Socky glanced up at him fearfully.
"Who b-be you?"
"John Socksmith Gordon."
"T-y-ty!" exclaimed the Emperor, an expression, as the historian believes', of great surprise, standing, perhaps, for the old oath "By 'Mighty." It consisted of the pronunciation of the two letters separately and then together.
The Emperor turned to the girl. "And y-yourn?" he inquired.
"Susan Bradbury Gordon," she answered, in a half-whisper.
"I tnum!" exclaimed the Emperor, shaking his bootless foot, whereupon the new-comers retreated a little farther. The singular word "tnum" expressed an unusual degree of interest on the part of the Emperor. "G-goin' fur?" he inquired.
"To Lost River, to see my Uncle Silas."
The Emperor gave a loud whistle of surprise, and repeated the exclamation—"I tnum!"
"My father's coming," said Socky, as he pointed down the trail.