Jed suffered in silence for two or three minutes.
"What was the real reason? Out with it," persisted Captain Hunniwell.
"Well—well, 'twas—'twas—" desperately, "'twas the squeakin' and— and squealin'."
"Squeakin' and squealin'? Gracious king! What are you talkin' about?"
"Why—the—the mills, you know. The mills and vanes outside on—on the posts and the fence. They squeaked and—and sometimes they squealed awful. And he didn't like it."
"Who didn't?"
"Colonel Davidson. He said they'd got to stop makin' that noise and I said I'd oil 'em every day. And—and I forgot it."
"Yes—well, I ain't surprised to death, exactly. What then?"
"Well—well, you see, they were squealin' worse than usual one mornin' and Colonel Davidson he came in here and—and I remembered I hadn't oiled 'em for three days. And I—I said how horrible the squealin' was and that I'd oil 'em right away and—and—"
"Well, go on! go on!"