"The devil, the impudent devil."
He had no doubt it was Manuma who had flung the knife. He had escaped death by three inches. He was not angry. On the contrary, he was in high spirits; the adventure exhilarated him, and when they got back to the house, calling for drinks, he rubbed his hands gleefully.
"I'll make them pay for this!"
His little eyes twinkled. He blew himself out like a turkey-cock, and for the second time within half an hour insisted on telling Mackintosh every detail of the affair. Then he asked him to play piquet, and while they played he boasted of his intentions. Mackintosh listened with tightened lips.
"But why should you grind them down like this?" he asked. "Twenty pounds is precious little for the work you want them to do."
"They ought to be precious thankful I give them anything."
"Hang it all, it's not your own money. The government allots you a reasonable sum. They won't complain if you spend it."
"They're a bunch of fools at Apia."
Mackintosh saw that Walker's motive was merely vanity. He shrugged his shoulders.
"It won't do you much good to score off the fellows at Apia at the cost of your life."