Merry made a swift movement, clapping a finger to his lips, and Gallup, usually rather slow to tumble to anything, understood him at once, relapsing into silence.
“Let me git in here where I kin see the fun,” he said, and he elbowed the people aside as he forced his way through the crowd.
It did not take him long to reach the center of the throng, although a number of persons were indignant at his manner of thrusting them aside or stepping on their feet.
“Whut’s up?” he asked. “Ef there’s anything goin’ on, I kainder want to see it.”
“This young masher has insulted this lady!” explained the man with the bobbing head.
“Sho!” exclaimed Gallup. “Yeou don’t say so, mister! Waal, I am s’prised!”
“He has treated her in an outrageous manner!” added the man with the agitated and fiery whiskers.
“I do declare!” ejaculated Ephraim. “I’d never thought it of him, by thutter!”
“The lady requires protection,” declared the gallant man with the mismated wearing apparel.
“Yeou don’t tell me!” gasped the Vermonter, his surprise seeming to increase. “Ain’t it awful!”