“Why, that great big blue and gold spider with white feet!”
“Blue an’ gol’ spide?” queried Hop Lung. “See black spide.”
“Oh, no, I don’t mean the black spider. I mean that great big blue and gold spider about that long,” and Spouter showed up his two forefingers six inches apart.
“Noee see spide so long dat,” answered the Chinese cook, shaking his head doubtfully. “Sploutel maybe see catpillal.”
“No, it wasn’t a caterpillar. It was a spider. Although I think it might have had wings.”
“Um, wings! Spide he all the samee buttelfly,” announced Hop Lung. “No see him,” and he got down on his hands and knees to peer up into the corner to make certain.
Spouter continued to engage his attention until he heard the boys coming around the corner of the house. Then he turned to them as if in surprise.
“Hello! I thought you fellows were off fishing,” he remarked.
“So we were,” answered Gif calmly.
“I got a nice little fish, Hop Lung. I laid him in the kitchen for you,” remarked Andy.