"Vos you goin' to abologize?" shouted Hans.
"Be you goin' to run away?" demanded Ephraim.
"Uf you don'd abologize, I voss a dead man," cried the Dutch lad, threateningly.
"Ef you don't run away, you're a dead man," declared the Vermonter.
Now it happened that Sammy Smiles had brought along some stale eggs which he had been keeping for some festive occasion, and he had given one of them to Frank, while they had come to a perfect understanding as to the proper manner and the right moment to use them. With the eggs concealed in their hands, they were waiting for Barney to give the word.
"Come, come, jintlemin," called the Irish lad, sharply. "Take yer positions, fer Oi'm goin' t' give th' worrud."
"This is your last chance to run away, Dutchy," faltered Ephraim, who seemed to be losing confidence.
"Dis vos your lasd obbortunity to abologize, Yankee," said Hans, rather weakly.
"Ready to foire at th' worrud," called Barney.
Hans' teeth were plainly heard to rattle together like dice.