Hetooktheaw,anddanglingitbetweenhisfrontfingerandthumb,suddenlythrewituonthefire。White,withaslightcry,stooeddownandsnatcheditoff。
"Betterletitburn,
"saidthesoldiersolemnly。
"Ifyoudontwantit,Morris,
"saidtheoldman,
"giveittome。
"
"Iwont,
"saidhisfrienddoggedly。
"Ithrewitonthefire。Ifyoukeeit,dontblamemeforwhathaens。Pitchitonthefireagain,likeasensibleman。
"
Theothershookhisheadandexaminedhisnewossessionclosely。
"Howdoyoudoit?
"heinquired。
"Holdituinyourrighthandandwishaloud,
"saidthesergeant-major,
"butIwarnyouoftheconsequences。
"
"SoundsliketheArabianNights,
"saidMrs。White,assheroseandbegantosetthesuer。
"Dontyouthinkyoumightwishforfourairsofhandsforme?
"
Herhusbanddrewthetalismanfromhisocketandthenallthreeburstintolaughterasthesergeant-major,withalookofalarmonhisface,caughthimbythearm。
"Ifyoumustwish,
"hesaidgruffly,
"wishforsomethingsensible。
"
Mr。Whitedroeditbackintohisocket,andlacingchairs,motionedhisfriendtothetable。Inthebusinessofsuerthetalismanwasartlyforgotten,andafterwardthethreesatlisteninginanenthralledfashiontoasecondinstalmentofthesoldiersadventuresinIndia。
"Ifthetaleaboutthemonkeyawisnotmoretruthfulthanthosehehasbeentellingus,
"saidHerbert,asthedoorclosedbehindtheirguest,justintimeforhimtocatchthelasttrain,
"weshantmakemuchoutofit。
"
"Didyougivehimanythingforit,father?
"inquiredMrs。White,regardingherhusbandclosely。
"Atrifle,
"saidhe,colouringslightly。
"Hedidntwantit,butImadehimtakeit。Andheressedmeagaintothrowitaway。
"
"Likely,