izafelloffintoTom'sarmsandthedonkeysscamperedonwithouther.
'IknowwotI'lldo,'shesaid,whentherunawayhadbeenrecovered.'I'llride'imstraddlewyse.'
'Garn!'saidSally,'yercan'twithpetticoats.'
'Yus,Ican,an'Iwilltoo!'
Soanotherdonkeywasprocured,thistimewithaman'ssaddle,andputtingherfootinthestirrup,shecockedherlegoverandtookherseattriumphantly.NeithermodestynorbashfulnesswastobereckonedamongLiza'sfaults,andinthispositionshefeltquiteatease.
'I'llgitalongarrightnow,Tom,'shesaid'yougarnandgityerselfamoke,andcomean'jinein.'
Thenextracewasperfectlyuproarious.Lizakickedandbeatherdonkeywithallhermight,shriekingandlaughingthewhite,andfinallycameinwinnerbyalength.Afterthattheyfeltratherwarmanddry,andrepairedtothepublic-housetorestorethemselvesandtalkovertheexcitementsoftheracecourse.
WhentheyhaddrunkseveralpintsofbeerLizaandSally,withtheirrespectiveadorersandtheBlakestons,walkedroundtofindothermeansofamusingthemselvestheywerearrestedbyacoconut-shy.
'Oh,let's'aveashy!'saidLiza,excitedly,atwhichtheunluckymenhadtopullouttheircoppers,whileSallyandLizamadeludicrouslybadshotsatthecoconuts.
'Itlookssobloomin'easy,'saidLiza,brushingupherhair,'butIcan't'ittheblastedthing.You'aveashot,Tom.'
HeandHarrywereequallyunskilful,butJimgotthreecoconutsrunning,andtheproprietorsoftheshowbegantolookonhimwithsomeconcern.
'Youareadabatit,'saidLiza,inadmiration.
TheytriedtoinduceMrs.Blakestontotryherluck,butshestoutlyrefused.
'Idon'toldwithsuchfoolishness.It'swisteofmoneyterme,'shesaid.
'Nathen,don'tcrackon,oldtart,'remarkedherhusband,'let'sgoan'eatthecoconuts.'
Therewasoneforeachcouple,andaftertheladieshadsuckedthejuicetheydividedthemandaddedtheirrespectivesharestotheirdinnersandteas.Suppercamenext.Againtheyfelltosausage-rolls,boiledeggs,andsaveloys,andcountlessbottlesofbeerwereaddedtothosealreadydrunk.
'Idunno'owmanybottlesofbeerI'vedrunk—I'velostcount,'saidLizawhereattherewasagenerallaugh.
Theystillhadanhourbeforethebrakewastostartback,anditwasthentheconcertinascameinuseful.Theysatdownonthegrass,andtheconcertwasbegunbyHarry,w