The boy on the outside, who was strong for his years, braced himself and gave a mighty wrench of the other child's stout extremities. Jimmy howled in pain and gave his friend an energetic kick.
“Lemme go!” he shrieked, “you old impe'dunt backbiter. I'm going to tell Miss Minerva you pulled my legs out by the roots.”
A small portion of the prisoner's blouse was visible. Billy caught hold of it and gave a strong jerk. There was a sound of ripping and tearing and the older boy fell sprawling on his back with a goodly portion of the younger child's raiment in his hands.
“Now see what you done,” yelled the victim of his energy, “you ain't got the sense of a buffalo gnat. Oh! oh! This hole is 'bout to cut my stomach open.”
“Hush, Jimmy!” warned the other child. “Don't make so much noise. Aunt Minerva'll hear you.”
“I want her to hear me,” screamed Jimmy. “You'd like me to stay stuck in a chicken hole all night. Oh! oh! oh!”
The noise did indeed bring Billy's aunt out on a tour of investigation. She had to knock a plank off the hen-house with an axe before Jimmy's release could be accomplished. He was lifted down, red, angry, sticky, and perspiring, and was indeed a sight to behold.
“Billy got to all time perpose something to get little boys in trouble,” he growled, “and got to all time get 'em stuck in a hole in a chicken-house.”
“My nephew's name is William,” corrected she.
“You perposed this here yo'self!” cried an indignant Billy. “Me an' Wilkes Booth Lincoln don' know nothin' 't all 'bout no rabbit's eggs sence we's born.”