“Charm him over l-like a snake does a bird,” says Mark.
But the Duke saved us trouble by getting up and walking over toward the hedge and then following the hedge around toward us. When he was right opposite us Mark whistled low and cautious. The Duke stopped and looked.
“We’re r-right here behind the hedge,” says Mark. “Don’t act like you was t-t-talkin’ to anybody. Come and sit down with your back ag’in’ that l-little mountain-ash tree.”
The boy did like Mark said, acting sort of surprised, but not frightened a bit. I guess he had pretty good nerve, because I figger I’d be some scared to have a voice I couldn’t see, and wasn’t expecting, and didn’t know anything about, go ordering me around.
“Be you Rock?” asked Mark.
“Yes. Who are you?”
“I’m Mark Tidd, and Binney Jenks is with me. We came out to talk to you.”
“You better not let Jethro see you,” says Rock. “What do you want of me?”
“First,” says Mark, “we want to git acquainted. And when we’re acquainted and you git so you can trust us, then we want to see if there hain’t s-somethin’ we can do to help you.”
“I don’t know that I need any help,” says Rock, stiff-like.