Сердца трех / Hearts of three. Уровень 3

She is an adopted child, Alfaro said she wasn’t Spanish at all. I don’t even know whether she’s English or American. She was adopted when she was a baby.”

“And,” Francis laughed, “she believes that you killed her uncle.”

Henry nodded, and went on.

“The other thing is important, too. It’s a long way to Panama[31 - Panama – Панама], and the Jefe Politico[32 - Jefe Politico – начальник полиции] at San Antonio is a very sly man. He’s the little czar of that land, and he’s a real scoundrel, believe me.

He’s as cruel as a weasel. And his only delight is an execution[33 - execution – казнь]. He adores hanging. So… Please get that ring back on Leoncia’s finger.”

Two days later, all the men of Leoncia’s family were away. Francis landed on the beach where he had first met her. Francis wrote on a sheet of paper from his notebook, “I am the man whom you mistook for Henry Morgan, and I have a- message for you from him.” Then he heard the Leoncia’s cry.

Note and pencil fell to the sand. Soon he saw her. Leoncia’s face was colorless.

“What is it?” Francis demanded. “Are you hurt? What’s happened?”

She pointed at her bare knee with two tiny drops of blood.

“It was a viperine,” she said. “A deadly viperine. I’ll be a dead woman in five minutes, and I am very glad, because I won’t see you again.”

She sank down in a faint.

Francis pulled out his handkerchief and tied it loosely around her leg above the knee.

Next, he opened the small blade of his pocket-knife, burned it with several matches, and cut carefully into the two lacerations made by the snake’s fangs.

The girl began to move restlessly.

“Lie down,” he commanded.

At the same instant the Indian lad ran out of the jungle. He was swinging a small dead snake by the tail and crying:

“Labarri[34 - labarri – лабарри]! Labarri!”

“Lie down, and be quiet!” Francis repeated harshly.

“Oh!” she said.

“It’s only a baby labarri, and its bite is harmless. I thought it was a viperine. They look alike.”

She glanced down and discovered his handkerchief knotted around her leg.

“Oh, what have you done? It was only a baby labarri,” she reproached him.

“You told me it was a viperine,” he retorted.

She hid her face in her hands. She was laughing.

“And now, Miss Solano,” he said, “please, listen and don’t interrupt me.