TWENTY TWO.

"Oh--ho--ho--ho--ho! What a lubbly bit fun!" cried Pomp, as soon as the
danger had passed away.

"Why, Pomp!" I cried at last, fiercely, for I was too much astonished
to speak at first.

But he was off along the bank, to stop opposite the smaller batch of
reeds, where he stood with both his fists doubled, stamping his bare
feet, and shouting a perfect torrent of abuse at the invisible enemy.

I caught a word here and there, words full of threats of what he would
do to the "ugly 'gator, nex' time." But I was too much upset to shout
till I had scrambled into my clothes, when I went sharply along the edge
of the pool to where the boy was still shaking his fists, and abusing
the reptile which had nearly scared him to death.

But there was another scare ready for Pomp. Indignation was hot within
me, and I made my presence known by a smart kick with my bare foot which
nearly sent him into the pool again, and a cuff on the side of the head
which knocked him back.

"Oh--oh--oh! Don't, Mass' George," he bellowed, as he dropped on his
knees and held up his hands; "don't flog um, Mass' George. I nebber,
nebber do so no more."

"You rascal!" I cried, catching him by the ear. "How came you to play
me that trick?"

"On'y for bit ob fun, Mass' George; on'y for bit ob fun."

"You dog!" I cried, shaking him.

"On'y lil bit o' fun, Mass' George; got de 'gator's head on to frighten
um. Nebber tink no 'gator dah, or not nebber done it."

"No, I suppose not," I cried. "How dare you try to frighten me like
that!"

"Say, Mass' George, you pull dat ear right off."

"Serve you right too, sir. You insolent rascal. But I'll tell my
father, and you shall be flogged."

"Oh no, don't do dat ah, Mass' George. Kick um again and pull um oder
ear. Pomp won't holler much. Don't tell de massa."

"A blackguardly, cowardly trick with that nasty old alligator's head."

"But, Mass' George," cried Pomp, suddenly jumping up, "you no business
beat kick a boy."

"What, sir!"

"Why, if I no do dat, an de ole 'gator get hold ob de head, he get hold
ob you, an where you be now?"

My hand dropped to my side, and I stared in a puzzled way at Pomp, who
began to show his white teeth, as it seemed to me that what he said was
true, and that if the reptile had not dashed at the boy, and seized the
old head thrown at him, he might have seized me and dragged me down.

"Tink I sabe you, Mass' George, and you hab berry na