The rest of Co. Q gathered around to inspect it and envy them.
"I suppose you left some," said Jack Wilkinson. "I'll go down there and get the rest."
"Much you won't," said Si, looking toward the car; "there ain't no rest."
They all looked that way. Early as it was the car had totally disappeared, down to the wheels, which some men were rolling away.
"That must be some o' them Maumee River Muskrats," said Shorty, looking at the latter. "They'll steal anything they kin git away with, just for the sake of stealin'. What on earth kin they do with them wheels?"
"They may knock 'em off the axles an' make hearths for their fireplaces, and use the axles for posts," suggested Si.
"Here, you fellers," said Shorty, "give us a lift. Let's have a house-raisin'. Help us put the roof on."
They fell to with a will, even the Captain assisting, and, after a good deal of trouble and more cut hands, succeeded in getting the piece of tin on top of the pen and bent down across the ridge-pole. Si and Shorty proceeded to secure it in place by putting other poles across it and fastening them down with ropes and strips of bark to the lower logs.
"Your broad cornice is aristocratic, as you say," said the Captain, "but I'm afraid it'll catch the wind, and tip your house over in some big storm."