... Look! That's not her first
mango. ... Enough to destroy an army. ... You can see for
yourself. ... Wait! Ask her how many she ate. Ask her, senor, I
implore you!"
There was a silence while Johnnie translated the question and
repeated the answer:
"She says she doesn't remember, they are so nice and ripe--"
"'So nice and ripe'!" shouted the owner of the farm, tearing his
hair.
"'So nice and ripe'!" echoed his wife.
'"So nice and ripe'!" groaned the man who had awakened O'Reilly.
"Major Ramos told me to guard her with my life because she is the
guest of Cuba. Well, I shall kill myself."
The country woman laid a trembling hand upon Norine's arm,
inquiring, gently: "How are you feeling, my beautiful dove? Sick,
eh?"
"What on earth ails these people?" inquired the object of all this
solicitude. "I haven't made away with a baby. Maybe they're afraid
I won't pay for my food?"
Light came to O'Reilly. "I remember now," said he. "Mangoes and
milk are supposed to be poisonous. The woman wants to know how you
feel."
"Poisonous! Nonsense! They taste splendid. Tell her I'm still half
starved."
It proved now that one of the three members of the landing-party
possessed an unsuspected knowledge of English, which modesty alone
had prevented him from revealing. Under the stress of his emotion
he broke out:
"Oh, missy! Those fruit is skill you.
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