Shorty was alert on the instant.
"Shut up," he commanded. "You've no business talkin'; I told you when you come in you weren't allowed to say nothin'."
"Excuse me," said the General; "I quite forgot."
"Well, see that you don't forgit agin," growled Shorty. "We've got quite enough talent in the game already. We don't want no more to come in."
Again the game proceeded in intent silence for some minutes. Then Si called out:
"Hold on; you can't jump backwards with that man. That ain't no king."
"I say it is a king," said Billings. "I got him into the row half an hour ago, and crowned him. You knocked the crown off when you moved."
"I know better," said Shorty. "I've been watching that piece right along, and he's never been nearer the king-row than he is this minute."
A hot discussion ensued. The General forgot him self and joined in in his usual positive, authoritative way.
"I say the man had been crowned. I saw him crowned and the crown afterward knocked off. There's the crown by the side there."