“All right, sir—all right,” muttered the hostler, glancing at Frank in a side-long manner. “You knows your business, sir, an’ I’m here to take your orders, sir.”
The hostler had several assistants, and they were on hand to care for the animals just brought in.
Kenneth showed Frank where to leave his wheel, and then Merry followed the youth into the house.
CHAPTER XXI—TWO ENCOUNTERS
“Vale,” grunted Hans, as he stretched himself on the ground in the shade of some shrubbery, “uf dese don’t peat der pand, you vos a liar!”
“Wal, I’m swuzzled ef it ain’t pretty gol darn slick,” agreed Ephraim, thrusting his hands into his pockets and looking around admiringly. “It’s queer haow Frank falls inter sech snaps as these. Heer we be invited to stay right heer at this place an’ make aourselves to hum jest as long as we want to.”
“And I feel as if I could remain here forever,” grunted Bruce, from a comfortable hammock, of which he had taken immediate possession on seeing it. “There’s something soothing and restful about this place that agrees with my nerves and promises balm and healing for my constitution that has been shattered by Arkansaw chills. It’s simply great!”
“It is rather jolly,” said the voice of Harry from the cool shadows of a vine-covered arbor.
“But it’s tame it’d be afther a bit, me b’ys,” declared Barney Mulloy, who was leaning against the trunk of a tree. “It’s sbort we’re lookin’ afther, an’ it’s ded quoiet here.”
“Mr. Kenneth St. Ives promises us some sport if we care to remain,” put in Bart Hodge, quietly.