"In breathing? Why have you a great difficulty in breathing?"
"Because I am ill, I suppose."
"You lie! It is because you are stupid."
Jig-Leg stopped short, turned towards his comrade, and shaking his fingers beneath his nose, added:
"Yes—you cannot breathe because of your stupidity. Do you understand?"
Hopeful bowed his head low, and answered guiltily:
"Certainly!"
He would have said something more, but began to cough instead, leaning on to the trunk of a tree with trembling hands; and he coughed for a long time, trampling the ground without moving from the spot, shaking his head, and opening his mouth wide.
Jig-Leg continued looking at his face, which stood out haggard, earthy and greenish in the light of the moon.
"You'll awaken all the wood-sprites in the forest," he said at last, surlily.