“We can have our dolls for papooses,” said Lina, going to the swing where the dolls had been left. Billy pulled a piece of string from his pocket and the babies were safely strapped to their mothers' backs. With stately tread, headed by Sitting Steer, the children marched back and forth across the lawn in Indian file.
So absorbed were they in playing Indian that they forgot the flight of time until their chief suddenly stopped, all his brave valor gone as he pointed with trembling finger up the street.
That part of the Ladies' Aid Society which lived in West Covington was bearing down upon them.
“Yonder's our mamas and Miss Minerva,” he whispered. “Now look what a mess Billy's done got us in; he all time got to perpose someping to get chillens in trouble and he all time got to let grown folks ketch em.”
“Aren't you ashamed to tell such a story, Jimmy Garner?” cried Frances. “Billy didn't propose any such thing. Come on, let's run,” she suggested.
“'Tain't no use to run,” advised Jimmy. “They're too close and done already see us. We boun' to get what's coming to us anyway, so you might jus' as well make 'em think you ain't 'fraid of 'em. Grown folks got to all time think little boys and girls 'r' skeered of 'em, anyhow.”
“Aunt Minerva'll sho' put me to bed this time,” said Billy. “Look like ev'y day I gotter go to bed.”
“Mother will make me study the catechism all day to-morrow,” said Lina dismally.
“Mama'll lock me up in the little closet under the stairway,” said Frances.
“My mama'll gimme 'bout a million licks and try to take all the hide off o' me,” said Jimmy; “but we done had a heap of fun.”