Browning was at his side in a moment, and at Sedgwick's muffled cry to
tie his forelegs, Browning seized the scarf, lashed the bull's legs
together, and then both men arose.
Securing his coat quickly, Sedgwick seized Browning's arm, and said, "Let
us get out of this, old man. You told me this was a bully place, but I
did not look for it quite in that form."
"Where did you learn that trick?" asked Browning.
"In Texas," said Sedgwick. "It is a game we play with yearlings there,
but we never try it on an old stager, because, you see, if one should
fall he would be in the sump, or in a drift where the air would be bad in
a minute. That was a big fellow, but he had a ring in his nose, which
made me the more sure of him, and then you see there was nothing else to
do. I will go to no more churches in England with you without carrying a
lariat and revolver."
"It was a good job, Jack," said Browning; "by Jove, it was. I am sorry it
happened, but I am glad you did it. I don't believe I could have managed
it any better myself."
The feat was the talk of the town, and it grew in size with every
repetition, and in the next day's paper it was magnified beyond all
proportions. Fortunately, the printers got both the names of Browning
and Sedgwick spelled wrong, which was all the comfort the young men had
out of it.
On Monday morning the friends went out in the country and looked over the
estate that Browning had been hoping to make money enough to purchase.
Browning explained his plans for improving it, and the address of the
owner in London was obtained.
In the evening they took the train for London. The landlord had had a
great night and day because of callers on Browning and his friend, and
would take nothing of his guests except a five-pound note to hand to the
woman from whose shoulder Sedgwick had caught the scarf.
CHAPTER VI.
BONANZAS.
It was in the gray of the morning when they entered the mighty city by
the Thames. They sought a hotel, where they breakfasted; then waiting
until business men had gone to their work, they called a carriage and
drove to the home of Browning's step-father.
It was Browning's turn now to tremble and perspire. "Bless my soul, Jim!"
said he, "no drift on the Comstock was ever half so hot as this, never,
by Jove!"
They were admitted and shown to the parlor. Browning asked for Mrs. and
Miss Hamlin, and bade the servant say some friends desired to see them.
Who can picture the joy that followed the coming of those ladies into the
room! It is better to imagine it.
After an hour had passed, and the tears had dried, and the tremblings
ceased a little, Browning's sister drew him a little aside and asked him
why he did not inquire about some one else.
"Because," said he, "I dare not."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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