Part 73 (2/2)

”Oh, yes, more than once”

”And he felt like that there Pete Warboys, didn't he?”

”Yes--no--I don't know,” said Tom confusedly; and David scratched his head

”That's like asking a man a riddle, sir,” he said ”Can't make much o'

that”

”Well, what can I say, David?” cried To of nothing else but catching hi s”

”But you felt him, sir”

”Oh yes, I had hold of him”

”Well, did he feel like Pete?”

”What nonsense! One lad would feel like another”

”Oh no, sir, he wouldn't Pete's bones'd feel all loose and shi+mbly

Bound to say you heared his jyntes keep on cracking”

”No, I don't remember that--Yes, I do,” continued Too crack te restling”

”There you are, you see,” cried the gardener triumphantly, ”that's c'roborative evidence, and c'roborative evidence is what they h”

”I thought it ot hih, and he'll be sent away for the job, and a blessing to Furzebrough, I say

But I'll try you again, sir Just lead you up like Now, then, to make more sure--you smelt him too, didn't you?”

”Smelt him?” cried Tom

”Ay, sir, that's what I said You could smell him yards away”

”Oh no, I didn't s

”Do you mean to tell ht when you was letting go at him with that stick atop o' our wall?”

”I re”

”There!” cried David triumphantly ”Of course you did I like an onion roasted, or in stuffing, or the little 'uns pickled, but that chap lives on 'ee, and they'll tell you they can't keep an onion in their gardens for hie at 'em And you hting with hiht?”