"I'm going to have another crack at him, though," and Tom wrote another question.
"Ye'll give me two thousand, will ye?" Abner queried. "Well, there's nuthin' doin'; then, so yez might as well trot off. It's fifteen thousand or nuthin'."
"But we can expropriate your place," Tom again wrote.
"What's that thing?" Abner asked.
"The Government can take your place and give you what they like. They have the power."
"They have, eh? Well, let 'em try, that's all. Let the hull dang bunch come. I'm the government here, an' I intend to be so. I've paid fer me place, an' until I git what it's worth I intend to keep it. So, good-day to yez all, an' give my compliments to Ikey Dimock, an' thanks fer ye'r personal remarks."
At these words the four men started, while an expression of consternation appeared upon their faces.
"Did you hear what we said?" Tom asked.
"Sure; how could I help it?"
"And you're not deaf?"