"
Chiquita said this rapidly, in a patois which was as unintelligible to
the Frenchmen around her as German, Hebrew or Chinese. Agostino took her
by the hand and placed her with her back against the door, telling
her to keep perfectly still, and the child, accustomed to that sort of
thing, showed neither alarm nor surprise, but stood quietly, looking
straight before her with perfect serenity, while Agostino, at the other
end of the room, standing with one foot advanced, balanced the dread
navaja in his hand. Suddenly with a quick jerking movement he sent it
flying through the air, and it struck into the wooden door, just
over Chiquita's head. As it darted by, like a flash of lightning, the
spectators had involuntarily closed their eyes for a second, but the
fragile child's long dark eyelashes did not even quiver. The brigand's
wonderful skill elicited a loud burst of admiration and applause from an
audience not easily surprised or pleased, in which even the man who had
lost his water joined enthusiastically. Agostino went and drew out the
knife, which was still vibrating, and returning to his place this
time sent it in between Chiquita's arm--which was hanging down by her
side--and her body; if it had deviated a hair's breadth it must have
wounded her.
Pages:
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421