“He had plenty of air—he wasn’t inside the bladder!” explained Sammy. “He was just in the leather part, and there was air he could breathe, ’cause there’s holes for the lace to go through. And I left it loose enough so he could wiggle.”
“Then I wasn’t far out with my guess about the Mexican bean,” said Neale.
Doubtless most of you have seen those queer beans, or seeds, which move so oddly when you place them on the palm of your hand. The movements are caused by an insect, or worm, that has developed from an egg laid within the seed.
“The ’gator wiggled inside the ball, and that caused it to roll over and over in a manner that only a Rugby football can roll,” chuckled Neale. “I give you credit, Sammy!”
“Don’t!” begged Ruth, in a low voice. “He’ll think he’s being praised and he’ll try something else.”
“Well, but you’ve got to give him credit,” insisted Neale. “For it was a clever trick for the kid.”
“Stop it!” commanded Agnes, and she put her hand over his mouth, whereat he pretended to bite her and the two skylarked about the room to the no small annoyance of Ruth.
“It’s a mercy I didna’ drapit the lemonade,” said Mrs. MacCall, as she took the tray from the chair where Luke had placed it and began serving the refreshments. “I’ll hae a settlement wi ye, syne, Sammy, me lad,” she promised, and there was more to this than appeared on the surface.
“Well, I didn’t mean any harm,” muttered the boy, as he gathered up the alligator and football.
Sammy never did mean harm, and, to tell the truth, his tricks and jokes seldom really harmed any one. Mrs. MacCall had strong nerves, even when she thought she saw “witches, warlocks an’ lang-nebbied things,” and so she soon recovered her wonted spirits.