Part 15 (1/2)
”Jerusalem! No wonder everybody was scared at me when I scare myself!”
he exclaimed. ”It's the soot from that chimney. Just think, it never occurred to me why they were all so alarmed at my appearance. Why, I'd make a locomotive shy off the track if it saw me coming along.”
It did not take Jack long to clean up, and, while his face was still grimy when he had finished, it was not, at least, such a startling looking countenance as he had presented to those from whom he sought to find his way back to Musky Bay.
”Now that I look more presentable I guess I'll try and get some breakfast,” thought the boy as, his thirst appeased, he scrambled up the bank again.
About half a mile farther along the road was the queerest-looking house Jack had ever seen. It was circular in form, and looked like three giant cheese-boxes, perched one on the top of the other, with the smallest at the top.
”Well, whoever lives there must be a crank,” thought Jack; ”but still, since I've money to pay for my breakfast, even a crank won't drive me away, I guess.”
A man was sawing wood in the back yard and to him Jack addressed himself.
”I'd like to know if I can buy a meal here?” he said.
”No, you can't fry no eel here,” said the man, and went on sawing.
”I didn't say anything about frying eels. I said 'Can I get a meal?'”
shouted Jack, who now saw that the man was somewhat deaf.
”Don't see it makes no difference to you how I feel,” rejoined the man.
”I'm hungry. I want to eat. I can pay,” bellowed Jack.
”What's that about yer feet?” asked the deaf man.
”Not feet--eat--E-A-T. I want to eat,” fairly yelled Jack.
”What do you mean by calling me a beat?” angrily rejoined the deaf man.
”I didn't. Oh, Great Scott, everything is going wrong to-day,” cried Jack. Then he cupped his hands and fairly screeched in the man's ear.
”Can I buy a meal here?”
A light of understanding broke over the other's face.
”Surely you can,” he said. ”Araminta--that's my wife--'ull fix up a bite fer yer. Why didn't you say what you wanted in the fust place?”
”I did,” howled Jack, crimson in the face by this time; ”but you didn't hear me. You are deaf.”
”Wa'al, I may be a _little_ hard o' hearing, young feller,” admitted the man, ”but I hain't deef by a dum sight.”
Jack didn't argue the point, but followed him to the house, where a pleasant-faced woman soon prepared a piping hot breakfast. As he ate and drank, Jack inquired the way to Musky Bay.
”It ain't far,” the woman told him, ”five miles or so.”
”Can I get anyone to drive me back there?” asked Jack, who was pretty well tired out by this time.
”Oh, yes; Abner will drive you over fer a couple of dollars.”