"Whatever the results may be, I have determined to make the experiment," said David, shrugging his shoulders.
"Right you are. But what b-b-brought you round? You were as stiff as a ramrod when I left you."
"Circumstances over which I had no control, and which I want to forget as soon as possible. My old life has ended and I have come to seek a new one."
"A new life? That's good. Well—we will show it to you, P-P-Pepeeta and I! We will show you."
"The sooner the better. What am I to do?"
"Not too fast! There are times when it is better to g-g-go slow, as the snail said to the lightning. We must make a b-b-bargain."
"Make it to suit yourself."
"You d-d-don't expect me to stick to my old offer, I reckon. When I made it, Mahomet went to the m-m-mountain, and now the mountain comes to Mahomet; see?"
"Do as you please, I am in no mood to split hairs, nor pennies. All I ask is a chance to put my foot upon the first round of the ladder and if I do not get to the top, I shall not hold you responsible," David replied, dropping the "thees" of his Quaker life, in his determination to divest himself of all its customs as rapidly as he could.
"Hi! hi! There's fire in the flint! Good thing! you don't want to split pennies! Well, if you d-d-don't, I don't. You take me on the right side, D-D-Davy. I'll do the square thing by you—see if I d-d-don't. Let's have a drink. Bring the bottle, Pepeeta!"