“What! you think I am afraid?”
“No; but you would be a coward if you did, because I tell you that I should not hit you again.”
“Because you dare not,” said the young Italian, with a sneer.
Rob flushed up angrily, and his words belied his feelings, which prompted him, to use his own expression, to punch the Italian’s head, for he said,—
“Perhaps I am afraid, but never mind if I am. You and I are not going to quarrel about such a trifle as all this.”
“A trifle? To insult me as you did?”
“Don’t be so touchy, Joe,” cried Rob. “Come, shake hands.”
But the lad folded his arms across his breast, and at that moment there was the sharp report of Brazier’s gun and a heavy splashing in the water among the lily leaves close up to the drooping trees which hid the cause of the turmoil.
There was a little excitement among the men as the boat was rowed close in under the trees, and there, half in the water, lay one of the curious animals known as a water-pig, or carpincho.
A rope was immediately made fast to tow the dead animal to the halting-place to cut up for the evening meal, but before they had rowed far Shaddy shouted to the men to stop.