To my utter confounding, Jason threw himself on the floor, kicking and beating it violently and letting out terrific yells.
"Why, it won't hurt you, dear," I said, "or, if you fear Keats will, I will gladly do it myself."
The howls and yells increased if possible.
"He haint afeared of being hurt," said Keats; "he just don't aim to part with them toe-nails."
"Why?" I inquired.
"He needs 'em in his business. He fights with 'em. I found it out when him and Hen fit a-Tuesday. He tried it on me, the feisty little skunk! That's the way he lays out the day-schools five-at-a-time. He jobs out the eyes of two with his thumbs, and bites and butts another, and rakes the shins of two more with his toe-nails, and whups out five as easy as falling off a log!"
"They certainly must come off then," I declared sternly. "You hold one leg, and Killis one, and Philip and Taulbee his arms and head, and I'll cut them off!"
And thus surprised of his secret, and bound by the Philistines, my little Samson was shorn.
Saturday Afternoon.
Before breakfast I called Iry into my room. "How much muscle have you got?" I inquired.