“Where have you been?”
“What kept you so long?”
“Wh-where did you get that boat?”
“What sort of a rinktum be yeou cuttin’ up naow?”
“Restrain your impatience, I beseech you,” said Piper, pulling the boat up securely. “In good time I will reveal all. Just now, if you’ve any cold snack in the larder, I would satiate the cravings of the inner man.”
Nor could they induce him to relieve their curiosity until he had eaten. When, presently, he wiped a few crumbs from his mouth with the back of his hand and leaned with a sigh of satisfaction against the trunk of a tree, they again insisted on an explanation.
“Friends and fellow citizens,” began Sleuth.
“This ain’t no stump speech,” interrupted Crane. “Come daown to earth and get it aout of yeour system as quick as yeou can.”
“Well, then, I’ve been visiting.”
“Visiting?”