Paint
me as black as you can--you couldn't commence to make me
as black as I have been--but let her know that for love of her
I turned white at the last minute. Byrne, she is the best girl that
you or I ever saw--we're not fit to breathe the same air that
she breathes. Now you can see why I should like to go first."
"I t'ought youse was soft on her," replied the mucker, "an'
dat's de reason w'y youse otter not go first; but wot's de use
o' chewin', les flip a coin to see w'ich goes an w'ich stays--
got one?"
Theriere felt in his trousers' pocket, fishing out a dime.
"Heads, you go; tails, I go," he said and spun the silver
piece in the air, catching it in the flat of his open palm.
"It's heads," said the mucker, grinning. "Gee! Wot's de
racket?"
Both men turned toward the village, where a jabbering mob
of half-caste Japanese had suddenly appeared in the streets,
hurrying toward the hut of Oda Yorimoto.
"Somepin doin', eh?" said the mucker. "Well, here goes--
s'long!" And he broke from the cover of the jungle and
dashed across the clearing toward the rear of Oda Yorimoto's
hut.
CHAPTER XII
THE FIGHT IN THE PALACE
BARBARA HARDING heard the samurai in the room beyond her
prison advancing toward the door that separated them from
her.
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