"What of 'em?"
"They require stirrups."
"All fancy—your legs, my dear Jinks, are charming. I consider them the chief ornament you possess."
"Really, you begin to persuade me," observed Mr. Jinks, becoming gradually tractable under the effect of the rum which he had been sipping for some minutes, and gazing complacently at his grasshopper continuations in their scarlet stockings.
"Of course," Ralph replied, "so let us set out at once."
"Yes, yes! revenge at once!"
And the great Jinks wiped his mouth with the back of his hands;—brought his sword-belt into position, and assuming a manner of mingled dignity and ferocity, issued forth with Ralph.
The latter gentleman, laughing guardedly, mounted into the saddle, and then rode to the spot at which Jinks awaited him.
"Come," he said, "there's no time to be lost;—recollect, your rival has gone before!"
The thought inspired Mr. Jinks with supernatural activity, and making a leap, he lit, so to speak, behind Ralph, much after the fashion of a monkey falling on the bough of a cocoanut tree.