“‘The Amazon Adventurers are always to the mus-tard.
They cut an elephant in half as if he was a cus-tard!’
“And a lot more, but I forget the rest. Spike used to walk around the campus singing it. Well, the point of this is that that’s the way I feel now. It’s a good thing there aren’t any elephants around. But something tells me I’ll have my work-out yet. There is still much to be done, as the cook said, turning the whale steak he was roasting. I’ll bet—”
“You’ll bet nothing!” Roy interrupted, with a laugh. “What is this, a political speech? You’ve been talking an hour by the clock. Grab hold, and shove. Ready, Pop and Bug Eye? Then let’s go!”
All four bent down and seized the gunwales. There was a straining of backs, and the canoe slid noiselessly into the river with scarcely a splash.
“No leakee!” Teddy shouted, capering around the bank. “No leakee, no shirtee! Watch it, boys. I’ll bet two bits she don’t leak!”
“Doesn’t,” Bug Eye corrected, a certain page of his English book before his mind. “A plural predicate takes the nominative singular. Or something. Anyway, ‘don’t’ ain’t nowheres near right.”
“Did you say singular?” Teddy asked, grinning. “It is that, at least! But tell me, boys—I’m afraid to look. Does she leak?”
“Nary leak!” Pop exclaimed, leaning close. “Guess I qualify for an expert boat-maker, don’t I? All right, Teddy, stop yore solo an’ hop in.”
“Après vous, m’sieu,” Teddy smirked, and bowed low. “I assure you I crave to see you get wet first.”
“Don’t mind him, Pop,” Roy laughed. “That’s French, and not what you think it means. He just said: ‘after you!’ so don’t get sore. Come on, Teddy, you tomato! Get in there before I toss you in!”