The others heard it too, and stopped to listen. It seemed to come from behind a pile of cut timber.
“Hey! Blame it, how about—”
“Who is it—Gus?” Teddy asked.
“No, there’s Gus over there. I don’t know who it is. Maybe—”
“Hey! My flivver’s busted! But I got here, by golly, on two flats an’ a busted wheel! I got here!”
A figure stepped into view. Teddy let out a shout.
“It’s Bug Eye! For the love of Pete! What’d you say, Bug Eye?”
“Not much!” The puncher approached, grinned ruefully, took off his sombrero and bowed low.
“Greetings to you-all,” he said. “I bring with me the dewy freshness of the early morn, good luck from my boss, an’ one broken-down flivver. Howdy, Gus! How you fellers hittin’ ’em?”
“Gradually,” Gus replied. “What’s new?”