything.”