“I’m a-goin’ over!” he groaned. “I know I’m a-goin’ over!”
“Steady, old boy!” sang out a cadet. “Think you’re in a circus, doing the great balancing act?”
“I ain’t no circus actur, I ain’t!”
“Now for the speech,” said Pepper. “I’ll begin it for you. Friends, debtors, and fellow-countrymen: On this sad and joyous occasion, it makes us smile in tears to see so many ugly but handsome faces looking towards and away from us. There you are. Now go ahead, proceed, start, and begin.”
“I can’t make no speech, I tell you!” roared the general-utility man.
“Oh, Peleg, you make me cry!” said Andy. “Please go on, that’s a dear good fellow!”
“Go ahead and we’ll present you with a bunch of rhubarb blossoms,” said Stuffer.
“An’ measure yer head fer a golden crown, so we will!” added Emerald.
“If he can’t talk we’ll have to warm him up!” said another student, and waved a torch towards Snuggers.
This was a signal for all the boys to get torches, and soon they formed a circle around the barrel, each with a torch extended towards poor Peleg.