De ole niroscenos and de gnu——"
Pun! a pun! a real pun!
"Do you belong toe Gideon's ban'?"
Yes, verily! They clapped, ha-haed, leaned around one another to see the dark upturned heads of the twins, and stole backward glances on the immovable features of the captain's son. At his side sat the Californian just then gravely murmuring to him, but he remaining as motionless as a Buddha. The refrain pressed on to its close, and the applause redoubled, but stopped as she prepared for another verse.
"Nex' come de mule and den de quail——"
Laughter! Mule and quail! royal pair of the cotton field, rightly thrice heralded!
"Nex' come de mule and den de quail,
Nex' come de mule and den de quail,
Nex' come de mule and den de quail,
De monkey-wrench and de wiggletail."