"Not by a thuttering sight!" exclaimed Ephraim. "Yeou can't shoulder that onter me! You've gotter wash the dishes to-day. I done it yisterday."
"Is it possible!" cried Jack. "Why, I thought it[Pg 248] was day before yesterday, or, perchance, the day before that. Alas, how time flies—tempus fugit!"
"Now, don't go to springin' any Latin on us!" growled Gallup. "You never learned enough Latin to hurt ye, an' ye don't want to try to show off."
"Behold how the green-eyed monster turneth a friend into a critic!" said Jack.
"You can attend to the dishes later," said Frank. "Just now I am anxious to hear the good news Crowfoot said he might have to tell. What is it, Joe?"
"Some time little while 'go, few days, you be in Holbrook?" questioned the Indian, pulling away at his pipe.
"Yes, I was there—Hodge and myself."
"Joe him been there since."
"And you bring good news from that place?"
"Heap good to Strong Heart. In Holbrook him find white woman who hate him a lot, eh? White woman she is the squaw of man who make for Strong Heart big trouble 'bout mine."