Part 23 (2/2)
”I should very much, indeed 'Twon't hurt you, mama, and you'll be able to see for yourself”
The woo scrale aft
”Be you anyways interested in Harve?” said Disko
”Well, ye-es”
”He's a good boy, an' ketches right hold jest as he's bid You've heard haoe found hiuess, 'r else his head had hit somethin', e hauled him aboard He's all over that naow Yes, this is the cabin 'Tain't anyways in order, but you're quite welcoures on the stove-pipe, where we keep the reckonin'on a yellow locker and surveying the disorderly bunks
”No He berthed forward, madam, an' only fer hiin' up when they ought to ha' been asleep, I dunno as I've any special fault to find with hi with Harve,” said Uncle Salters, descending the steps ”He hung my boots on the main-truck, and he ain't over an' above respectful to such as knows more'n he do, especially about farmin'; but he wereby dark hints fro a war-dance on deck ”Tom, Tom!” he whispered down the hatch ”His folks has coht on yet, an'
they're poin' in the cabin She's a daisy, an' he's all Harve claimed he was, by the looks of hi out covered with salt and fish-skin ”D'ye belave his tale av the kid an' the little four-horse rig was thrue?”
”I knew it all along,” said Dan ”Cohtedly, just in tiood character, because--he'sJack always vowed that he heard the click of it,--and he stared alternately at the o four days ago, and we caht”
”In a private car, of course”
Dan looked at his father with a hurricane of irreverent winks
”There was a tale he tould us av drivin' four little ponies in a rig av his own,” said Long Jack ”Was that thrue now?”
”Very likely,” said Cheyne ”Was it,ere in Toledo, I think,” said theJack whistled ”Oh, Disko!” said he, and that was all
”I wuz--I aments--worse'n the h the words were being windlassed out of him ”I don't mind ownin' to you, Mister Cheyne, as I mistrusted the boy to be crazy He talked kinder odd aboutelse? 'Cause I pounded hilance at Mrs Cheyne
”Oh, yes,” Cheyne replied ”I should say it probably did hied 'twuz necessary, er I wouldn't ha' done it I don't want you to think we abuse our boys any on this packet”
”I don't think you do, Mr Troop”
Mrs Cheyne had been looking at the faces--Disko's ivory-yellow, hairless, iron countenance; Uncle Salters's, with its riricultural hair; Penn's bewildered siht; and Toh, by her standards, they certainly were; but she had a mother's wits in her eyes, and she rose with outstretched hands
”Oh, tell”I want to thank you and bless you--all of you”
”Faith, that paysJack