Page:Stalky and co - Kipling (1908).djvu/242

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
230
STALKY & CO.

sentences. 'Let's see! We'll put that full-stop a little further on, and begin the sentence with the next capital. Hurrah! Here's three lines that can move up all in a lump.'

'"One of those scientific rests for which this eminent huntsman is so justly celebrated."' Stalky knew the Puffington run by heart.

'Hold on! Here's a vol—voluntate quidnam all by itself,' said M'Turk.

'I'll attend to her in a shake. Quidnam goes after Dolabella.'

'Good old Dolabella,' murmured Stalky. 'Don't break him. Vile prose Cicero wrote, didn't he? He ought to be grateful for——'

'Hullo!' said M'Turk, over another forme. 'What price a giddy ode? Qui—quis—oh, it's Quis multa gracilis, o' course.'

'Bring it along. We've sugared the milk here,' said Stalky, after a few minutes' zealous toil. 'Never thrash your hounds unnecessarily.'

'Quis munditiis? I swear that's not bad,' began Beetle, plying the tweezers. 'Don't that interrogation look pretty? Heu quoties fidem! That sounds as if the chap were anxious an' excited. Cui flavam religas in rosa—Whose flavour is relegated to a rose. Mutatosque Deosfletit in antro.'

'Mute gods weepin' in a cave,' suggested Stalky. ''Pon my Sam, Horace needs as much lookin' after as—Tulke.'

They edited him faithfully till it was too dark to see.

'"Aha! Elucescelat, quoth our friend."