“You—you must be a good thrower, for there isn’t a tree near where you slept,” declared Emma.
“That’s so, there isn’t,” admitted Chunky. “Well, anyhow, it must have been a stone that I threw the snake against.”
“What you did do, young man, was to fall on me with your full weight,” rebuked Hippy. “Oh, why did I ever ask you to come with us?”
“That’s what I have been wondering,” agreed Emma.
“Please, please quiet down, good people,” begged Grace laughingly. “Suppose we find out what actually did occur. Does anyone know?”
“Yes. I know. A great big snake crawled over me,” averred Stacy.
“With all due respect to you, Stacy Brown, I don’t believe it,” differed Elfreda.
“He ate too much and had the nightmare,” suggested Miss Dean.
“It wasn’t a mare. I tell you it was a snake,” insisted Stacy. “I guess I know what I am talking about, and don’t you try to make me believe anything different. I won’t! I know what I believe, and I believe what I know, and that’s the end of it.”
“Well, sir, what is the matter with you?” demanded Tom, facing the excited Chinaman.