"I lov' Jenny, toketie Jenny; Jenny mia hermosa muchacha, and she lov' me."
He caught at her again, and Annawillee came at him with her claws. He knocked her down, and she lay where she fell. Annie screamed at him.
"You no do dat, Chihuahua. You leave Jenny alone, man. When Shautch Quin come back he keel you——"
Chihuahua grinned.
"He no come back no more. Pete fix him on the river, I sure of dat, Annie. Jenny she be my klootchman, eh, Jenny!"
Jenny was as white as death. She had lived for more than a year with George and this was hell for her. And if George didn't come back! Chihuahua came staggering to her. She caught the empty bottle by the neck and stared at him with blazing eyes. He stopped.
"You peretty devil!" said Chihuahua. "I lik' kees you all same, Jenny."
"I'll keel you," she whispered. There was murder in her eyes, and drunk as he was he knew it. And Annie had picked up a burnt bar of iron that served her as a poker. Chihuahua quailed before them.
"I on'y jhoke," he said. "My klootchman she Annawillee, very good woman, Annawillee. You geeve me one mo' dolla I get mo' whisky, Annie."
But all Annie had to give him was the iron bar.