“There's no use telling you now. It's too late. Polly has gone to a place I don't dare mention, so what's the use talking about it?”
“I can't go 'round pinchin' fallen parrots,” growled Soapy. “Besides, I'm the feller that learned her most of the cuss-words old Bob never heard before. I never saw a bird that was so anxious to improve. She used to set there with her ear cocked, just simply crazy to learn something new. Every time she'd see me coming she'd begin to hop up and down on her perch and call me names, figurin' I'd lose my temper and give her a tongue lashin'. Gosh, I'm glad she's dead. It was gettin' to be an awful nuisance chasing parrots out of the trees back of Bob's house. They got so's they'd come down there and set around all day pickin' up things she said. Somebody told me the other day he heard a parrot 'way up in the woods swearin' like a sailor. He fired a club at it, and what do you think it said to him?”
“If you weren't such an ungodly liar, Soapy, I'd ask you,” said Chief Justice Malone.
Soapy regarded him sorrowfully.
“If you keep on sayin' things like that, Judge, I'll have to tell your wife you ain't true to her,” said he.
“And that would be the most prodigious lie you ever told,” exclaimed Mr. Malone.
“Sure. You and me know it's a lie, but you'd ketch hell, just the same.”
CHAPTER II.
The population of Trigger Island has increased. Following the example of Buck Chizler and the Governor himself, scores of dubious lovers took heart. They succeeded in dispelling certain misgivings—and doubts lurking in the hearts,—not to say consciences,—of approximately three-fourths of the unmarried women on the island, with the result that Father Francisco and Parson Mackenzie were kept exceedingly busy for a number of weeks.