“Great Jericho! What d’yer call that thing?”
“It’s the devil hisself!”
“He’s arter us!”
“That last drink at ther cross trails was too much for us boys. We’ve got ‘em bad.”
“I reckon we’d better fix up a prayer. Ther old gentleman has cum to git us.”
Barney and Pomp exploded with laughter. It was very funny.
But as soon as the pandemonium had for a moment subsided, Frank Reade, Jr. hastened to shout:
“We’re human beings the same as you. Have no fear. Who are you?”
The words had an astounding effect upon the campers. After a moment of stupefied silence the answer came back.
“Who the dickens are you?”