THE NEW HOUSEKEEPER
73
web stiffened. He stroked its breast, '"Hellish fat, the little
bugger."
He strode towards the kitchen. His brother twitched
behind him, trailing the duck's blood.
At the barway Murf. Old Murf holding his belly, dancing
on one leg, then the other. He jerked up his hands. The
brothers stared at him. He hished. They followed him the
back way. Mud choked, coughed, waving his arm. "Went at
it like corn." They stopped at the foot of the stairs.
The boss was heaving in Elsa's room.
Murf pushed the brothers out, spluttering and wheezing.
"Been after her all the time. Slippery as pigspit, he's always
been." He wigwagged his hands. "Jesus Hell Chirst, what a
hulling he's giving her, what a hulling he give us all, the boss."
He howled with delight and bucked the air.
Mule picked up the little wood duck. His big jaw hung as
if it were broken. Murf laughed. He batted it down suddenly
on Mud's head. Murf went down like a ball of lead. Steve
jumped on him. And the two brothers furiously trampled the
howling old man.
Up jerked a window. The boss rammed out his red face.
Murf crawled into the bushes sniffling and spitting.
Mule jerked up the wood duck. But all that was left was
a leg and a bloody little piece of ass. He hurled it after Murf
into the bushes.
The swollen cows were bawling to be milked.
Mule and Steve stumbled dow·n to the barn.
