"Oh, all right. Git in. Whoa thar', consarn yer (this to the horse). Whar yer goin'?"
"Nearest village. I'm campin' up the bay. I want to get some grub," shouted Bill.
"Yer a long ways frum ther river," remarked Abner.
"Maybe; but I reckon that ain't your business," growled Bill.
"Not ef you don't want ter tell it, 'tain't," said Abner apologetically. He had heard enough of Bill's character not to argue with him.
"That's a nice-looking watch you've got there," the boys heard Abner say pleasantly.
There was a pause and then Bill roared out:
"What's that to you if it is?"
"Oh, nothing, only I jest saw that printing on it, and calkilated it might have bin a present to yer."
Jack could almost see Bill hurriedly thrusting the watch back into his pocket. Then, after a little while, he spoke again.