It was a question for a few moments if he would not actually collapse with strangulation.
But he managed to get his breath after a moment.
As for Barney, he was turning somersaults in the sand, and fairly killing himself with laughter.
“Begorra, that’s the funniest I iver seen in me loife yit!” he roared. “Shure, the fools are not all dead yit, on me sowl!”
“Ki—yi—huh! Golly massy sakes! I’se mos’ dead, yes I is. Gorramighty, I jes’ kill yo’ fo’ dat, I’ish!”
Pomp, now recovered, made a dash out of the wagon for Barney.
Had he caught the Celt at that moment, he would no doubt have pitched into him in good earnest.
But the Celt was too quick.
He was away over the plain like a bullet out of a gun.
Pomp chased him for full three hundred yards, when an astonishing thing happened.