"Shimminy Gristmas!" exclaimed the Dutch boy. "Vot dot vos I touch me to, ain'd id?"
"Shut up!" growled Barney. "Bad cess to yez! do yez phwant th' officer av th' guarrud doon on us! Kape shtill, ur——"
"Wa-ow!" howled Hans, uttering a wild shriek of pain and terror. "I vos caught in der ped my leg by! Dunder und blitzens! I vos bit mit der toe on!"
"Begorra! ye hiv gone crazy, ye son av a Dutch chazemaker! Kape shtill thot howlin', ur——"
Then Barney's tone suddenly changed, and he let out a yell that would have awakened Rip Van Winkle from his long nap.
"Saints defind me! I'm bitten in siventane different places intoirely! Wurra! wurra! Musha! musha! Th' bed is full av crawling crathers!"
"Cendibedes!" howled Hans.
"Cintipades!" shrieked Barney.
Out of the beds they scrambled in hot haste, and to each one six or eight of the crawfish were clinging.
"Wao-w!" roared Hans.