I caught him up and stopped him. I was furious.
"Didn't you hear what he was reading?" he said, trembling. "It was the proclamation offering a reward for the 'Twin Death'?"
"That's nothing, man; you know they read it out every few weeks."
"I can't help it, sir; don't leave me, sir! For God's sake get me back to the 'B.A.'! That's not all. I've seen something else."
He would not tell me what, but walked as fast as he could, looking back every other second, with wild eyes, as if he was afraid of being followed. He walked so fast that I could barely keep up with him, and in one street or alleyway, which was fairly empty, he broke into a run again.
He was in a pitiable state of terror, and I was mighty glad when we did at last reach the beach, jump into a shore boat, and get aboard the Bunder Abbas.
It was not until he had had a glass of brandy that he began to calm down, and presently he apologized most abjectly for spoiling my walk.
I knew that I should never take him ashore again; I was very irritated. The whole business was so childish. He might take the bracelet off—I would guarantee to have it off in ten minutes—without the least risk.
I tried to argue with him; but it was not of the least use; he only became more agitated. He shut himself in our cabin, and I left him there till Percy announced dinner, with a grin of importance at having provided a special feast for us from one of the sheep those poor devils of villagers had given us.
"Kid-ney on to-ast," he said, his eyes and mouth wide open with delight.