I was going to play. I had plenty of time on my hands just then,
and if there was anything worth learning from the old boy I was going to
learn it. Accordingly the next time they thought of playing one of their
monkey tricks upon him, I determined to be present. Presently rumours
got abroad that they were preparing a new joke. It was to be a wonder, I
was given to understand. Then I found out what it was, and I tell you it
fairly made my blood boil. The first part of the programme I discovered
was to drug his liquor and to throw him into a deep sleep. 'Here,'
thought I to myself, 'is my chance. As soon as they get everything fixed
up and are ready to begin their performance, I'll step in and ring the
curtain down.' Things had been a little flat in the district for some
time, and a bit of amusement of this sort was just to their liking. The
remainder of the day was devoted to anticipating the fun. A couple of
hours before sundown, the old fellow looked in at the inn for his usual
glass of _cachaca_. In due course the doctored spirit was handed to him.
He was about to put his lips to it, when I crossed and took possession
of the glass.

"'Don't touch that,' I said, removing it to a safe distance. 'Some of
your friends here have been playing a trick upon you. I'll show you
directly what is the matter with it.'

"On hearing this an ominous murmur rose in the room. The crowd were not
going to be disappointed of their fun by my interference. Presently the
principal author of the joke, a Portuguese, and the bully of the
neighbourhood, advanced and began to threaten me. The old man looked
from one to the other of us, as if he did not know quite what to make of
it all. He had had many practical jokes played upon him, but never
before had a person come forward as his defender. The Portuguese by this
time was looking as dangerous as possible.

"'Be careful, my friend,' said I, as he flourished a pistol before my
face, and talked of what he intended doing if I did not leave the room.
'It is my will that this old man shall not drink the stuff you have
poured out for him. Surely that is sufficient.'

"'It is not sufficient,' he answered, his temper fairly getting the
better of him. 'You have intruded where you are not wanted, and I, for
one, am not content to tolerate your behaviour.'

"'Of course that is for you to decide,' I retorted. 'If you don't like
it, you can go outside. I don't intend to budge.'

"I could see that he