"Sure. That's what it's fer, so ye've told me. To elevate things, lift 'em up, so to speak."
"But we couldn't do anything with an animal like that," Jess explained. "A stick is the only way you can handle such a beast."
"Ho, ho, Jess, ye'r sartinly right this time. A club's the only thing a critter like that understands. An' it's jist the same with a lot of people, 'specially men. They understand gentle handlin', soothin' words, an' sich things about as much as that bull does, an' ye know what effect they'd have upon him. There are some critters ye kin elevate by rubbin' gently an' pilin' on the honey, but as fer as I kin see, there's a dang lot of people ye kin handle only one way, an' that's with a thick club. That's the Social Service dope they need."
"For pity's sake, Abner, will you ever stop talking?" his wife asked. "You seem to be wound up and guaranteed to run forever. We're all tired out, and the children are hungry."
"Hungry!" and Abner looked around. "Where kin we find grub fer all these in a place like this? I s'pose the bull ate up everything, did he?"
"The baskets are all right," Mrs. Andrews explained. "We left them in a safe place near the boat."
"Good fer you, Tildy. I'd bank on you every time to look after sich matters. The grub's safe, hurrah! Come on, one an' all, an' let's jine in the feast."
CHAPTER XXIV
EXIT BILLY
"What in the world's keepin' 'em?"