“Never!” shouted Ben, clasping those members as he spoke.
“Well, turn the whole length of them toward me and it’ll do just as well. They’re more becoming to you than they would be to me.”
“Oh, go on with your yarn,” interrupted Bert. “We’ll listen to you till we get to Ogdensburgh. After that, if you dare refer to one of the early discoverers, overboard you go! Doesn’t he, fellows?”
“Hear! Hear!” shouted Ben, sitting quickly erect.
“I shan’t forget,” said Bob, laughing. “You fellows seem to think I’m giving you these facts for the fun of the thing.”
“You are,” said Ben.
“It may be rare sport,” said Bob, “but I don’t see it in just that light. I’m trying to teach you something, so that when you go back to the city you’ll be able to make a half-decent appearance.”
“Nonsense!” protested Ben. “You’ve been cramming up, and are just spreading your knowledge before us, the way Ethan says his peacock gets into the house and spreads his tail in front of the looking-glass and struts around like all possessed. You can’t fool us, Bob.”
“I don’t have to,” said Bob, good-naturedly.